Superkid

Superkid by Claire Freedman, illustration by Sarah McIntyre (Scholastic UK)
PB RRP $15.99
ISBN 978-1-407124-06-3
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Children often dream of being superheroes. In this fun story, Superkid’s tasks range from the everyday – saving classmates from bullies and eating the ‘dreaded broccoli... And horrid mushy peas’ which Auntie serves – to the more imaginative, rescuing other kids from pirates.

Whatever the mission, Superkid rises to the challenge and saves the day with style and inventiveness. Superkid’s lively nature fits perfectly with the central theme of superheroes. Written in rhyme, with lots of active words – Wheee, Puff, Zapp - it is a delight to read aloud and young children will love the energy this story throws out.

The illustrations are wonderfully strong, bold, bright and entertaining. Tomato sauce and mess play a large part in them as well as a sense of humour perfect for the preschool age. This humour reflects beautifully the words in the text, but the pictures move the story into the fantastic with aliens, broccoli trees and a supercat. The pages cleverly echo the feeling of a superhero comic without using a comic book format. I especially love the drawings of the author and illustrator in their superhero disguises which appear at the end of the story.

Superkid may make children look around at their friends and wonder... just for a minute.