Arnold the super-ish hero

Peach-skinned, spindly limbed Arnold works "in the family superhero business"--answering phones and writing "really neat" messages for his family (Cousin Marvella is superstrong; his brother Rocket flies "at lightning speed"). With no remarkable abilities of his own (his knack for eating really fast is "impressive, but not super"), it seems all he can offer is administrative support. Then Arnold receives a distress call in the empty office. "I must do something!" he exclaims, setting off (on a city bus) to find the child in distress. Along the way, Arnold offers aid: feeding a neglected baby duck, stopping a speeding skateboarder. But when he helps the child who sparked his journey, he realizes his "super-ish" capabilities. Relayed in a comics style enhanced by Perreault's detailed digital art, Tekavec's humorous underdog story is endearing, reminding readers of the truism that one can "change the world with a few good deeds." Ages 4--7. (June)

Although Arnold comes from a family of superheroes, he still hasn't found his superpower. Because he isn't incredibly strong or able to fly or even able to bounce absurdly high, Arnold contributes to the family business by answering the phones. Thanks to his excellent handwriting and good manners, he excels at his job, but he never really thinks of it--or himself--as special until the day he gets a distress call from City Park. Arnold sounds the alarm, but none of his superhero relatives answer. Determined to help the unknown client, Arnold decides to handle the issue himself. His mission gets off to a rocky start when he falls in a puddle when alighting from the public bus that takes him to the park, and then he realizes he doesn't know whom he's there to help. However, he soon finds plenty of people to help and problems that he can solve with just a resourceful mind and a good heart. In fact, he is so successful that he ends up on the evening news. This humorous and endearing book appropriately uses comic-book--style illustrations to tell a story that is both accessible and sincere. Arnold's journey from self-doubt to confidence is inspiring without ever being preachy, and his quick, creative solutions to everyday problems are delightfully surprising. Arnold presents White; both his family and his community are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9.4-by-18.8-inch double-page spreads viewed at 39% of actual size.) A sweet and funny picture book about the power of doing good deeds. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.