Superdads!: Animal Heroes

Animal Heroes

by Heather Lang, Jamie Harper (Illustrator)

Raising babies in the wild is a mighty big job, but these super animal dads are up to the task! Packed with cool facts in a fun comics format.

It’s wild out there for baby animals, but nature’s superdads can handle it all. A great horned owl dad brings home tasty prey to his nest, while a sandgrouse dad carries precious water on his feathers across the desert for his thirsty chicks. Wolf dads love a game of tug-of-war with their rambunctious pups, glass frog dads protect their eggs from predators with powerful kicks, and kiwi dads sit on their eggs for eighty days, keeping them safe and warm. And did you know that giant water bug dads can tote a whopping 150 eggs on their backs while doing push-ups? The team behind Supermoms! delivers another humorous and fascinating look into wild parenting, highlighting how superdads from seahorses to gorillas feed, protect, nurture, and even incubate their babies. The comics-panel format, with its lively art and cheeky comments from offspring, makes for an engaging read. Back matter includes bonus super facts about each animal and recommendations for more children’s books, websites, and episodes to explore.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Nonfiction, Family, Nature

40 pages, Hardcover

Published May 7, 2024

About the author

Heather Lang writes picture books that celebrate our natural world and biographies about women who overcame extraordinary obstacles to follow their dreams. Her award-winning books include Supermoms!: Animal Heroes, Swimming with Sharks: The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark, and The Leaf Detective: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest, an NSTA/CBC Best STEM Book and Green Earth Book Award winner. To research her books, Heather has observed animals in the Serengeti, climbed to the treetops of the Amazon, and explored the depths of the ocean. You can read more about Heather’s books and find lots of activities and resources for them at heatherlangbooks.com.

Reviews

[Christine Zandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic-style funny book sheds light on a wide array of animal dads and how they help raise the kids. You'll be amazed at all the things these guys can do! For example, the sandgrouse (bird) soaks his feathers and brings the water back to his nest of thirsty chicks. I like the summary in the back that recaps all of their super-ness. The art is colorful, lively, and engaging. Overall, a great kid-friendly book that (shh!) will teach them animal facts in the process.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid choice to share alongside this creative team's earlier Supermoms! title, this one focuses on those fathers in the wild who take on various parental responsibilities. Although the introduction acknowledges that most of the nurturing and rearing for most species falls on the animals' mothers, that isn't always the case. Still, the book contains 18 examples of how dads do their part, sometimes sitting on eggs like the brown kiwi, creating nests in the sand like the three-spined stickleback, even serving as a many-limbed jungle gym like the gorilla. Some of the examples have that "UGH!" and "GROSS!" aspect that so many youngsters love even if their teachers don't. There are even thumbnail sketches in the back matter providing additional information about the species mentioned in the main text. The illustrations, created with traditional and digital collage, are varied in size with some species such as the sungrebe highlighted with one full page and others such as the glass frog receiving two pages of cartoon-like panels to demonstrate their fatherly actions. All in all, this informational picture book with its snappy writing and child-appealing artwork, is a good choice for a science classroom library. It just might make a unique Father's Day gift, especially if it's shared by fathers with their offspring.

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This nonfiction title introduces various superdads from the natural world. Small facts are given about a superdad as the comic book style illustrations show the fact. The title is open and engaging giving fun facts such as information about a bulldozing toad and pregnant sea horse. Additional facts about the eighteen included animals are at the back with the additional resources. This is a fun way to introduce various animals and the comic book format makes it especially engaging for sharing with younger elementary school students. I would recommend this title for purchase in collections that include nonfiction for juveniles. This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.

[Abi Cushman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of laughs along the way as you learn facts about amazing animal dads in this book. I like that the facts are grouped by ways animal dads help raise their young, from incubation, to building homes, to providing food and protection, to being great teachers. The backmatter featuring a roundup of all the different animals with a little extra tidbit about them is great as well. This is a book begging to be read over and over again! (And a wonderful companion to Supermoms!: Animal Heroes.)

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Animal moms often (justifiably) get most of the credit for raising their babies in the wild. But there are some impressive animal dads out there, also.

Amazing animal dads like the Darwin's frog who carries his tadpoles in his throat.
Or the sun grebe who carries his chicks in secret compartments under his wings.
Other dads are super protectors, kicking predators away.
This book tells you a bit about all of them in a fun way.

Extra information on each animal is included at the end along with an impressive list of additional resources.

[Leslie Barnard Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so much fun! Expect to learn a lot while laughing out loud. Energetic text and expressive illustrations introduce readers to different animal dads, exploring all the (sweet, funny, and just plain wacky) ways they support their young. Comic book-style asides are inviting and engaging, and the range of animals presented is impressive. This book is a must-have for school, library, and home!

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
I read a digital advanced copy courtesy of the publisher and Edelweiss
Graphic novel like panels show the lengths some animal dads go to when it comes to protecting and rearing their offspring. From fish to frogs to wolves, many animal dads play an active role in the incubating and raising of their young, and this whimsical title celebrates a number of them.

[Lisa Varchol Varchol · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun and engaging book about a variety of impressive animal dads! I really enjoyed the comic-panel format and the hilarious speech bubbles. The vibrant art adds to the humor and showcases the unique personalities of different creatures. Kids will learn so much (I sure did!) while enjoying themselves along the way. I highly recommend for every home, school, and library.

[Becca McMurdie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This adorable graphic-style PB is packed with both playful humor and fascinating facts! Any kid who has any kind of dad will LOVE this book, and learn lots. This would make a great classroom read aloud in a K-2 classroom, or bedtime story. It would even make a great father's day gift. Read this with you favorite kids, and enjoy!

[Beth Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mix of facts and fun! A diverse range of animal “characters” offer connection and wonder, and are bound to inspire questions galore about the many fascinating creatures in our world. Love the back matter with individual super powers! It’s the perfect springboard for a class book to extend and create!

[Laura Gehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a great mix of funny cartoon-style illustrations and scientific facts that highlight superdads in the wild. From birds to gorillas to seahorses, different animal dads have different superpowers, from patience to stealth to athleticism. The backmatter has additional facts about each superdad featured in the book. Highly recommend!

[Jessica Stremer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superdads is a clever and entertaining book about ways male animals care for their young. The format is unique, with the art and text complimenting one another in a way that really holds the attention of young readers. A must-add to any home or school library.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

👦🏻 reviews: After reading this, I am so happy that the author has done a great job showing the great dads and their amazing jobs. The illustrations and the story are perfect for this Father’s Day and to be read to the little kids.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is super fun! The lively narrative matches perfectly with the graphic layout, with lots of little tidbits of information and jokes included in solid information about how animal dads care for their young. Altogether a great package to share with a child, celebrating...dads!

[Helen Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young animal lovers will be delighted with this book, especially those who gravitate toward comics and humor. It's packed with interesting examples of how dads in the animal realm incubate, feed, and protect their babies. Pregnant seahorse dads are just the tip of the iceberg!

[Laurie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fun comic-book format will hook young readers, and the engaging and surprising animal facts will keep them reading over and over again! The text covers a wide range of animals and activities, and the structure is well-organized and easy to follow. Includes backmatter for further reading.

[Karen Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable book and great companion to Supermoms. One of the things I like best about Heather and Jamie's work is how kid-centric their writing and drawings always are. They know what they're doing and who they're talking to. Look forward to more works from these two!

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want to know how the dads of the animal kingdom take care of babies? It's all here. The coolest animal dads whether it was seahorses or the great horned owl. It's not overwhelming, just simple facts with a touch of humor and additional backmatter for more context.

[Donna McKinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Animal dads take center stage in this clever book! Readers will love the fun illustrations. It’s filled with detailed facts and is an entertaining read-aloud. SUPERDADS! is a great addition for any home or school library.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great nonfiction book by Heather Lang and Jamie Harper. In a clever and fun way, the authors impart interesting facts about how dad's in the wild take care of their young. Informative and a great read-a-loud! My nephews loved it!

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Rosemary Mosco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is funny, sweet, charming, and accurate. What a delight.