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When I read the book, I felt that Toni wasn’t a superhero, he was a little boy with a superhero costume. Her probably believes that he is a superhero and he probably believes that he can fly. However, from a parent’s point of view, he is a superhero because he is such a good, healthy and happy boy.
Did you think he was a superhero?

I tend to agree with you. For one, he doesn't wear his underwear outside. LOL.

Miriam Molina wrote: ↑01 Jul 2018, 06:24 I tend to agree with you. For one, he doesn't wear his underwear outside. LOL.

Of course! The true mark of a superhero.

I thought the premise of the book was that Toni was an actual superhero, but that he still did ordinary chores and activities like other kids. It seemed like the whole point was to show kids that even superheroes have the same responsibilities as everyone else.

I think the idea was that they were trying to relate it to children to help them feel like superheros are just like them, they still do chores etc. Or maybe he is a superhero because he is teaching them to read?

I had the same thoughts as you. I didn't think he was an actual superhero. I think he dressed like one, and because he did all of his chores and was such a good kid, it made him a superhero.
So the message to kids is that if you're a good kid, you can be anything. Maybe?

Miriam Molina wrote: ↑01 Jul 2018, 06:24 I tend to agree with you. For one, he doesn't wear his underwear outside. LOL.

I also agree with Helen. (LOL. Captain Underpants was one of my favourite comic books to read during my childhood.)

I think it only matters what he defines himself as - not what others think.
(I wish we could have seen more of that in the book).
It's similar to us here - some on here call themselves writers. I consider myself a writer. Really anyone can place labels on anything.

bookowlie wrote: ↑01 Jul 2018, 08:27 I thought the premise of the book was that Toni was an actual superhero, but that he still did ordinary chores and activities like other kids. It seemed like the whole point was to show kids that even superheroes have the same responsibilities as everyone else.

Yes! Exactly! Plus, you don't have to have superhero abilities to BE a superhero. A kid that helps at home willingly is definitely a superhero in her mom's eyes.

I had the same thought as I read this book. We are introduced to Toni the "superhero" and then jump into the normal things he likes to do. I don't really see Toni as a superhero though. I would have liked to see the superhero things he likes to do as well.

I think it’s nice that the book is defining superhero as things that normal people can achieve. Aspiring to fly and to be able look at Lois Lane’s underwear with your X-ray eyes might be great fun, but not particularly practical in today’s world.

I agree, I think he's just a kid. But a superhero in the way that he's a very good kid. I'm sure he's a superhero to his family. He reminded me of kids who like to play dress up and pretend. I thought it was very cute.

Helen_Combe wrote: ↑01 Jul 2018, 16:42 I think it’s nice that the book is defining superhero as things that normal people can achieve. Aspiring to fly and to be able look at Lois Lane’s underwear with your X-ray eyes might be great fun, but not particularly practical in today’s world.

LOL! X-Ray eyes! I hope Toni is too young to think of that!

I did not think of Toni as a superhero. I thought that HE thinks he is a superhero, and probably, so would the child reading.

I don't care if Toni actually has superpowers, but what I don't like is that we can't tell if Base is just referring to him as a superhero to teach a lesson that all kids are superheroes or if Toni will actually have any type of superpower. The first thing Toni likes to do is rescue animals which doesn't necessarily take a superhero, but from a child's perspective, it probably does. But then the list of things shifts to everyday activities. The lack of clarification about what superhero means in this context bothers me. If he does have some extraordinary ability, I think Base should have included that in Toni's introductory story.