Why doesn't Toni have abilities? Is it a safety reason?

[khusnick]

I really felt like it was a role model kind of thing. Toni is a superhero, and he can fly. But he still has regular interests and actually enjoys cleaning up around the house.

[Ashiyya Tariq]

Yes, I agree about the influencing factor on author's part because he wants Toni a role model for kids by teaching them taking interest in household task and be obedient.

[Ksharmilla]

Superheroes don't always have to have superpowers. Sometimes being good is the superpower.

[prinjeh18]

I think the reason that Toni lacks "superhero abilities" is because the author wants to show children good values like reading, helping around the house, healthy eating, etc. When a superhero is doing these things it makes children want to do them too! When reading this book with my daughter, she was very excited that the superhero did some of the same things she does. It is a relatable book for children!

I agree with you! Children love to mimic what they have seen. I guess the author is thinking that way to enhance children's cooperation in our household chores.

[prinjeh18]

I think the reason that Toni lacks "superhero abilities" is because the author wants to show children good values like reading, helping around the house, healthy eating, etc. When a superhero is doing these things it makes children want to do them too! When reading this book with my daughter, she was very excited that the superhero did some of the same things she does. It is a relatable book for children!

I agree with you! Children love to mimic what they have seen. I guess the author is thinking that way to enhance children's cooperation in our household chores.

[Storm+]

I don't think Toni's "lack" of superpowers is for the safety of the children reading the book. I think, if anything, it is far more likely that the author did not have Toni have visible superpowers to make him more relatable to normal kids and to teach the lesson that even superheroes do ordinary things, thus encouraging children to do them as well.

[prinjeh18]

Maybe, in the next series more upcoming revelation of toni's superpowers.

[Britty01]

As this book is the first one in the series, I felt perhaps the author has other things she wants to address first. I got the impression the author wants to convey positive messages. This first book shows that being a hero represents being kind and helpful to others, including animals.

[Zain A Blade]

I think Toni has superhero abilities. Any kid who helps around the house is a superhero of the best variety.

[Kendra M Parker]

The pictures do show him “flying” in the book, but otherwise, he is a pretty normal kid. I think this is to let the kids relate to the superhero. Especially young kids take the author at her word when she says he is a superhero. Then they get to say, “I like to run, I’m just like Toni!” I watched it with my own son as I read the book to him. He didn’t care that Toni didn’t climb walls. He was excited that he was just like the superhero, and it encouraged him to think about others and how he can help.

[LaurenHaupt]

It would ruin the theme to the book. I think it would sound more like a comic.

[ccrews0408]

I think the author is subtly showing us that you don't need special powers to be a superhero. You can be a superhero to your family and friends by spending time with them and helping them out in ordinary ways. In fact, maybe the willingness to work and play and help others in need is the greatest superpower of all.

I think this opinion is spot on. I think all kids should know that they can be super heroes just by being all around good people. No matter their athletic abilities, intelligence etc.

[Zain A Blade]

While I can't really tell the reason behind Toni's lack of superhero abilities, what I feel pretty sure of is that this omission was deliberate on the part of the author.

[Jackie Holycross]

I think the author is subtly showing us that you don't need special powers to be a superhero. You can be a superhero to your family and friends by spending time with them and helping them out in ordinary ways. In fact, maybe the willingness to work and play and help others in need is the greatest superpower of all.

I totally agree. There are so many ‘ordinary’ people who are the best super heros of all.

[Brittany J]

I don't think it was for safety reasons. I think it was to encourage children to be good kids, live a healthy lifestyle, and help around the house. Kids look up to superheroes, so the child may be more motivated to do these normal activities when asked. I don't think shielding children from superhero activities such as flying or jumping off of buildings is beneficial to a child. They are still going to try things that may be dangerous regardless of seeing it in media or not, and I think by seeing these things in books or movies, they get the idea that these are not things they can or should be doing.