Nikki Powergloves- A Hero is Born

Nikki Powergloves #1

by David Estes

Perfect for kids aged 7-10 or advanced younger readers aged 4-6!!

Nikki Nickerson hates her name and her boring life as a nine-year-old in the small town of Cragglyville. That is, until she finds a disappearing path into a forest that is rumored to be haunted. At the end of the trail, she and her dog, Mr. Miyagi, find a beautiful treasure chest, standing ready for her to claim.

What does the chest contain? Gold? No. Diamonds? Nah. Money? Not even close. The chest contains twelve multi-colored gloves. Nikki’s disappointment quickly morphs into delight when she discovers that the gloves are much more than just a cheesy fashion accessory. You see, each pair of gloves gives her a different power, such as stopping time or super-strength.

With a little help from her best friend, Spencer Quick, Nikki Nickerson is transformed into Nikki Powergloves, crime-fighting superhero. But every hero needs a villain and she soon finds hers in the form of Jimmy Powerboots, a smug and misguided youth who uncovers a similar treasure and chooses to use his newfound powers for evil. Nikki must find a way to de-boot her arch nemesis and stop his maniacal plans.

Genres: Superheroes, Childrens, Middle Grade

150 pages, Unknown Binding

First published August 31, 2012

About the author

Get a FREE short story from David Estes' #1 Amazon bestselling epic fantasy series, Fatemarked, when you sign up for his mailing list: https://www.subscribepage.com/b2v6v3

David Estes has written more than 50 science fiction and fantasy books. He loves chatting with his readers, all of whom he considers to be his friends. David lives in Hawaii with his Aussie wife, Adele, his moody cats, Bailey, Luna, and Ruby, and his rambunctious sons, Beau and Brody.

Join 3,000+ David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite in David Estes' official fan group at:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/7...

Books by David Estes:

-The Fatemarked Epic- For fans of A Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and The Way of Kings! Four kingdoms. A century-old war. One ancient prophecy that could change everything.

-The Kingfall Histories- a follow up series to the #1 Amazon bestselling series, The Fatemarked Epic

-The Forsworn Oath- the third series in the Fatemarked/Kingfall world

-Strings- “A wonderful retelling of the Pinocchio story…I simply couldn’t put this book down.”—Rysa Walker, bestselling author of TIMEBOUND

-The Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.

-Salem's Revenge trilogy- the witch apocalypse begins!

-Slip Trilogy- "Someone must die before another can be born..."

-The Adventures of Nikki Powergloves- Kid superheroes? 'Nuff said.

Reviews

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was more than honored when David asked if my son, Anthony, would be a Beta reader for his Nikki Powergloves series. When he asked, I was very excited, but I wasn't sure how my son would react.
Well, he loved these books. He zipped through them in no time flat. When he was finished with the first, he could not wait for me to load the next one onto his Kindle!
Anthony said one of his most favorite things about this series is it's ability to make him laugh. He loves that he can giggle while reading the story.
And he loved the fact that Nikki could have all different types of powers just by donning gloves. I mean, how cool would that be? He kept telling me he wished he had her powers.
And the story kept him completely interested. He finished the first book in only two days. And he got upset when he couldn't start the new one right away!
What more could a mother want than for her son to WANT to read because a story is so good he doesn't want to put it down?
And I loved the character names. While my son did not get the name of the dog, Mr. Miyagi, it totally took me back to when I was young. And I loved that reference!
Such an imaginative way to incorporate super powers into a book.
He would be reading the story and when we would tell him it was time to do something, he would ask for one more minute so he could finish a chapter! How exciting.
I'm so glad Anthony got to test out this wonderful series for David. It's going to be such a great hit.
If you have elementary school children, Anthony is 8 1/2, I highly recommend that you go out and pick up this series when it is released.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Hero is Born is the first book in a children’s series that centers around a young girl who discovers super powered gloves and begins her transformation into a hero. This book is perfect for young readers around the ages of 7 to 10, it may be a bit too simple for those with higher reader levels.

Nikki Powergloves is such a cute book which really taps into a kid’s desire to be a hero, but the best thing about this book is the fact that it shows the amount of care and thought that goes into trying to help. There will be consequences to everything you do, but you need to make sure they are the right ones before going ahead. It also puts some great focuses on friendship and growing up. The powergloves themselves are a neat idea, and I love that there are little guardians of power going around offering power items to kids they think are worthy.

I really liked Nikki, she’s a bit of a restless spirit at the age of 9 and desperately wants something exciting. As soon as the powergloves come into play we get to see that she’s truly a good person. She sees the dangers of misusing the gloves right away and the steps she takes afterwards to ensure it never happens again really made me like her. Her best friend Spencer is the best friend we all want as kids. He supports her, boosts her mood when needed, and even when they don’t agree he sticks with her.

If you have a kid around this age range who loves adventures and superheroes then this is definitely one to check out.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nikki Powergloves is the fun and adorable story of a 9 year old girl learning how to make the world a better place, and discovering her own powers.

Its a normal summer, when Nikki discovers a groundhog called a "Weeble" who gives her a fantastic gift: a magic treasure chest filled with magical gloves. Each pair is a different color and has a different ability.

At first, Nikki and her best friend, Spencer have nothing but fun, playing around with the gloves and unlocking their powers. Then they meet Jimmy, who also seems to have his own powers...and is determined to destroy Nikki's hometown. Things just got real!

I would have loved reading this story when I was a kid. Its fun and full of action and adventure. Not to mention the hilarity! I was laughing out loud several times throughout the story! And while the author has lessons for the characters to learn, it never gets too heavy, and is fun from beginning to end!

Kids who are fans of The Magic Treehouse series or Captain Underpants will love Nikki Powergloves!

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can you say, “A wonderful and exciting adventure that makes me want to be nine again, or least have cool Power Gloves?” Nikki’s adventures and mishaps with her magical Power Gloves is a great children’s book filled with action, imagination, and a few lessons learned along the way. Nikki is led to a magical and mystical box by an unusual creature who has been trying to get her attention for days! Inside, are many sets of gloves, each with a magical, “super hero” power, only to be worn by someone worthy and capable of their powers! What started out as a pretty boring summer for Nikki becomes a non-stop adventure for her as she learns the responsibilities and joys of being a real, live Super Hero! But remember, being a hero is NOT just about saving cats in trees, for every Super Hero, there is a Super Villain and one must be prepared!

Nikki Powergloves: A Hero is Born by David Estes is filled with the frantic energy of a child, bouncing along from page to page at breakneck speed, sure to hold even the most reluctant young reader’s attention and needs to added to every child’s “larger-than-life” reading list! With a vivid imagination and an eye for just the right amount of detail to stimulate a child’s mind, David Estes has given us an adorable Hero to root for and believe in!

Publication Date: September 2, 2012
Publisher: David Estes
Series: Nikki Powergloves #1
ISBN: 147924600X
Number of Pages: 170
Genre: Children's Fiction/Fantasy
Age Recommendation: 7 & up
My Rating: 5 Stars
Available at: Amazon / Smashwords / Barnes & Noble
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.

[Vanessa Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikki Nickerson is an average 9 year old kid from the little town of Cragglyville. Bored of her age, name and lackluster summer, she yearns for excitement. One hot summer day on her search for a great adventure, she meets a strange looking animal, whom she calls a "beaver-pine," in the woods. After deeming Nikki worthy of bearing such responsibility, the creature gives Nikki an impossibly heavy chest full of seemingly ordinary gloves. However, each pair of gloves holds a remarkable power! With great power comes great responsibility. Thus, a hero is born!

I read this to my younger cousins at night before they went to bed (ages 6 and 7) and they absolutely loved it. They would ask me things like, "what other gloves are in the chest? Do they ever run out of power? What would happen if she put on mismatched gloves? Do the gloves work on other people too?" All very good questions but I kept telling them, "you'll have to wait and see." I finished telling them the story last night and boy were they upset. So of course I will have to tell their mom to buy them the series! :)

Call me a big-kid but, I really enjoyed reading this book or myself. Nikki Powergloves-A Hero is Born is a great start to a wonderful collection. The storyline is easy to follow and each pair of gloves makes for more exiting adventures to come. What kid wouldn't want to be a super hero?

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blessed that David asked my 8 year old son to read this book. When David described the book i knew my soon would love it instantly.

Of course i was right he loved this one instantly and went straight onto the next. He loved that Nikki had super powers and wanted to have super powers of his own, and he loved her gloves he kept talking about it. He also loved her sidekick's powers.

I loved it that every day he was coming home doing his homework and off to read Nikki he went he would read about 4 chapters a day he loved it.

It was easy for him to relate to and also easy to understand what was going on and he enjoyed the story very much. I loved turning my son into a nerd like me LOL, And all props to David for adding a character named Mr Miyagi i knew who it was instantly but Jordan didnt but when i explained all he kept saying was " I cant imagine Dog Mr Miyagi saying Wax on Wax off " made me laugh. According to my son this is an awsome book and i have read Davids other books and i know he is an awsome writer so i believe him. Hope everyone loves it as much as my son did.

[Heather Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book in return for an honest review. Nikki is a 9 year old girl who finds a disappearing path into a haunted forest, so of course, she goes down it. With her dog Mr. Miyagi, she discovers a beautiful chest at the end of the trail. Once opened, she realizes it's filled with a bunch of colorful gloves. Soon Nikki and her best friend discover that these aren't just any gloves, each glove gives Nikki a different power, good news is, she has someone to use them against. Jimmy, a nasty little brat, finds his own stash of powergloves and uses his for evil. Now Nikki has a villain to fight. This story is adorable and my 10 year old loved it. What kid doesn't want to read a story about a superhero kid?? Definitely would recommend, as there are more books in this series to keep your kids reading.

[Gabriela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Done by my son, 9 years old

It was a terrific book! I really liked Nikki and her sidekick, Spence. I liked how she battled Jimmy in the first book.

Review by Me

I had the pleasure and honor to read these books as a Beta Reader along with my son. I loved the story line and characters of this children's series. It was original, funny, and heartwarming. The author is one of a kind, able to capture the imagination of children, young adults, and adults with his writing. Kudos to Mr. Estes! I definitely recommend these books for elementary school age children; 2nd grade high readers through 5th grade.

[Alice Elia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with my nine year old daughter, and we really enjoyed it. Nikki is a fun character!

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikki Nickerson is an average nine year old girl. She isn't overly popular or stunningly attractive. She probably wouldn't stand out in a crowd. One fine summer day, that all changes when Nikki stumbles across a fantastical creature. A cross between a porcupine and a beaver and possessing the ability of speech, this creature gives Nikki a treasure chest. He warns Nikki that she must be willing to shoulder the responsibility that comes with his gift. Inside the chest are 9 pairs of gloves, each give Nikki a different superpower. This is the birth of Nikki Powergloves.

As an adult reading a children's book targeted at 8-10 year olds, I was still quite impressed. The assorted superpowers are very imaginative and quite cool. Some might not exactly help much in defeating a villian, but are quite handy nonetheless. I'm not very confident in my ability to review a children's book. I think as adults our opinions of favorite childhood stories become biased with a decent dosage of nostalgia. I can't quite compare Nikki Powergloves with Judy Blume's Freckle Juice or Laura Lee Hope's Bobbsey Twins series. I can say that Estes does not talk down to his audience, or use words or phrases that children would find hard to understand.

Since I was unsure of my ability to give the Nikki Powergloves series a proper review, I enlisted the help of my daughter. She is twelve and just slightly above the target audience. Much to my dismay, she is not much of a reader. Though she is a big Harry Potter and Twilight fan, she is perfectly happy with the movies and has no desire to try reading the books. This past year I have ready many books with her in an attempt to try to infect her with the joy of reading. We have tried books such as A Wrinkle in Time, The Jungle Book, and Beauty and the Beast. I must admit that as an adult reading a children's book, it is Nikki Powergloves that I have enjoyed the most. But don't take my word for it, listen to my daughter.

When asked her opinion, she merely replied "It is awesome!" and cheekily told me that I could quote her on that. They say that actions speak louder than words, so let me relay her actions. Our reading together usually consists of me reading outloud while she pretends to pay more attention to the story than her handheld gaming device. I cannot say for sure when Nikki Powergloves had grabbed her attention but I can recall early on in the book that we were having actual discussions between chapters. These discussions ranged from which power she would rather have, what she might do with a particular power, to what she might have done differently in Nikki's circumstances. When Nikki removes gloves from her treasure chest, my daughter proudly proclaims which power Nikki has chosen, based only on the color description given and the fact that she has paid enough attention to the story to keep track of which color does what.

When we reached the end of the first book, there is an excerpt for the second book. My daughter grabbed me by the sleeve and said, "Mom, you HAVE to get the second book as soon as he is finished with it!" She was thrilled to find out that I did indeed have it already and insisted that we start it right away. The real clincher though, was what happened today. I woke up this morning to find her lying on the couch with my Kindle. She looked at me guiltily and aplogized for reading ahead without me but she just could NOT wait to find out what was going to happen next. As a mother, and a reader, this spoke volumes to me. As a reader, I know that it is that fire, that passion, the burning in your belly that you just MUST keep reading that makes a story incredibly memorable. As a mother, I can't explain the happiness that I feel for my daughter to have finally experienced that joy for reading. I knew it was just a matter of finding the right story that would grab her attention. Thank you Nikki Powergloves, and my deepest gratitude David, for creating such a wonderful wholesome series that seems to have finally sparked her curiosity about the amazing worlds that can be found within the pages of a book.

[Stumped Students' · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author: Kevin Estes

Grade Level: 2-5

Lexile: 400

Nikki is bummed when she finds out her best friend, Spencer, is going away for the summer with his dad. She has nothing to do and no one to do it with. Right when she thinks she’s doomed, she finds a Beaverpine, or correctly known as a Weeble, in a clearing in a forest. When her curiosity gets the best of her and she follows it into the woods, she’s introduced to the Weeble, who has a special gift for her, a treasure chest! Inside the chest are gloves, but not ordinary gloves, power-filled gloves. When she puts them on she possesses special powers, such as flying, becoming invisible, and stopping time.

Once she realizes what she’s been given, she rushes home to call Spencer, who just happens to be coming home early. Together, they discover the powers of the gloves and help the people of Cragglyville along the way. Don’t be mistaken, everything is not rainbows and butterflies. With every hero comes a villain. Nikki Powergloves’ villain just happens to be Jimmy Power…. See what Jimmy is capable of as this book unfolds.

What I Liked: This book has awesome written all over it. First off, Nikki is an all around good person. She’s loyal to her best friend, listens to her parents, and loves her dog. She’s your typical nine year old with a treasure chest of special powers. Second, once she’s received these powers she doesn’t turn into an instant pro. Instead she makes mistakes and learns from them. Third, she stands up for what is right. She doesn’t go to the dark side just to be like the other “power kids”. She follows her morals and sticks with Spencer, even though he doesn’t have super powers.

What Could Have Been Better: I know it isn’t a big deal, but I hated her costume! It took away from my enjoyment of this book. There’s no way people weren’t able to recognize her with only a braid covering her eyes! She didn’t like the idea of a fancy superhero costume, but at least make yourself unrecognizable! Silly, I know, but it kept frustrating me while reading!

Who Should Read This Book: Perfect for all middle elementary students. Although the main character is a girl, Spencer plays the best sidekick I’ve read in quite a long time, making this book five stars for both boys and girls. It’s for those that like a fantasy novel, but one that we believe might really happen one day. Anyone who’s ever sat bored over summer vacation, or even over a weekend for that matter, wishing something exciting would happen, will connect with this book….and I bet you’ll continue with the rest of the series too!

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a copy for review in exchange for an honest review.

I had so much fun reading this book! Normally I don't read childrens book, simply because I am not a child. The reason why I picked this up? Because David Estes has written it and I just had to read it. Also YA and adult stories never deal with superhero's and it's nice for a change to read a book about superhero's.

Although the book is written for children I think people off all ages can enjoy it. I seldomly have so much fun while reading a book as I did while reading Nikki, some of this because of things like the chapter names and the way to story is written. Ofcourse the story is a bit predictable, but it is very good. It is not only about doing hero stuff, it is also about doing things wrong and dealing with the consequences. This book deals with things that you normally don't read about in children's book.

Because this is a childrens book I did read it differently and small things in the plot that would bother me in other genres don't bother me at all here. For example Nikki's parents are a bit too easy going, they don't mind if their child plays outside the whole day as long as she is home for dinner. And sometimes they aren't that perceptive, but this are only minor details and with more strict parent, Nikki couldn't so what she does now and this would ruin the story.

Nikki and Spencer are two awesome characters. Nikki is a young girl who likes going on adventures and wants to help people. While Spencer is young boy genius that is mature for his age and he is Nikki's trusted sidekick. I loved reading about these characters!

Further I love reading a story about a superhero and David Estes made sure to make even this world come alive. The powergloves colours and powers are documented and there are rules how she can use her powers.

To conclude: I had so much fun while reading this book. The story is awesome and I liked reading about Nikki's and Spencers adventures. David Estes has done an awesome job by writing a childrens book that is aslo enjoyable for adults. So if you want a break from all those YA and adult reads, try picking up this awesome children's book!

[Maia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for 7-10 year olds, as well as a fun quick read for others.
Nikki Powergloves is about a nine year old girl named Nikki Nickerson. She hates her name. The small town she lives in, Cragglyville, is very boring. So, Nikki decides to go on an adventure.
She ventures into the forest and finds a Weeble. This mysterious creature asked her if she can handle the responsibility of a treasure chest. Nikki is immediately excited and promises to handle the chest responsibly.
Excited as ever, she pries off the top of the box. Well, maybe not pries, but she gets the top off. She peers inside. Disappointment overwhelms her. The chest was filled with gloves. Although, after experimenting with a pair, she discovers that they are more than just gloves. She tries out two more pairs, then a fourth one, and makes a BIG mistake. Scared to try another glove, she waits for her friend, Spencer Quick the genius. He helps her become a superhero, Nikki Powergloves! He also helps her against Jimmy Powerboots, a nine year old villain who had misused his powers.
This book is very good and I am sure you will enjoy it. Happy reading!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even heroes make mistakes.


This is the kind of adventure all kids dream about (okay probably not all kids, but they should). Mr. Estes breezy writing sets the stage for fun escapades with Nikki from page one. Nikki is imaginative, teachable, and could be a real nine-year-old kid. She makes mistakes while getting a handle on her powers which leads to consequences that affect others, but she does take responsibility for them and tries to fix them. I see this as the big difference between her and the villain Jimmy. Life lesson for everyone to learn no matter their age. Though Mr. Estes doesn’t leave Jimmy as a flat character; he provides the reader some understanding of how Jimmy came to be. Mr. Estes also shows that even our best intentions can be misconstrued by others.

I loved the chapter titles and think Mr. Miyagi is the best dog’s name ever! I really like Spencer – everyone needs a best friend that fits them – and everything he added to Nikki’s journey. Also, this book is completely age appropriate – something as a mother I cherish.

For the full review and others visit http://whymsylikesbooks.blogspot.com/

[Karen’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikki Nickerson finds a magic trunk full of magical gloves that gives her different superpowers depending on the color of the glove. She takes on the superhero name of Nikki Powergloves and along with her trusty sidekick, her best friend Spencer, sets out to do good deeds.

Nikki is the perfect superhero for youngsters. This story is cute and clever and sends the right messages to kids about doing what's right!

I started out reading this book with my 9 year old granddaughter whenever she'd spend the night taking turns reading to each other. I finally got so caught up in the story that I finished without waiting for Amber. Whoops.

I highly recommend this book to all kids as there are some incredible messages along with the fact that it's just plain fun and laugh out loud funny! I look forward to reading the rest of the Nikki Powerglove series! Well done, Mr. Estes!

[Chris Sorensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking a little longer to read than we would like, but the kids are loving it.

If only we didn't have to do homework and could read all day everyday...UGH!!!

But the idea behind the story is great and colorful - literally - with Nikki and her "powergloves" making a difference and changing lives. My kids love the fact that there are so many gloves to choose from and they each have a special power. Very creative!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for the 7-10 age range. The chapters are short and well named. We also liked that the narrator really did seem young. So many children's books are written from the perspective of a young child but they sound like adults.

The story was engrossing and fantastic. The kids looked around for weeks for their own treasure chest of super powers. There were no hard words, and anything slightly difficult could be easily looked up.

[Eileen Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for kids

This book will intrude children and young adults to read. The character Nikki finds out she can have super powers but what to do with those powers. How can she hide her identity from her small town? That is when her best friend comes in handy, genius Spencer had all the answers. lots of action and adventure in this story. A great read.

[Jordan Noriega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mum got this book from the author and i loved it, and im very happy there is not just one book beacuse i wanted more adventures.

[Kelly (Diva Booknerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute. Brilliant kiddies book, Review to come.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute! I think it was a free Kindle download and it was well worth it. Kids will love this story.

[Roxann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written for young adults but grown-ups like it too!

Nikki Powergloves is such a cool kid! She’s trying her best to do the right thing, but it doesn’t always turn out the way she expects it will. And that’s life for sure. Her sidekick is a brainiac, but she’s pretty darn smart too. Together they make a dynamic duo. Looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series and definitely giving them to my eight-year-old nephew for Christmas!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikki Powergloves: A Hero is Born is a very cute story. My 9-year-old especially enjoyed it. It sets up the rest of the series, but can be read as a standalone. It’s a great book for elementary aged kids and makes a great read-aloud!

[Ruby Ridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really first class children's book that is enjoyable for all age groups. David Estes really brings the character of Nikki to life and I like her, think of Valkyrie Cain at the age of nine.
Quote from Nikki (bored) - "Robbing a bank could be exciting, she thought. She could be like Jessie James and Billy the Kid. An outlaw, always one step ahead of the law! No way, the much wiser part of her brain said, your parents will ground you for a month if you rob a bank."
I recommend this book to everyone, go ahead and read it - it is only a short book and you will be pleasantly surprised.

[David Estes]

The first book in my Nikki Powergloves children's series (ages 7-10 or advanced readers 4-6) had my beta readers reaching for the sequel right away! In this book you learn all about Nikki's superpowers and meet her archnemesis Jimmy Powerboots! Can she save her little town of Cragglyville from Jimmy's tricks? Find out at the start of The Adventures of Nikki Powergloves!!!

[Melanie]

Super fun kids book! It was a fun read and I enjoyed it very much! :)

[Jessica Riddoch · Rating 1 out of 5]

will not be reading any more of these. reminded me a little of enid blyton, only in the bad ways.