I Could Be A Superhero by Chris Hornsey and Gwyn Perkins
| I Could Be A Superhero by Chris Hornsey and Gwyn Perkins | |
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| Category: For Sharing | |
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Reviewer: Jo Heffer
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| Summary: Murphy is a small dog with big dreams. He doesn't know what he wants to be when he grows up but he knows it will be something exciting. In this book he shares some of his ideas with his little girl owner who is very encouraging. However, she tells him that whatever he does, the most important thing is that he will be her marvellous dog Murphy and no one else in the world can be that. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 24 | Date: November 2008 |
| Publisher: Little Hare | |
| ISBN: 978-1921272646 | |
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At first glance, it might appear that there is little substance to this story. However, after having read it a few times with my three-year-old daughter I have come to realise that I Could be a Superhero is a very good book to share with young children particularly as it is likely to prompt a great deal of discussion.
In the story, we meet a dog called Murphy and his little girl owner. The story forms a dialogue between the two in which Murphy wonders what he will be when he grows up and he comes up with some fantastic ideas such as to become an astronaut, a tightrope walker or even a superhero. His owner is always encouraging and agrees that it's very likely that he could be any of these particularly bearing in mind what he is good at now. We liked it when Murphy suggests that he could be a magician and she agrees as he is very good at disappearing at bath time now! At the end, there is a lovely message when she says to Murphy that: You could always be my marvellous DOG Murphy and no one else in the world can be you. I think this gives a very important message to young children that it does not matter what they grow up to be because they will always be unique.
My daughter has really enjoyed this book particularly as it prompted her to come up with her own ideas about what she might be when she grows up. She is quite taken with the idea of becoming a superhero but as I tell her, she's my superhero already.
The language is simple and accessible but there is nothing apart from the two voices and this makes it quite difficult to read out loud. It's a challenge to remember to adopt different voices but I did rope my husband in to be the dog one time, and I think my daughter rather appreciated our double act.
The pictures are quite simple although on closer examination they do provide a bit of a subtext. This is because they show what each of the characters is thinking in turn. A good example of this is when Murphy decides he might be a teacher and pictures rows of canines sitting alertly as he points out important facts on his flip chart. The little girl agrees that he could teach everything he knows but she is visualising the time that he messed up all the dustbins when scavenging for food. My daughter seems to enjoy this subtle humour. She also finds it funny that it is a dog worrying about his future.
Overall this simple story is a lot of fun particularly with the reinforcement from the lovely illustrations. It's also the type of book that will give any child the chance to dream about what they would like to be too.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.
If this book appeals to your child, they might also enjoy If I Were You by Richard Hamilton. Older children might appreciate Elise and the Second-hand Dog by Bjarne Reuter and Kirsten Raagaard.
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You can read more book reviews or buy I Could Be A Superhero by Chris Hornsey and Gwyn Perkins at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy I Could Be A Superhero by Chris Hornsey and Gwyn Perkins at Amazon.com.
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