Review of Toni the Superhero

[Adrian Bouknight]

[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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“Toni the Superhero” by R.D. Base is a children’s book written for early readers. It takes you through a day in the life of Toni, a young boy who is both a superhero and enjoys ordinary, everyday things. Toni enjoys playing outside with friends, helping his family clean the house, and having fun with various activities throughout the day.

There were a handful of things that stood out to me, which I appreciated about the book. One aspect I particularly liked is that Toni is depicted as a child of color. I have a two-year-old daughter, and of the many books she has, very few feature a racially diverse cast. Racial diversity in children's literature is crucial for social development and equality, and as someone who is multiracial myself, I really appreciated this.

I also appreciated the vibrant colors of the book, the depictions of healthy food, exercise, and the completion of chores. The verbs used throughout the book, such as "run," "swim," or "play," were all simple enough for young children to understand. I shared this book with my daughter, and though she cannot read yet, she was able to point out the different foods and activities. The book is short enough to keep a young child’s attention as well. Sometimes, if a book is too long, my daughter will lose interest and push it away, but “Toni the Superhero” kept her engaged from beginning to end.

If I could make recommendations for the author, I would note that, with the exception of one image, the walls of Toni’s house often appeared empty or somewhat bland. I might recommend adding paintings or artwork of animals, boats, airplanes, or something that children can point out to help them engage with the book as they read through. The windows throughout the book often appeared blank, with no scenes of the outside world, such as birds, trees, or the sun, visible through them. Even when playing outside, aside from the grass, there were often no trees, birds, squirrels, or any sort of flora or fauna. I would consider adding some of these details to bring the story to life. At one point in the story, the kitchen floor takes up a significant portion of the page; in this case, it may help to orient the image upwards to keep children’s attention.

Though there are a couple of areas that may be worth improving, overall, I appreciated the content of the story, the depicted racial diversity, and the vibrant artwork. Toni was relatable in the activities he engaged in. Each page was inspirational and morally instructive. The story was easy to understand and appeared to be professionally edited. For these reasons, despite my minor critiques, I am giving “Toni the Superhero” 5 out of 5 stars, and I really look forward to future installments of Toni’s story!

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Toni the Superhero
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Gerry Steen]

Kudos to the author for penning a book with racial diversity. This is so important for all children to see and identify with because in case anyone hasn't noticed, we live in a racially diverse world! Children must identify with this world and be comfortable with it from a young age. Toni's childhood sounded like mine. I lived with my Mum, Grandma, Grandpa, and sister. And believe you me, I had to help clean the house before going out to play with my friends. The chores did not hurt me, and helped to form a good work ethic. Toni sets a good example for other children to follow. Great review!

[Priya Murugesan]

I am very much interested in reading this book with my kids and learning about the life of Tone. You have aptly noted the lack of details in illustrations and I really appreciate your meticulous review!

[Elizabeth-Tush4Christ]

I enjoy reading children's books because I find them not only entertaining but also quite relevant to my life, especially since I'm surrounded by kids. They love the stories I share with them, whether they’re made up or taken from books. For the older kids, we read together, and it’s always a fun, memorable experience. I’m excited to check out this book, and I appreciate the diversity it brings. Thanks for the insightful review. Your recommendations are spot-on for the intended audience, it will make the experience even more engaging and enjoyable.

[Kshitija Sonawane]

There are very few characters for children which are good depictions for boys. Matthew Patrick, also known as Mattpat, has talked a bit about this in his youtube channel, Film Theory. This book can be the good character that the boys want. You did a particularly good job with this review.

[Stephen Christopher 1]

100% racial diversity needs to be present in more children's books and Toni being a superhero also appeals to young readers. Your suggestions about the illustrations are extremely valid.

[Alissa Nesson]

I also enjoyed this book! I think the concept of an extraordinary character being kind and helpful is a wonderful example for children. I also really appreciated that Tony was a person of color. We don’t see that enough, and all children deserve to see people like themselves in the stories they love and the characters they admire. The pictures were vibrant and colorful, which is perfect to attract a young child’s attention. Thanks for your review!