Hello, friends! Our book today is Even Superheroes Get Scared, written by Shelly Becker and illustrated by Eda Kaban, third in the pair’s series of superhero-themed books on managing emotions.

We might be inclined to believe that superheroes are never scared when facing off against bad guys, especially of such pedestrian things as bugs or thunder or dogs… right? Well, superheroes get scared too, but if they allow their fear to control them, they aren’t able to save the day. So what is a superhero to do? Run and hide? Or allow themselves to feel scared, then make the choice to be brave? From that point, there are lots of ways to cope with and process their fears, and slowly tolerate or even overcome them. Because the truth is, everyone feels afraid sometimes… even superheroes.

Gently encouraging. Becker and Kaban’s unique crew of diverse supers are back, this time to deal with their fears and save the city at the same time. The text does a great job of relating fears like heights, the dark, and small spaces to the lives of its superheroes, giving kids who may share them a sense of recognition and validation. From there, the rhyming narrative weaves in some solid lessons in managing fear, some of which may be a little advanced for younger kids (such as planning ahead to minimize risk, or confronting intrusive thoughts), but all center around the idea that courage and fear are not mutually exclusive, and in fact go hand in hand. It’s a reassuring and uplifting message that kids will be drawn to, in a well-paced book, and JJ and I enjoyed it. Overall, a great addition to the series, and absolutely worth a look for young superhero fans – Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)