Book Review of Mike Nero and the Superhero School
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The Children’s Book Review
Mike Nero and the Superhero School
Written by Natasha Carlow
Illustrated by Kyle Stephen
Ages 5-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Purple Butterfly Press | ISBN-13: 9781955119023
What to Expect: Diversity and inclusion, kindness, imagination
Starting a new school is scary, especially when you’re different from everyone else. Mike Nero is scared that at his new school, he won’t fit in, and people will make fun of him because he walks and talks differently. However, as the Principal shows him around, he meets children who are all different—some who speak a secret language, some with magic sticks, and some who can complete 2000-piece puzzles. Soon, Mike discovers that he has a superpower—just like his new friends!
Critics and readers alike have been calling for more positive and varied representations of disability in children’s books for a long time; Mike Nero and the Superhero School does a great job of meeting this urgent need. By reframing disabilities as superpowers, this book encourages readers to focus on what makes people special and unique and emphasizes ability rather than vulnerability. The bright and cheerful illustrations are similarly framed to emphasize ability—they burst with energy and movement, undermining popular stereotypes about disability. Mike’s perspective is empathetic, underscoring the story’s key message about kindness.
Overall, Mike Nero and the Superhero School is a great educational text as well as an engaging story.
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About the Author
Natasha Carlow is a first-time author and longtime lover of the written word As a mother of two amazing rainbow babies who spent much of her time reading stories to her young children, Natasha noted that there were no stories that spoke to her family’s journey. So…she decided to write one. Set against the backdrop of a rainbow, Happy Tears and Rainbow Babies tells the story of how faith brought healing and hope to one family after the pain and loss of a miscarriage. Written from a mother to her children, this story engages the reader in a conversation that families everywhere can share and benefit from.
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