Craig Cormick (text) and Lauren Mullinder (illustrator), Superheroes For A Day, EK Books, July 2024, RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781922539977
Craig Cormick wrote this book with his son Caelan who has ASD. The loving father-son relationship underpins this story, which is a valuable book explaining and exploring autism (ASD) in children. Autism is such a varied syndrome with a wide range of behaviours. Each child with autism spectrum disorder is likely to have a unique pattern of behaviour and level of severity — from low functioning to high functioning. The unique mixture of symptoms in each child, can sometimes be hard to determine. Difficulty with social interactions and communication is common. Also common is stereotyped and repetitive speech as Max, one of the characters in the book, displays when he goes into a monologue of listing kings and queens and battles of history for hours. Movements such as flapping hands or other repetitive actions can be part of ASD. Another character, Natalie flaps her hands when she feels stress. The children display lack of eye contact when speaking, excessively following routines, patterns or behaviours, and becoming distressed at changes. Max has a ‘meltdown’ when he can’t cope.
In Superheroes for a Day, Max, Daniel and Natalie are three friends who need each other to navigate a world they don’t comprehend. Their school unexpectedly faces a problem when the key to the sports shed goes missing. The principal apparently had it around his neck, but it disappeared. Every gym class will be replaced by Maths. That is when Max comes up with an idea of the great quest. He with his friends will find a solution so the sports shed can once again be opened so gym classes resume. ‘This day the school is going to discover that we have superpowers.’ Max will be the Memory Kid. Natalie will be the Jigsaw Kid. Daniel will be the Story Boy Kid.
Their adventure involves both bullies and idols. Of course, they manage the many challenges of discovering where the key could be and they end the quest with victory. There are Superheroes for A Day to the applause of the principal and school.
It is difficult to engage children with autism and at times the story becomes explanatory and instructive. However, overall, it goes to the heart of autism and offers an inclusive and authentic story that brings the reader into the experience of autism and the lives of these children.
Suitable for ages 7-10. Can be purchased from the publisher’s website, where teaching notes are also available.
Highly recommended.
