Super Duper by Dan Marshall

Dan Marshall, the author of Super Duper, is certain to stimulate the imaginations of his young readers. With the help of some amazing children, he has invented some exciting ways to use a superpower. Cooper is Super Duper and is strong, and can fly, laser and run and leads the young reader through the book looking at different superheroes. There is Scott who with his skunk power that scares people off with his pong and Faye who become wi-fi and flies through the air. There is Cam who can camouflage and Glitter who shoots lightning through his shoes and finally a section where people use their superpowers to help everyone. Hope wants to build someone a house in less than an hour and Ian would help to cool down global warming.

The rhyming narrative flows along smoothly and makes it a delightful read aloud for young children, while older children would have fun trying to make up a book with some superheroes of their own. The illustrations are bright and cheerful. Each superhero is unique with a very happy facial expression and the details are sure to appeal to young children. Readers can also follow Cooper complete with red cape and boots and blue body suit as she goes from double spread to double spread each showing off the superpower that a child has imagined.

This would be an enjoyable and valuable book to emphasise the importance of the imagination and the power of individuals to do good.

Themes: Superheroes, Superpowers, Imagination.

Pat Pledger