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Children's Fiction Manners & Etiquette

Even Superheroes Have Bad Days

by (author) Shelly Becker

illustrated by Eda Kaban

Publisher
Union Square Kids
Initial publish date
Sep 2016
Category
Manners & Etiquette, General, Emotions & Feelings
Recommended Age
3 to 5
Recommended Grade
p to k
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781454913948
    Publish Date
    Sep 2016
    List Price
    $23.99
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781454941514
    Publish Date
    Feb 2020
    List Price
    $9.99 USD
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781454946595
    Publish Date
    Jan 2023
    List Price
    $11.99

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Description

"Full of action and vibrancy. . . .A good way to soothe bad days away.” —School Library Journal

When Superheroes don’t get their way,
when they’re sad, when they’re mad, when they’ve had a bad day . . .
. . . they COULD super-tantrum, they COULD but they DON'T,
because REAL Superheroes just WOULDN'T—they WON'T!

All kids have trouble getting a grip on their emotions, sometimes—even young superheroes! But what do they do when they’re having a bad day? Colorful action-packed illustrations and a dynamite rhyming text reveal the many ways superheroes (and ordinary children, too) can resist the super-temptation to cause a scene when they’re sad, mad, frustrated, lonely, or afraid. From burning off steam on a bike or a hike, to helping others, this energetic picture book has plenty of fun ideas to help kids cope when they’re feeling overwhelmed.

About the authors

Shelly Becker is the author of One, Two, Grandma Loves You, which School Library Journal called “a pure, cadenced classic” in a starred review. Her other books include Even Superheroes Get Scared, Even Superheroes Make Mistakes, Even Superheroes Have Bad Days (a 2018 Blue Spruce Award Nominee that Kirkus Reviews called “an action-packed romp”), and Mine! Mine! Mine!, which has been included on many Top Five and Top Ten lists of books that teach the concept of sharing. Becker lives in Toronto, far away from her three wonderful grandchildren, who live in New Jersey. When they can’t be together in person, they keep in touch by speaking on the phone and sending plenty of pictures and videos.

Shelly Becker's profile page

Eda Kaban's profile page

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Shelly Becker’s Mine, Mine, Mine!:
“The book will enchant young readers and their parents for many years to come, and is destined to become a modern classic.” —Children’s Literature

“These hypothetical violent spectacles are softened by the cartoonish stylizations and juxtaposed with pages filled with heroic, ‘true’ efforts such as rounding up criminals and providing fun at an amusement park. . . . the relative scarcity of superhero picture books means there's a place on the shelf for it. An action-packed romp." —Kirkus Reviews

“When superheroes have bad days, things could get horrific for everyone. Fortunately though, superheroes have supercontrol over their emotions, according to this lighthearted exposé on how a group of superheroes deal with their frustrations. Superheroes could cope with their bad days by tossing trucks and buses around, crumbling buildings into rubble, or igniting fires with their laser eyes. But instead, they double down and use their superpowers for good deeds, such as hatching ‘super-plans to help banish world sadness / Building fabulous theme parks for giggles and gladness’ The eight superheroes, depicted in a retro cartoon-style, embody an abundant assortment of powers and come in various sizes and shapes, including both genders plus one green, horned monster. Scenes envisioning the chaos and mayhem they could cause if they let their tempers get the better of them are balanced by calmer scenes of the celebratory events that result from their good deeds . . . a spoonful of superheroes certainly helps the message go down.” —Booklist

“This narrative is filled with diverse characters, from caped crusaders to badly behaving villains. . . . The art is done with digital tools to create a cartoon appearance, full of action and vibrancy. VERDICT A suitable read-aloud choice to acknowledge intense feelings and diversify superhero collections. A good way to soothe bad days away.” —School Library Journal

“These hypothetical violent spectacles are softened by the cartoonish stylizations and juxtaposed with pages filled with heroic, ‘true’ efforts such as rounding up criminals and providing fun at an amusement park. . . . the relative scarcity of superhero picture books means there's a place on the shelf for it. An action-packed romp." —Kirkus Reviews

“When superheroes have bad days, things could get horrific for everyone. Fortunately though, superheroes have supercontrol over their emotions, according to this lighthearted exposé on how a group of superheroes deal with their frustrations. Superheroes could cope with their bad days by tossing trucks and buses around, crumbling buildings into rubble, or igniting fires with their laser eyes. But instead, they double down and use their superpowers for good deeds, such as hatching ‘super-plans to help banish world sadness / Building fabulous theme parks for giggles and gladness’ The eight superheroes, depicted in a retro cartoon-style, embody an abundant assortment of powers and come in various sizes and shapes, including both genders plus one green, horned monster. Scenes envisioning the chaos and mayhem they could cause if they let their tempers get the better of them are balanced by calmer scenes of the celebratory events that result from their good deeds . . . a spoonful of superheroes certainly helps the message go down.” —Booklist

“This narrative is filled with diverse characters, from caped crusaders to badly behaving villains. . . . The art is done with digital tools to create a cartoon appearance, full of action and vibrancy. VERDICT A suitable read-aloud choice to acknowledge intense feelings and diversify superhero collections. A good way to soothe bad days away.” —School Library Journal

Praise for Shelly Becker’s Mine, Mine, Mine!:
“The book will enchant young readers and their parents for many years to come, and is destined to become a modern classic.” —Children’s Literature

Other titles by Shelly Becker

Other titles by Eda Kaban