Early Reader Review: Captain Awesome #1 by Stan Kirby and Heidi Heckelbeck #1 by Wanda Coven

Captain Awesome to the Rescue! by Stan Kirby
Illustrations by  George O'Connor 
Available: April 3, 2012
Publisher: Little Simon

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Background: Eugene McGillicudy is actually Captain Awesome! Fighter of the evil super villains, including Queen Stinkypants, hit baby sister. But how is he supposed to do all this when he can’t even find his cape and has just moved to a new place.

Review: Captain Awesome to the Rescue! is a very cute story about a young boy who believes he is a superhero and takes this secret with him everywhere…to fight the evil of his new hometown. It is wonderfully illustrated and imaginative, with Eugene’s superhero presence everywhere, including at his new school. The spacing and pictures make it great for beginning readers, and while the content may make them want to fight crime as well, it is a very captivating story for the young.

Captain Awesome vs. Nacho Cheese Man by Stan Kirby (Teaser)
Illustrations by George O'Connor
Available: April 3, 2012
Publisher: Little Simon

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Background: What do you do when you suspect your best superhero friend is actually a villain? Well this is exactly what Eugene has to figure out. However, first he must deal with Mr. Drools the villain on four legs that lives behind his house.

Review: I only got the first short in this issue (#2) but so far all is well, Eugene and Charles are having a sleepover when the evil Mr. Drools (Eugene’s dog) threatens to drool all over his Super Dude comic. A good start to another adventure with Captain Awesome.


Heidi Heckelbeck Has a Secret by Wanda Coven
Illustrations by Priscilla Burris
Available: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Little Simon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Background: Heidi Heckelbeck is going to school for the first time, before her mother had home-schooled her. She is very upset about the whole idea. Heidi Heckelbeck has a Secret chronicles her first day of school and the interested and annoying people she meets while there…and then we learn her secret.

Review: This was a great read; young girls will love to read this. Heidi is cute and moody but she is a normal girl trying to fit in and her younger brother is encouraging and honest. The illustrations are nicely drawn, very entertaining and go along with the story well; and the writing is easy to follow and spaced nicely for beginning readers. Her secret at the end is wonderful and will keep young people wanting more.


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