Is It Hard to Become a Superhero?
Yes! For starters, you need the perfect superhero name, a secret identity, a cool costume, and a burning desire to fight evil.
But where are you going to get all that? Right here, inside The Big Book of Superheroes! It will teach you everything you need to know—including how to get mind-blowing superpowers. (They’re good for your self-esteem!) This hilarious book also tells how to:
- battle costume wedgies
- find a good battle cry
- defend yourself from preschooler supervillains
- interview and hire sidekicks
- customize your Secret Lair
The Big Book of Superheroes even explains how to become a super-genius! (I’d explain it here, but you wouldn’t understand yet.) In these pages, you can snicker at superhero humor, snort at the Ten Lamest Superpowers, or just sneeze if you’re allergic to its super-awesomeness.
From School Library Journal
Gr 5 Up—Much like The Dangerous Book for Boys and The Daring Book for Girls (both HarperCollins, 2007), Superheroes offers a tongue-in-cheek guide to adventure and all things heroic. King mixes superhero lore with tips on how to be a superhero. This book provides insight into popular figures like Iron Man, but also offers offbeat trivia (such as the fact that DC Comic’s Captain Marvel is also known as “Shazam,” for the powers of heroes and gods he possesses—Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, Mercury). This highly browsable book features chapters such as, “Your Supername!” and “Acting Like a Superhero!” Entertaining black-and-white comics are peppered throughout. This is a great extension to the concept of superheroes, allowing students to explore their own “powers” and is an excellent addition to library and classroom collections.—Sarah Knutson, American Canyon Middle School, CA
Reviews for The Big Book of Superheroes
“An awesome book … about how to become a superhero. It is hilarious, [and] I like how Bart King has mini-quizzes about superheroes. For example, who has the most superpowers: Superman, J’onn J’onzz (the Martian Manhunter), or Spiderman? (Answer: J’onn J’onzz) Rating: Five out of five bookworms.” –This Kid Reviews Books
“It’s super fun! This book is chock-full of info, along with quizzes, crafts, and comics. It’s tongue-in-cheek and even downright silly, but always entertaining. Kids will lap this up, and adults will enjoy dipping into it as well.” –Joanne R. Fritz, My Brain on Books
“Bart King is the undisputed master when it comes to writing fact-filled books for kids that are incredibly fun to read . . . The Big Book of Super Heroes is perfect for any kid with a sense of imagination, but it is also great for kids obsessed by the Marvel and DC universes and the laws their worlds are governed by.” –Books 4 Your Kids.com
“This book is the superhero’s bible … lists, comic facts, activities, pop quizzes, and illustrations all keep the book hopping and kids interested … [It’s] filled with enough superhero information to keep a middle grader’s nose between the pages for hours … Reluctant readers will find The Big Book of Superheroes a great choice for summer reading. [It’s] entertaining on every page.” –Kid Lit Reviews
“This book is the superhero’s bible… King uses text, lists, asides, blue boxes of comic facts, activities, pop quizzes, and comic illustrations, which all keep the book hopping and kids interested… This is a substantial book filled with enough superhero information to keep a middle grader’s nose between the pages for hours… Reluctant readers will find The Big Book of Superheroes a great choice for summer reading. [It’s] entertaining on every page.” —Kid Lit Reviews
“It’s super fun! This book is chock-full of info, along with quizzes, crafts, and comics. It’s tongue-in-cheek and even downright silly… but always entertaining. Kids will lap this up, while you’ll enjoy dipping into it. Think of it as Everything You Wanted to Know About Superheroes and How to Become One (But Never Thought To Ask).” —Joanne Fritz, My Brain on Books
“If you are looking for a book to give a ten-year-old… look no further than The Big Book of Superheroes… I found myself enjoying the book so much that I summoned my younger child to sit next to me on the sofa so that we could enjoy it together. He was hooked, and it went off to camp with him the next day… What I really loved about this book was that Bart King has a lovely dryish wit to his style, laughing at absurdities while still treating this whole superhero thing and its long history more or less respectfully… It’s great.” —Charlotte’s Library
