Seeing Their Superselves: A Booklist of Featuring Black Superheroes
A few weeks ago, we were selling books at a pop up. A little girl approached our table with her mother. As she got closer, her eyes were locked on a superhero book. I asked the girl, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” She simply extended her hand and grabbed a book. Then she said, “Her!” The book she was holding was Riri Williams: Ironheart. Yes, this little Black girl found a superhero that looked just like her, but more importantly, she found a book that would inspire her to be great!
This interaction reminded me of the importance of superheroes for Black children. They deserve and need superhero books that inspire them to see themselves within imaginary worlds. Seeing themselves in these world can assist them in making an impact in the real world in the future. As The Young Dreamers’ Bookstore we take pride in offering an amazing selection of books that encourage children to be their superselves!
Check out the books below to inspire your young dreamers to become their superselves!
Marvel’s Iron Heart—the super-smart Avenger who wears amazing armor—blasts off in her first ever Little Golden Book!
Readers will love this exciting Marvel Little Golden Book featuring Riri Williams, a young African-American girl who’s as smart as Tony Stark and wears powerful armor too! The action-packed storybook is a great way to introduce children ages 2 to 5 to Riri’s alter-ego Iron Heart and learn all about her awesome armor, amazing adventures, and all her friends and foes. The Iron Heart Little Golden Book is sure to be a hit with Marvel fans and Little Golden Book collectors of all ages as well!
Little Golden Books enjoy nearly 100% consumer recognition. They feature beloved classics, hot licenses, and new original stories. . . the classics of tomorrow.
Marvel's other Spider-Man--Miles Morales--swings into his first ever Little Golden Book!
Meet Marvel's Spider-Man from another universe--Miles Morales. Boys and girls ages 2 to 5 will love this action-packed Little Golden Book as they learn about the web-slinger's amazing powers as well as his faithful friends and fiercest foes!
by Markette Sheppard (Author), Robert Paul Jr. (Illustrator)
A boy adopting a ninja alter ego to cope with a new disability finds the courage to share all of himself in this action-packed and heartfelt picture book from the author of My Rainy Day Rocket Ship.
Nathaniel, or, as his friends call him, Ninja Nate, has been dressing like a ninja all summer long—even sleeping in his suit. And he doesn’t plan on stopping for his first day of fifth grade, especially when he has been hiding his robotic leg under his ninja costume. His friends may know about his accident, but they’ve never seen the new him. What if they treat him differently?
With the help of his brother, Sensei Charlie, and ninja mom, Mama Mary, maybe Ninja Nate can be part boy, part robot, all Nathaniel!
Two heroes are better than one when Marvel’s Black Panther and his sister, Shuri, team up in this action-packed Little Golden Book!
The threats to the African nation of Wakanda are many, so Marvel’s Black Panther teams up with his little sister, Shuri, to defeat their foe! Boys and girls ages 2 to 5 will love this Little Golden Book, which features Black Panther, Shuri, and other great Marvel characters. The friendly eye-catching retro art style is the perfect way to introduce little heroes to the Marvel Universe, and is equally loved by adult collectors and comic book fans as well!
Looking for an engaging book that intertwines superheroes and social emotional learning? Then you should consider adding Lava in My Veins to your home or school library.
Lava in My Veins by Derrick Barnes is a must read book about a superhero named Bobby Beacon. Bobby has two superpowers fire and light. Although he has these superpowers, he struggles with self-control, which results in him misusing his powers. The misuse of his powers makes him more a villain than superhero. In order to learn how to regulate his emotions, he enrolls in a superhero school for children like himself.
After a short time at the school and a few missteps, it looks like he’s heading down a destructive path, but then he meets an amazing teacher named Ms. Brooklyn. She is different from the teachers in the school because she roots her teaching in love. Rooting her teaching in love makes him feel “seen,” which allows to him open his mind and heart to her. Bobby’s reception to her teaching allows him to learn an important self-regulation strategy, which he uses in an epic battle with a supervillain.
Derrick Barnes does a magnificent job at writing a book that sheds light on the experiences Black boys have in the educational system, while also situating the book within a superhero epic! The comic book style illustrations by Shawn Martinbrough offers young dreamers of all ages the opportunity to follow and enjoy this story. In addition the rich/bright colors are appealing to the eye. With each page, readers encounter engaging interactions that match the author’s eloquent words.
For students, this book is a tool to help them walk in their super-self. It shows Black boys that they do not have to be perfect. It shows them that they can make mistakes and still pursue a better version of themselves—just like Bobby. The book also teaches boys with tempers and important strategy to use when they encounter big emotions.
For teachers, this book illuminates the power they have in assisting children in reaching their full potential. The teacher in the book rooted her pedagogical practice in love, which assisted in Bobby learning to use his powers to do good in the world. This book also serves as a reflective tool for teachers to pose the following questions to themselves:
What does love like in my pedagogical practice?
How does my teaching inspire students to be a better version of themselves?
This book is a must add book home or school library. If you would like to purchase this book, then click the link below to get your copy.
Learn to read with Marvel's Black Panther!
Exciting images, simple vocabulary, and a fun quiz will engage young Super Hero fans and help them build confidence in reading.
Explore Black Panther's mighty Kingdom of Wakanda, the most advanced country on Earth! Meet Black Panther's friends and allies, including his brainy sister Shuri, and his brave bodyguards - the Dora Milaje.
Discover who they are, learn about their skills and abilities, and see how they protect Wakanda and the world.
Step into the exciting world of Black Panther with this Level 2 DK Reader.
A Spider-Man Graphic Novel: Miles Morales: Shock Waves
by Justin A. Reynolds (Author), Pablo Leon (Illustrator)
An original middle-grade graphic novel from Graphix starring Brooklyn's Spider-Man, Miles Morales, by bestselling author Justin A. Reynolds and Eisner nominee Pablo Leon!
Miles Morales is a normal kid who happens to juggle school at Brooklyn Visions Academy while swinging through the streets of Brooklyn as Spider-Man. After a disastrous earthquake strikes his mother's birthplace of Puerto Rico, Miles springs into action to help set up a fundraiser for the devastated island. But when a new student's father goes missing, Miles begins to make connections between the disappearance and a giant corporation sponsoring Miles' fundraiser. Who is behind the disappearance, and how does that relate to Spider-Man?A true middle grade graphic novel starring one of Marvel's most popular characters, bestselling author Justin A. Reynolds (Opposite of Always) and Eisner award-nominated artist Pablo Leon (Refugees) create a riveting story that will connect with new and well-versed comics readers alike.
Miles Morales Spider-Man: Through a Hero's Eyes
by Denene Millner (Author), Mónica Paola Rodriguez (Illustrator, Cover Art)
This picture book will delight every Spider-Man fan with its vibrant illustrations and heartfelt story about self-discovery.
New York Times bestselling author Denene Millner’s picture book follows Miles Morales as he explores what it means to be an artist, to be Spider-Man, and to be himself.
Miles Morales is captivated by the murals in his neighborhood, bursting with color and life. Each one tells a story about the artist who created it, and as an aspiring artist himself, Miles dreams of making his own one day.
But Miles isn’t just an artist—he’s Spider-Man! When he makes friends with fellow artist Mr. Arty, Miles learns even more about his passions, his Puerto Rican heritage, and the importance of his neighborhood.
Meet Marvel's Sam Wilson: Captain America! Sam Wilson is ready for action when he puts on his flight suit to become the Falcon, setting him on a path toward becoming an Avenger and the next Captain America.
From the Publisher:
Ever since the first astronauts traveled to space in the 1960s, scientists and engineers have worked hard to learn more about space travel. What kinds of spaceships will people use in the future?
How will their needs be met during the long journey between Earth and some distant world? In this nonfiction graphic novel, Max Axiom and the Society of Super Scientists look for the answers to these questions and more as they learn about modern space tourism and the future of space travel.
