Send for a Superhero!

K-Gr 3—In this story within a story, a father reads to his children at bedtime, sharing with them a tale of danger, destruction, and unexpected heroism. Emily and little Elmer listen avidly as Dad begins, "'Danger! The Terrible Two are trying to destroy the world!'" The villains, Filth and Vacuum, plan to pour muck and slime over an idyllic small town called Townton while sucking up all the money, jewels, and treasure to be had. At school, young Brad 40 receives an alert of the impending threat and contacts the mayor. The mayor calls in three strong, fast, and big superheroes who prove to be no match for the Terrible Two. At last, Brad 40 comes up with an ingenious idea to save the day: lull the bad guys to sleep with the help of Extremely Boring Man. As Dad narrates, the children interrupt him with their comments about the rising action. Like many siblings, they squabble, and Elmer delights in imitating the evil cackle of the villains. The mixed-media illustrations are eye-catching and entertaining. Precisely drawn panels filled with subtle humor detail the perils of all-too-perfect Townton in comic-book fashion, contrasting nicely with the plush, jewel-toned family bedtime scenes below. Pair this clever title with another superhero adventure, Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman's Superhero Joe and the Creature Next Door (S. & S., 2013) for an action-packed storyhour.—Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston, MA