Do Super Heroes Have Teddy Bears?

by Carmela LaVigna Coyle, Mike Gordon (Illustrator)

Overview

Follow along as two ragtag, everyday super heroes don capes to play in the mud, save their stuffed animals from certain peril, conquer the vegetables at dinner, and overcome darkness at night.
Are super heroes always brave and daring?
We’re brave and bold and kind and caring.
After five successful books in the “Princesses” series, Carmela LaVigna Coyle now turns her attention to an all new childhood fantasy in this wonderful new story about imagination and play. Every little boy and girl has a super hero somewhere inside just waiting to come out. Tie on your cape (blankies recommended) and join the adventure.
P.S. Do super heroes have teddy bears? Why, yes, they do!

Check out the trailer on YouTube

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781589796935
Publisher:	Taylor Trade Publishing
Publication date:	05/16/2012
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	470,091
Product dimensions:	10.70(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Carmela LaVigna Coyle, author of the popular Do Princesses book series, is super pleased about her latest book for boys and girls alike. Her son Nick, with his fearless plush shark, Swimmy, was always creating something adventurous out of cardboard. She recalls, "And off we'd go, saving the world inside Nick's 'hi-tech' spaceships and submarines." Now, she's hoping children everywhere will discover that being a super hero may not be all that far-reaching after all. She lives in Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at www.carmelacoyle.com.

Mike Gordon’s award-winning illustrations span fiction, non-fiction, entertainment, and educational books worldwide. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

Editorial Reviews

Having covered one self-esteem waterfront in their Do Princesses series, Coyle and Gordon branch out to a more gender-neutral fantasy icon. With blankie capes tied around their shoulders, a younger sister quizzes her slightly older brother on whether there are any limits to what a superhero can or should do. The answer is that just about anything is up for grabs—unless it goes against being a good citizen in the family. Thus, “super heroes get to decide” whether or not it’s cool to bring one’s teddy bear along for a thrilling bike ride. But opting out of chores? Don’t waste your imaginative energy (“Does a super hero have to help with the dishes?/ Unless there’s a genie who’ll grant us some wishes”). The narrative rhythm starts to sag in the last quarter of the book, but Gordon’s gently goofy cartoons are always fun, portraying an idyllic existence that includes lots of outdoor adventures, an impressive array of pretend play props, an improbably expressive teddy bear, and a pet dog with superhero aspirations of his own. Ages 4–8. (May)

Publishers Weekly

...[A] good character-building book to help children begin the process of discerning right from wrong; good from bad; strength from weakness.

Erica's Muse blog

Coyle's rhyming couplets keep the question-and-answer narrative rhythm rolling, and Gordon's cute cartoon-style kids keep up the appeal with lots of visual KAPOW!

BooksForKidsBlog

Little boys and girls that are gobbling up my Batman and Spider-Man (yes, girls read comic books, too) will love this title, and I think their parents will find a warm, comfortable book to share with their children. I have a feeling this title will fly off the shelf.

Outside of a Dog Blog

Super heroes inspire wonder with their amazing feats, but what about everything else? Do Super Heroes Have Teddy Bears? is a children's picture book from Carmela LaVigna with art from Mike Gordon. [The book follows] a young boy [who] ponders what super heroes face in their everyday lives as he tries to embark on his own adventure of saving the day and living life simultaneously. Do Super Heroes Have Teddy Bears? is a fun read-along storybook for parents and children; highly recommended.

Midwest Book Review

K-Gr 2—Two children role-play throughout the day. On each spread, the boy, obviously a much more experienced pint-size hero, answers his younger sister's questions about what exactly a super hero does. "'Are heroes always brave and daring?'" "'We're brave and bold and kind and caring.'" The illustration shows the girl sitting on a limb, teddy bear dangling, with a shark below her; on the right, the boy, his masked teddy bear firmly in hand, calmly reassures her. From making blanket capes to cardboard spaceships, this book is a nostalgic romp through a child's imagination. Funny and charming, with a great message about being an everyday hero, it will surely win the hearts of youngsters and their adult counterparts. Bright, interesting, and comical illustrations with whimsical touches highlight the text well.—Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh, PA

School Library Journal

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