Curry, Stephen. I Have a Superpower. Geneva Bowers, Illus. Penguin Workshop, 09/2022. [32]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Kindergarten – 3. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Trade $18.99. 978-0-593-38604-0.
Although he isn’t the tallest, fastest, or best jumper on the court, Hughes shares his superpower that helps him excel at basketball and invites readers to develop their own superpower. The story is cleverly written as an ongoing dialog between Hughes and a TV sportscaster, who narrates Hughes’ day as he walks to the court and joins a pick-up game of basketball. Their contrasting voices extend to the book design, with a traditional serif font used for the sportscaster’s narrative text, while Hughes and the other players speak with speech bubbles and a comic-like font. The vibrant, digital illustrations are lightly formatted as a comic, especially on spreads where Hughes envisions various superhero alter egos. Hughes has light brown skin, the sportscaster has dark skin, and the kids playing basketball display a range of skin tones and gender expressions. The author, NBA legend Stephen Curry, makes an appearance at the end of the book and presents a list of hidden items to locate in the illustrations on a reread. An uplifting message with a lot of heart.
Caroline Davis, Alameda County Library