March 1, 2012
PreS-Gr 1-Super El is not feeling very super. He ripped his costume and needs a way to get it mended without all of the animals seeing him in his less-than-super state. The always-kind Elmer volunteers to distract the other animals while he gets it fixed. Elmer uses jokes, sticks, and bird friends to keep the elephants, lions, tigers, hippos, rabbits, crocodiles, and monkeys from noticing Super El as he slinks past them. When the two finally make their way to Aunt Zelda, readers are treated to her hard-of-hearing humor before Super El zooms off into the sky. The spreads are done in vivid colors and have everything Elmer fans have come to expect. This adorable tale shows young readers that even superheroes need help once in a while.-Kris Hickey, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH
Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2012
Super El's costume tore on a thornbush, so Elmer the patchwork elephant helps him reach Aunt Zelda, who can mend the costume. But to get there, Elmer must devise ways to sneak Super El past all the other animals so they won't laugh at him. The bright gouache illustrations accentuate this cheerful story about friendship and helpfulness that is light on real tension but nicely paced.
(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)