4 out of 4 stars
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I think a lot of us grew up believing certain stereotypes about superheroes. I thought they were supposed to be strong and muscular. I also thought that doing extraordinary things, like lifting vehicles, is what made them heroes. I'll admit that when I was a kid, I held the superficial white superhero stereotype. All the heroes that aired on films were white, and all the books about superheroes featured white superheroes. Honestly, I'd love my kids to grow up believing in the real attributes of a superhero. I believe Toni the Superhero by R.D. Base will set a lot of children on the right path. R.D. Base is the mother of three young boys. She dedicates the book to her family for being her inspiration.
Toni is an African American superhero. He's around five years old. He wears a superhero suit and cap, but he loves doing very ordinary things. He plays with his friends, and he helps around the house. He also loves to rescue animals. The book has 30 pages filled with well-drawn illustrations of Toni's hobbies. Each page has only one sentence. The sentences state what Toni loves to do.
Toni loves doing ordinary things that aren't so ordinary for children. First, it’s not very ordinary to find a little boy that wants to help with housework. Second, a lot of children don't play outside the house. There are drawings of Toni eating healthy food like fruits and vegetables. I think this would encourage kids to embrace healthy eating habits. Toni is an impeccable role model for his peers. This book contains many moral lessons for kids. The fact that Toni is an African American superhero helps kids to appreciate diversity. I'd like to compare this book to Black Panther. They redefined the idea of a superhero in the film industry, and I think Toni the Superhero by R.D. Base is doing the same. African American superheroes exist too, and they're just as amazing as white superheroes. It's what is on the inside that matters.Toni likes to read. Toni likes to dust.
This book is really entertaining. It would make a fun bedtime story. I love that there are upcoming sequels. I hope they will be just as insightful.
Some of the things Toni loves doing are dangerous. For example, the illustration where Toni loves to jump. He is drawn jumping on tree stumps. I think that would be a very dangerous game for children under seven years to try. If they missed one tree stump while jumping from one to the other, they could fall and get injured. I'd recommend parental guidance for this hobby.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Despite the minor issue with the jumping hobby, the story has some of the most important lessons a child should learn. As I mentioned, there's an easy solution to the flaw, which is parental guidance. It is a very helpful and entertaining children's book. I recommend the book to children of 0-10 years.
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Toni the Superhero
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