Every Hero Has a Story: Picture Book Reading List

This year's summer reading theme is all about heroes! Get your youngest readers into the spirit with these great picture books, organized into four heroic categories.

Superheroes

• Princess Super Kitty by Antoinette Portis
  A little girl named Maggie uses her imagination to transform herself into the feline superhero Princess Super Kitty.
• Question Boy Meets Little Miss Know-It-All by Peter Catalanotto
  A boy who has the ability to ask question after question meets his match in a little girl who seems to have an answer for everything.
• Superhero ABC by Bob McLeod
  A series of silly superheroes illustrates the letters of the alphabet and their sounds.
• Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy by David Soman and Jacky Davis
  Preschooler friends Lulu and Sam become Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy and save the playground from imaginary enemies.
• Super Hair-o and the Barber of Doom by John Rocco
  Rocco is convinced his hair provides him with superpowers, so the prospect of a haircut is worrisome.
  

Heroes in History

• Heroes of the Surf by Elisa Carbone and Nancy Carpenter
  When a steamship runs aground in 1882 New Jersey, two boys and many other passengers are saved by heroic surfmen.
• Bill the Boy Wonder by Marc Tyler Nobleman
  This picture book biography tells the story of Bill Finger, the real creator of Batman, who was never given proper credit during his lifetime.
• This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt and R.G. Roth
  This singable picture book celebrates great men in jazz history.
• John, Paul, George, and Ben by Lane Smith
  A silly and irreverent look at the childhoods of famous Americans John Hancock, Paul Revere, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin. 

Community Heroes

• Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
  Author-illustrator Patricia Polacco pays tribute to the special teacher who helped her discover that she had dyslexia.
   
• The Impossible Patriotism Project by Linda Skeers and Ard Hoyt
  When Caleb is assigned to make something that will demonstrate the meaning of patriotism, he ends up creating a tribute to his father's service in the armed forces.
• This is the Firefighter by Laura Godwin and Julian Hector
  Simple rhyming text describes the work of a firefighter.
• Police Officers on Patrol by Kersten Hamilton and R.W. Alley
  When people need help, male and female police officers are ready to "rock and roll!"
  

Animal Heroes

• Madeline’s Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans
  Beloved French schoolgirl Madeline is saved from drowning by a dog named Genevieve.
• Swimmy by Leo Lionni
  After watching his own friends get eaten by a larger fish, a little black fish named Swimmy helps a group of red fish escape a similar fate.
• Pretzel by Margret Ray and H.A. Rey
  In this classic picture book, Pretzel, a very long dachsund, rescues a female dachsund who has previously disdained his length.
• Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
  A lively dog named Gloria helps add some excitement to Officer Buckle's otherwise dull safety presentations.