Superhero Instruction Manual

PreS-Gr 2--Not everyone is lucky enough to be born with superpowers or get bitten by a radioactive spider and develop abilities overnight. Fear not! Just use the Superhero Instruction Manual and you can be a superhero in seven easy steps. While the first six steps (pick a name, pick a sidekick, craft a super disguise, secure a secret hideout, choose a superpower, and store up super energy) might be really easy, step number seven (save the world) isn't as doable as the manual says. It turns out that sometimes even superheroes need help. Colorful illustrations and a playful layout make this book a fun experience. The illustrations are a good mix of cartoonish styles typically found in picture books. There's also a homage to actual comic books. Where it falls flat is the text. While the idea is appealing to children who love superheroes, the tips are a little bland and lack the necessary oomph to make them really super. The ending, too, is a little uninspired. After the main character ignores his little sister in favor of his dog and messes up his attempt at saving the world, she proves that she is super by setting everything right. VERDICT While this message is lovely, the theme of sibling relationships has been done better in other picture books. A supplemental purchase.--Paige Garrison, Augusta Richmond County Library System, GA