Author: Stan Kirby
Illustrator: George O’Connor
The town of Sunnyview got a little bit safer when Eugene moves in. Eight-year-old Eugene McGillicudy is an imaginative boy who loves comic books and superheroes. Eugene also has his very own super secret superhero alter ego named Captain Awesome. Captain Awesome is on a mission to save his family, his school, his town, and the universe from nefarious villains like “Queen Stinkypants” from Planet Baby (aka known as baby sister).
Each story in the series has the mass appeal of superheroes but is written for readers just beginning to explore chapter books. With easy to read language and comic style illustrations on almost every page, “Captain Awesome” is a great choice for beginning readers. The stories have a cheerful, wholesome humor that is just the right tone for the targeted age group of readers while maintaining an interesting plot line that will engage even more developed readers. As with all early reading books, the story is simple and the characters are not complex. Still, there is adventure, plenty of villains, and the making of friends to carry the book well. Parents and children can enjoy reading together and even reluctant readers are drawn in by Captain Awesome’s adventures!
Book #1 Captain Awesome to the Rescue
When the McGillicudy family relocates to a new town called Sunnyview, Eugene starts a new school, finds a best friend, and even finds time to defend his toys from his two-year-old little sister, Molly! Luckily for Sunnyview, Captain Awesome is there to protect the town (and the universe) from a hilarious cast of comical “bad guys.”
Book #2 Captain Awesome vs. Nacho Cheese Man
Eugene McGillicudy and Charlie Thomas Jones are best friends. They are also supersecret superheroes and members of the Sunnyview Superhero Squad. It’s Captain Awesome and Nacho Cheese Man to the rescue! But when Eugene and Charlie get into a fight, Captain Awesome is forced to wonder if Nacho Cheese Man might actually be…bad? What happens when your superhero best friend acts like a…..Bad Guy?! Eugene learns an important lesson about friendship—and what it really means to be a superhero.
Book #3 Captain Awesome and the New Kid
Captain Awesome and Nacho Cheese Man are up to their old tricks…saving the universe through the defeat of one bad guy at a time. From Mr. Drools to Dr. Spinach, evil doesn’t stand a chance in Sunnyview! But when a new student named Sally Williams joins Ms. Beasley’s class, the boys wonder if she is friend or foe.
Book #10 Captain Awesome and the Missing Elephants
Sunnyview Elementary School is off to the zoo! Meanie Meredith is head over heels for the pink flamingos (even though they are the most evil color ever), and Eugene can’t wait to see the elephants. Unfortunately, they seem to be missing. Once again, it’s up to Captain Awesome and his superhero pals to fight evil and in order to find and rescue the most awesome animal in the park.
- Is the book well crafted? Did the story draw you in and make you want to keep reading? Yes, it is obviously written for a young reader audience but was interesting and a ton of fun as a read aloud also.
- Is the content appropriate for the grade level that the book is targeted to? Yes, I read the books listed above and in those stories I noted no content or language that would be concerning for parents of pre-school or elementary children. Language is wholesome, friendships are well developed, there is no name-calling, disrespect of authority, or gross humor often found in comic or graphic style books.
