And for our kids, it’s been frustrating and confusing.
Life changed in ways it had never changed before. We had to stop doing a lot of the things we loved to do. There are so many new rules we have to follow.
In I’m a Hero Too, we step into Arty’s world and experiences as a virus changes things. His Mum gets really busy and Dad is working from home. Arty can’t see his grandmother anymore or play on the playground equipment.
Arty’s mum is always tired, but it’s because she’s working so hard. She’s a scientist, and she’s working to create new medicine to stop the virus.
Arty decides he’ll be a hero, too. He’ll wash his hands well, put his tissues straight in the bin and get dressed quickly when his mum asks him too.
My name is Arty, and today I feel like a hero.
Do you want to be a hero too?
If you’re looking for a picture book to comfort kids during this hard year, I highly recommend I’m a Hero Too.
It reflects the reality of this year in a meaningful and relatable way for kids, exploring ways in which their world has changed and the frustrations that have come with those changes. Stories with relatable storylines help children reflect on their own experiences. They help them process their feelings and see that other kids might be feeling exactly what they are.
But this isn’t a story of sorrow. The story inspires kids to be heroes and help their communities.
Kids are great at being heroes, so in a lot of ways the story is also a thank you to children for how they’ve coped with this year and the sacrifices they’ve made.
Peter Cheong’s illustrations are stunning. He perfectly captures the strong emotions that feature throughout the story, and his style is fun with vibrant pops of colour — much needed for a book that deals with a difficult topic.
I think that is what is so perfect about this book. Cheong and Rizvi together deliver a story about a challenging subject, but they do so with inspiration and hope so lovingly intertwined throughout.
I’m a Hero Too is an important story for a challenging year.
Title: I'm a Hero Too
Author: Jamila Rizvi
Illustrator: Peter Cheong
Publisher: Puffin, $24.99
Publication Date: 20 October 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761040115
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book
