Super Manny Stands Up! (Super Manny)

At home, Manny, a small raccoon with a big imagination, has a wardrobe of superhero capes to match his pretend-play scenarios; wearing a blue cape while looking into the fishbowl, he feels "fearless" and imagines he's saving the world "from an ocean of unsavory sea creatures." Manny has a cape for school, too, though it's invisible to ensure that it remains "top secret undercover." When a hedgehog is bullied by a hulking pig in the lunchroom, Manny summons the power of all of his capes to say "Stop it"--first quietly, then assertively--and his courage reminds his classmates that they have invisible capes as well. DiPucchio's (Everyone Loves Cupcake) narration tends toward the literal, but her brevity and directness should make an instant connection with readers. Graegin's (Little Fox in the Forest) pencil-and-ink pictures seem unassuming and lighthearted (Manny's make-believe villains include robots who can't shoot straight with their laser-beam eyes), but when the lunchroom scene unfolds, the images take on surprising and touching drama, creating a powerful moment of truth. Ages 4-8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (July)

PreS-Gr 1--Every day at home, Manny the raccoon dons a different color cape and becomes by turns fearless, strong, brave, powerful, and invincible. But Manny always saves his top secret undercover cape for school because it is invisible. So one day, when a classmate was being bullied by another, taller student, he works up the courage to intervene, inspiring his peers to remember their invisible capes. Soon they are all standing up against the bully. Young readers and listeners will be cheering for Manny's heroic endeavors while subtly digesting a deeper message of antibullying. The pencil and ink drawings sweetly depict the childlike qualities of Manny and his animal classmates. VERDICT This wonderful read-aloud is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Recommended.--Jessica Marie, Salem Public Library, OR