TEN RULES OF BEING A SUPERHERO

There are 10 rules of being a superhero, but the second is the most important: “Saving the day is messy.”

By the end of this book, Captain Magma has been lifted into the sky by a bird, dropped in a nest and carted around in a wheelbarrow full of dirt. Captain Magma is only a few inches tall, and he’s made of plastic, so he has to be carried around by his young sidekick, Lava Boy, who runs around the playroom in an adorable red cape and mask. The illustrations of the playroom are the highlight of the book. Pilutti has painted every toy a child could want: robots and monkeys and a green troll with hair like a firecracker. The room is so cluttered with colorful toys that readers may not know where to rest their eyes. Unfortunately, this means that large portions of the book involve sweeping and keeping the house tidy. Readers may wonder if some of the rules were created by an adult to send a wholesome message to kids. Take rule seven: “Superheroes must rest so that they can recharge….” Children may prefer the rules that involve tasty snacks; Captain Magma’s battle cry is “Cookies for all!”

This book is starchier than a superhero story ought to be, but almost everyone will agree with rule 10: “[S]aving the day is more fun with a friend.” (Picture book. 4-7)