Review of Toni the Superhero

[Carol McCoy Phelps]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Toni the Superhero" by R.D. Base.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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R.D. Base’s Toni the Superhero introduces a special cartoon character who likes to do things around the house when he isn’t busy doing superhero stuff. Debbie Hefke’s vibrant artwork and Base’s engaging sentences help lead children on fun adventures of repetitions that help them learn to read. The colorful artwork complements the uncomplicated narrative to make this book a treasured addition to your child’s reading library.

Hefke illustrates adorable and familiar pictures of a typical child’s home on every page in the book. No matter where the reader opens the book, there’s a page showing what Toni is doing. Toni poses on almost every page with a relatable background to give the reader context clues. This makes reading easier each time the child sees the page.

The narrative on page 19 says, “Toni likes to sweep.” This example includes a full-color page with an illustration of Toni holding a huge broom. He is sweeping the floor. Other pages portray Toni dancing, singing, playing, and helping his mom wash the dishes. What can Toni teach the children in your life? Why not get this whimsical book and help Toni teach them how to read?

I like everything about this book, especially the concept of using simple sentences to teach children how to read. After several repetitions, children begin to recognize the words and begin reading on their own. Context clues in the illustrations help children understand what the words mean. The artist's use of merry people and amusing backgrounds draws the attention of young children. The bright colors saturate each page, and they are as irresistible as they are delightful. Each page presents many opportunities for discussion as you help your children point out and count familiar objects, call out colors, and describe the action.

I do not dislike anything about this book. It is extremely well-edited. I did not notice any editing errors. For these reasons, I am happy to rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend Toni the Superhero to children who are four and under.

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Toni the Superhero
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[Lily Rita]

Toni the Superhero" is a wonderful book for early readers. The story is easy to follow and teaches important lessons about empathy and helping others, with vibrant illustrations.