Arnold the Super-ish Hero

Nice guys finish first in this endearing story about a humble kid in a family of superheroes who discovers his superpower may not be what everyone (even him!) is expecting.

Though Arnold works in the family superhero business, he isn’t exactly a superhero. Unlike all his relatives, Arnold has no superpower. Everyone expects it will show up any day. Arnold believes that the only thing he’s good at is taking phone messages. Then, one day, a call from a girl in distress comes in to superhero headquarters, and no one else is around. Arnold has to respond to the call. Determined to succeed, Arnold helps all kinds of people along the way. And that’s before he even finds the caller! He does so many good deeds, in fact, he’s identified as a masked man “helping the good guys.” Wait, could being nice be a superpower?

Award-winning author Heather Tekavec’s endearing and funny underdog story is sure to spark a following for a new kind of superhero: Super Nice Guy. Guillaume Perreault’s colorful, highly entertaining illustrations in comic book style panels are packed with amusing details that add layers of humor to the text. This delightful book, with its earnest and humble hero, highlights the idea that everyone has a purpose in the world, and it’s important to be true to yourself. It makes an excellent choice for character education lessons on kindness and courage.