Super-Me

by Jane Martino, Annie White (Illustrator)

Sonny's tutu is his most special thing. It makes him SUPER! On his first day of school, Sonny has butterflies. He wants to wear his tutu so he feels super again, but nothing goes quite to plan. Will Sonny face his feelings and discover what really makes him super?

This heartwarming picture book celebrates individuality and community, and shows the importance of acknowledging all our feelings.

Super-Me is the second book in the five-part mindfulness-informed series, developed by Puffin Books Australia in collaboration with Smiling Mind, Australia's leading not-for-profit organisation in the pre-emptive mental health space.

Genres: Picture Books, School

32 pages, Hardcover

Published January 5, 2021

Reviews

[Cheryl]

Sonny learns that he can be super even if he's not wearing his tutu atm. Teacher and most other students are supportive. Misled students don't get too much page time.

However. Though the school uniforms are cute, all the students present as binary, all the girls wear the gingham dress, and all the boys wear the polo and shorts. Irl afaik girls can wear trousered uniforms even in Catholic schools. So why does this book, presumably about 'being who we are,' slot the kids into strict hetero roles?

There is back matter but I skipped it.

Three stars for nice try but inadequate presentation.

[Jthe YSLibrarian]

So...is this book about the fact that it's okay to wear your tutu, even if "tutus are for girls" or that you don't need to wear your tutu to be you? Maybe both but I feel it was more not pro-tutu than for wearing the tutu (which it seemed to start out as but I felt changed part of the way through).

[Elaine Fultz, kinda retired librarian]

Heavy-handed story about finding/knowing one's "special thing." For Sonny, it's his tutu that is not accepted by some of his schoolmates. Teacher win - she allows everyone to share about their own thing and Sonny gets some support and praise.

[Erica]

Sonny feels super with his tutu on. But people at school don't think boys can wear tutu. He finds a way to express that his tutu helps him fill his superpower and feel all of his feelings.