He'd love to be a real-life hero, but given that the worst thing that happens in Black Stump is Mrs Bandicoot's son Stanley digging holes everywhere, there's not much opportunity for Eric to flex his superhero muscles. That is, until the Wombat Brothers gang comes to town!
The dastardly wombats bully some youngsters and steal their ice-creams. Eric decides he needs to teach them a lesson so sets to work in his burrow. A few weeks later, there's a new superhero to guard the town: The Masked Echidna! Complete with Antmobile, of course.
While a few of the townspeople have a sneaking suspicion that the Masked Echidna bears a striking resemblance to Eric the echidna, this is not enough to deter Eric. Miss Kylie the koala becomes his office assistant and they set up camp in his superhero cave (formerly his burrow), waiting for the Wombat Brothers to strike again …
But what Eric doesn't realise is that every superhero needs a sidekick. And when the Wombat Brothers next attack, he'll need all his superhero smarts and bravery, plus a little outside help, to save the day!
Michael Salmon is the author and illustrator of over 80 books for children, and is one of Australia's best-loved picture book creators. In Eric, he has given us a delightful Aussie crime-fighter who proves that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.
Title: The Masked Echidna
Author/Illustrator: Michael Salmon
Publisher: The Five Mile Press, $14.95 RRP
Publication Date: September 2014
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760063061
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book
