The Day I Lost My Superpowers

PreS-Gr 1--A cape and mask-wearing youngster details her amazing powers, many of which will seem familiar to young readers. She can fly (the crayon-sketched artwork shows her jumping off her bed), make things disappear (an ability that works better with cupcakes than peas), communicate with other life forms (most successfully a plant, which obeys her command to "Freeze!"), and travel back in time (cuddled up in her mother's arms with pacifier in mouth and stuffed bunny in hand). The self-assured protagonist soars happily along, until one day she takes a tumble while playing in the backyard, and her superpowers desert her. Never fear, her mother comes running and gives her a kiss that soothes her wounded knee, inspiring the realization that "I think my mom has superpowers too!" Set against clean backdrops, the loose-lined illustrations brim with motion and energy. The narrator's face, drawn with a few deft lines, expresses an enchanting range of emotions, from sky-high exuberance to calculated mischievousness to tear-filled misery. The humorous interplay between text and artwork underscores the anything-is-possible mind-set of a young child. The upbeat ending, showing mother and daughter walking hand in hand, promises future feats of wonder as well as love.--Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal