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Wedgieman
Wedgieman: A Hero Is Born
In The Adventures of A Hero Is Born , young readers will follow Veggiebaby from his humble beginnings on his journey to becoming Veggieman. Um, make that Wedgieman, since that's what the kids in the neighborhood all call him. Let's face it—children aren't the best spellers and, well, wedgies are a lot cooler than veggies!
But it's not all cauliflower and carrot sticks—Wedgieman has to fight some pretty bad dudes in his work as a superhero, yet the one battle he can't seem to win is the one over his superhero name.
Brought vividly to life by Bob Shea's graphic and stylish illustrations, The Adventures of Wedgieman blends Charise Mericle Harper's outlandish humor with tongue-in-cheek action that will delight young readers.The Adventures of A Hero Is Born is the first book in the series, and two more are on the way!
But it's not all cauliflower and carrot sticks—Wedgieman has to fight some pretty bad dudes in his work as a superhero, yet the one battle he can't seem to win is the one over his superhero name.
Brought vividly to life by Bob Shea's graphic and stylish illustrations, The Adventures of Wedgieman blends Charise Mericle Harper's outlandish humor with tongue-in-cheek action that will delight young readers.The Adventures of A Hero Is Born is the first book in the series, and two more are on the way!
48 pages, Library Binding
First published August 7, 2012
3 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 8, 2015
Never mind that Bob Shea is a favorite illustrator of mine... Wedgieman is great writing for the Early Reader set. Lots of good humor - like Wedgieman actually starts as Veggie Man but due to a V shaped stick stuck on his outfit the kids see W - and hence he becomes Wedgieman. Not to worry lots of veggies accompany the inevitable wedgie. Definitely high interest.
June 24, 2018
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Not going to sugarcoat it, this book was boring. I read Wedgieman and the Big Bunny Trouble a few weeks ago and enjoyed it. It was humorous and entertaining. This origin story, however, was incredibly dull. Even for a Step 3 book, it seemed really long and unnecessarily wordy. Nothing funny happens besides the children mistaking Veggieman for Wedgieman.
The pictures were nice, but I just could not get into the story. Nothing really happened and it was just not very funny.
This book series will appeal to fans of Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants, but you could probably skip this one for some of the later more humorous books.
Not going to sugarcoat it, this book was boring. I read Wedgieman and the Big Bunny Trouble a few weeks ago and enjoyed it. It was humorous and entertaining. This origin story, however, was incredibly dull. Even for a Step 3 book, it seemed really long and unnecessarily wordy. Nothing funny happens besides the children mistaking Veggieman for Wedgieman.
The pictures were nice, but I just could not get into the story. Nothing really happened and it was just not very funny.
This book series will appeal to fans of Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants, but you could probably skip this one for some of the later more humorous books.
August 27, 2020
This book, through its narration and interesting pictures, encourages fussy or picky children to love and eat vegetables. Even children who love vegetables would like to have more of them after reading the book. This book is very good for growing children.
The story is about a baby (Veggiebaby), growing into a boy (Veggieboy) and finally a man (Veggieman). He got the above names because of his love to eat all the healthy vegetables. He is shown as a Superhero who can lift trees and bus and can even turn himself into a giant carrot because he is extremely strong and healthy due to his love to eat all vegetables.
His gets the name "Wedgieman" from "Veggieman" because of the change in the alphabet V TO "W", when a stick gets stuck to his shirt during his attempt to save a child.
I like the book and I love eating all the vegetables too! I'm very strong like him!!
The story is about a baby (Veggiebaby), growing into a boy (Veggieboy) and finally a man (Veggieman). He got the above names because of his love to eat all the healthy vegetables. He is shown as a Superhero who can lift trees and bus and can even turn himself into a giant carrot because he is extremely strong and healthy due to his love to eat all vegetables.
His gets the name "Wedgieman" from "Veggieman" because of the change in the alphabet V TO "W", when a stick gets stuck to his shirt during his attempt to save a child.
I like the book and I love eating all the vegetables too! I'm very strong like him!!
February 4, 2021
Years ago I read Wedgieman and the Big Bad Bunny Trouble with my daughter and found it to be a hysterically fun book for early readers. Now I am going back and reading many of the books I added to my "to-read" list that I never got to and the other Wedgieman books were among them. While Wedgieman: A Hero Is Born, is Wedgieman's origin story, it was not as good as the later. I found it rather sad to learn that our helpful protagonist had wanted to be Veggieman, but only changed his identity after being bullied into it by the very kids he was trying to rescue.
January 23, 2019
Introducing the new hero Wedgieman.
I liked the book it was a terrific book. It was about how Wedgieman became a superhero. He was Wedgiebaby then Wedgieboy finnaly he was Wedgieman.
I liked the book it was a terrific book. It was about how Wedgieman became a superhero. He was Wedgiebaby then Wedgieboy finnaly he was Wedgieman.
June 28, 2017
Cute story, very funny and entertaining for kids. I loved it.
December 19, 2016
Wedgieman: A Hero is Born is a level 3 easy reader from Random House’s Step into Reading series. (In this series, Level 3 is for readers who can read independently, and the back of the book promises engaging characters, easy-to-follow plots, and popular topics.) Though the title suggests comparisons to the Captain Underpants series, I am happy to report that Wedgieman is somewhat less gross than the famed chapter book hero. In fact, Wedgieman starts out as Veggiebaby, then Veggieboy, and finally Veggieman, a superhero who wants to help kids eat their vegetables and stay healthy. (I like to think of him as Captain Vegetable for the 21st Century.) Wedgieman only gets his new underwear-inspired nickname after a mix-up with the letter on his uniform and a run-in with some kids who are fond of toilet humor.
While I don’t necessarily think the plot of this book is the most original thing in the world, I have to say that the telling of the story and the artwork really stand out from other easy readers. Charise Mericle Harper’s sense of humor is perfect for early elementary school students, and Bob Shea’s illustrations give the book the cartoonish feel it needs to draw in superhero fans. Harper makes great use of alliteration early in the book when she describes the shapes Veggiebaby can build out of his food (broccoli bears, spinach spiders, etc.) and again when she talks about the mess Veggiebaby makes while eating (peas in his pants, cabbage on the cat, etc.) Though the story doesn’t give a lot of room for description, Harper works in a few great lines showing, rather than telling us, about things like Veggieboy’s strength. “He held a bus full of chattering grandmas high in the air” is just about the best sentence I can imagine to convey a superhero’s super abilities.
The underwear humor in the second half of the book isn’t my cup of tea, but I know a lot of kids - both boys and girls - who are in that stage right now who will laugh themselves silly when they read this book. I also think there is something appealing about a bumbling superhero character who isn’t as smart or as savvy as the kids around him. That kind of humor works well for this age group, even if I do think the kids’ gossiping and name-calling is a bit mean-spirited.
All in all, Wedgieman is a promising new series sure to appeal to fans of other funny easy reader series like Fly Guy, George and Martha, and Elephant and Piggie as well as to readers who enjoy the Super Friends and other Marvel and DC comics easy readers.
While I don’t necessarily think the plot of this book is the most original thing in the world, I have to say that the telling of the story and the artwork really stand out from other easy readers. Charise Mericle Harper’s sense of humor is perfect for early elementary school students, and Bob Shea’s illustrations give the book the cartoonish feel it needs to draw in superhero fans. Harper makes great use of alliteration early in the book when she describes the shapes Veggiebaby can build out of his food (broccoli bears, spinach spiders, etc.) and again when she talks about the mess Veggiebaby makes while eating (peas in his pants, cabbage on the cat, etc.) Though the story doesn’t give a lot of room for description, Harper works in a few great lines showing, rather than telling us, about things like Veggieboy’s strength. “He held a bus full of chattering grandmas high in the air” is just about the best sentence I can imagine to convey a superhero’s super abilities.
The underwear humor in the second half of the book isn’t my cup of tea, but I know a lot of kids - both boys and girls - who are in that stage right now who will laugh themselves silly when they read this book. I also think there is something appealing about a bumbling superhero character who isn’t as smart or as savvy as the kids around him. That kind of humor works well for this age group, even if I do think the kids’ gossiping and name-calling is a bit mean-spirited.
All in all, Wedgieman is a promising new series sure to appeal to fans of other funny easy reader series like Fly Guy, George and Martha, and Elephant and Piggie as well as to readers who enjoy the Super Friends and other Marvel and DC comics easy readers.
December 28, 2012
I love the things Charise Mericle Harper and Bob Shea have done. So I was excited to read this particular easy reader. Basically Veggie Man is a kid who loves vegetables. And he has super powers. He had to practice his superpowers in order to actually be good with them, but he worked and became Veggie Man…a superhero who wanted to help others love vegetables too. When a kid was stuck in the top of a tree, he flew up to save the day. Then he gave the kid a bunch of carrots. However, while he was saving the day, a couple of sticks got stuck to his super-hero outfit. The “V” on his chest then looked like a “W” and the kid who he saved…and everyone else…started calling him “Wedgieman.”
With a name like “Wedgieman” kids will be sure to love the book. And with a theme of liking vegetables, parents will be pleased as well. Some kids might be disappointed that there isn’t more “wedgie” jokes. But I think the parents would probably appreciate that the name will make the book seem funny and interesting without the large amount of potty humor. This will be a fun early reader series to keep my eyes on.
With a name like “Wedgieman” kids will be sure to love the book. And with a theme of liking vegetables, parents will be pleased as well. Some kids might be disappointed that there isn’t more “wedgie” jokes. But I think the parents would probably appreciate that the name will make the book seem funny and interesting without the large amount of potty humor. This will be a fun early reader series to keep my eyes on.
August 13, 2016
A funny book with nice illustrations, suitable for children age 6 - 8 years old who are reading on their own.
One day a superhero was born. His name is Veggiebaby. He loves vegetables. All those vegetables made Veggiebaby very healthy, so he grew fast and one day he turned into Veggieboy.
Veggieboy practices his superhero skills. It was not easy but he keeps trying until he succeed.
After a while, he turned into Veggieman. He is a grown-up now so he uses his superhero skill to help other people. One day after Veggieman helps a boy who were stuck up on the tree, children cheers on him.
"Yay! Wedgieman! Our hero!"
"No, wait," said Veggieman. "It's Veggieman, not Wedgieman!"
But the children prefer his new name. Veggieman tries to protest, but the children won't budge. And his new name stuck.
This book is really good in setting examples on how eating vegetables make people strong and healthy. Children would love it!
One day a superhero was born. His name is Veggiebaby. He loves vegetables. All those vegetables made Veggiebaby very healthy, so he grew fast and one day he turned into Veggieboy.
Veggieboy practices his superhero skills. It was not easy but he keeps trying until he succeed.
After a while, he turned into Veggieman. He is a grown-up now so he uses his superhero skill to help other people. One day after Veggieman helps a boy who were stuck up on the tree, children cheers on him.
"Yay! Wedgieman! Our hero!"
"No, wait," said Veggieman. "It's Veggieman, not Wedgieman!"
But the children prefer his new name. Veggieman tries to protest, but the children won't budge. And his new name stuck.
This book is really good in setting examples on how eating vegetables make people strong and healthy. Children would love it!
March 23, 2015
A humorous early reader, that's actually slightly funny in places, and so are the illustrations. Note that I may be rating it higher because I can't help but compare with Tales for Very Picky Eaters, which we found somewhat lame ...
August 25, 2012
Veggieboy practices flying, lifting, and helping people to hone his superhero skills, and finally Veggieman's training as a superhero is complete, but he is surprised when children want to change his name.
So excited for this new early reader series that will be perfect for boys!
So excited for this new early reader series that will be perfect for boys!
October 27, 2012
A disappointing beginning to an early reader series which is likely to appeal to the Captain Underpants set. Unfocused, confusing plot. The idea has potential so I will read others in the series with interest.
August 9, 2013
This is a thoroughly enjoyable book to read aloud with my 3 year old. His laughs make it even more fun, and the reread factor only gets tiresome when he wants to reread the book more than 3 times in one sitting. He could be stalling his bedtime...or he really just enjoys this book.
August 16, 2016
You had me at "Wedgieman."
Seriously, though, I feel like this is a good one to recommend to kids who are about to branch into Captain Underpants but aren't there yet (or who need a Captain Underpants read alike!)
Seriously, though, I feel like this is a good one to recommend to kids who are about to branch into Captain Underpants but aren't there yet (or who need a Captain Underpants read alike!)
August 15, 2012
Pretty awesome kids book.
August 25, 2012
So cute and funny! Would be great for read-aloud too.
September 18, 2012
Best new Early Reader book ever. I was laughing out loud. LOVED IT!!
May 11, 2013
May, 2013- Review coming soon to my new website and will also be posted here. www.musingwithcrayolakym.com
June 28, 2013
Funn story and pictures. Young boys are sure to love rading this one.
February 13, 2014
Definitely better than I thought it would be.
November 29, 2013
"I liked when Veggieman helped that kid when he got stuck in that tree."
May 22, 2014
surprisingly good.
May 7, 2016
Goofy humor and a fun, silly story.
Read
January 21, 2017My little
Boy really enjoyed this book. Probably because he likes the word wedgie
Boy really enjoyed this book. Probably because he likes the word wedgie
September 6, 2020
Very silly—kids will probably love it; parents may not.
August 8, 2012
Cuuuuute.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews