Superheroes Are Everywhere

Title: Superheroes Are Everywhere
Genre: Nonfiction (Biography)
Author: Kamala Harris
Major Awards: None
Age Group: Pre-K-1st grade

This is the story of Kamala Harris' life, told by her. When she was a young girl, she knew that superheroes were just regular people who did good for others. She started finding superheroes as she looked at qualities her family, friends, and others in her community displayed. She stated that her mother was a hero because she made her feel special, her hugs made her feel warm and safe, and she always had encouraging words. Her sister was a hero because she could always count on her to be there. Her father was a hero because he taught her to be fearless and take chances. Her teacher was a hero because she showed her the world, and helped her chase her dreams. Her neighbor was a hero because she was a second mom to her- watching her when her parents were gone and taking her to church on Sunday's. Some heroes she knew were lawyers, and they inspired her to become a lawyer, and later, U.S. Senator because they protected people. In the end, she states that everyone can be a hero by just being themselves. 

I absolutely loved this story and its message, so I would definitely like it in my classroom! It shows students that heroes are all around, doing normal things, but they are still heroes! I like that it makes students think of normal people in life, such as their parents, as heroes because of the lessons and love they show their children. I also like how it states that everyone is a hero. A lot of times, students are discouraged because they are not as good at something as their peers are. This book does an excellent job of stating something that everyone can be! 

I think that Pre-K through first grade would be the best ages for this story because they would gain the most from it. At this age, many students are into superheroes, and this book shows them that they, too, are a superhero! The book also has incredible illustrations that would be very intriguing to students these ages. I think it would be a great read aloud for this age group, and many students would be inspired by Kamala's words! 

In the classroom, I could have my students write (or draw) about someone they know who is a superhero. They could write qualities this person exhibits, and why they think these make them a superhero. I could also ask them how they can be a superhero in their everyday life, and discuss members of the community who are superheroes. Also, I could have them make up and draw their own superhero, and they would write qualities of this person that make them a superhero.