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Heartman: Dad's Love Can Save the Day
From the author of The Station Cat, discover the heart-warming story of the power of a parent's love.
Heartman isn't much of a superhero. He can fly, sure, but that's it. Everyday he goes out to fight fearsome super-villains like the GREAT BIG MORT GAGE, the fugitive brothers - The Bills, and the exhausting 9.2.5., but compared to everyone else's dad, he's not very impressive. However, when you fall down, there's only one hero that can pick you up again.
In this quick-witted and thought provoking picture book, author and illustrator Stephen Hogtun will have parents moved from laughter to tears, while children will be captivated by illustrations from award-winning author Stephen Hogtun . But most importantly of all, Heartman reminds us that love is the greatest superpower there is, and it will always save the day.
Heartman isn't much of a superhero. He can fly, sure, but that's it. Everyday he goes out to fight fearsome super-villains like the GREAT BIG MORT GAGE, the fugitive brothers - The Bills, and the exhausting 9.2.5., but compared to everyone else's dad, he's not very impressive. However, when you fall down, there's only one hero that can pick you up again.
In this quick-witted and thought provoking picture book, author and illustrator Stephen Hogtun will have parents moved from laughter to tears, while children will be captivated by illustrations from award-winning author Stephen Hogtun . But most importantly of all, Heartman reminds us that love is the greatest superpower there is, and it will always save the day.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published April 7, 2026
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 20, 2025
" Dad is Heartman and he never runs out of love"
In a world where caring and love seems to have a lower currency than success and power, Heartman is. wonderfully beautiful story for young readers and listeners.
Dad doesn't have superpowers- he doesn't have a great strength ; he isn't making everyone laugh; he doesn't impress with technology. Or does he?
Dad battles against The Bills and the Great Big Mortgage. and when you take a tumble on your bike, who is the one to come and rescue you? Dad with his big heart and love.
Stephen Hogtun once again shows how he can tap in to our emotions through humour and deeper feelings of sadness and love. With beautiful illustrations and a wonderful pitch perfect text for under 7s, this is another winner. Showing that the power of love and caring is the mightiest, this will tap into the lives of many young children especially when young boys often are continually bombarded with images of power and aggression being the solution to problem-solving.
A perfect bedtime read, class story or a lovely read-along storybook.
Highly recommended for 3-7 year olds - EYS classes and KS1 and also for adults too.
Thank you to NetGalley and DK Children for the advance copy
In a world where caring and love seems to have a lower currency than success and power, Heartman is. wonderfully beautiful story for young readers and listeners.
Dad doesn't have superpowers- he doesn't have a great strength ; he isn't making everyone laugh; he doesn't impress with technology. Or does he?
Dad battles against The Bills and the Great Big Mortgage. and when you take a tumble on your bike, who is the one to come and rescue you? Dad with his big heart and love.
Stephen Hogtun once again shows how he can tap in to our emotions through humour and deeper feelings of sadness and love. With beautiful illustrations and a wonderful pitch perfect text for under 7s, this is another winner. Showing that the power of love and caring is the mightiest, this will tap into the lives of many young children especially when young boys often are continually bombarded with images of power and aggression being the solution to problem-solving.
A perfect bedtime read, class story or a lovely read-along storybook.
Highly recommended for 3-7 year olds - EYS classes and KS1 and also for adults too.
Thank you to NetGalley and DK Children for the advance copy
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review to be added to Amazon US and UK on 2 April 2026 - publication day!
I thought that this was a fun book to read and it has such great messaging too!
The story was well written and it was easy to read and understand and I loved the illustrations which worked so well to bring it all together. They are nice, bright and colourful and they brought the story to life too - they were just perfect for the book
My daughter enjoyed the book and it was great to see the Dad as the superhero in the book. As a mum I loved the ending too and the positive message about love - I would definitely recommend this book for school libraries for those in younger years.
I think it would be the perfect Father's Day present too for dad's to read with their younger ones as it makes great points, even though they are caught up fighting the bills and having to work, it doesn't mean they love or care any less and they will always be there when they can.
It is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!
I thought that this was a fun book to read and it has such great messaging too!
The story was well written and it was easy to read and understand and I loved the illustrations which worked so well to bring it all together. They are nice, bright and colourful and they brought the story to life too - they were just perfect for the book
My daughter enjoyed the book and it was great to see the Dad as the superhero in the book. As a mum I loved the ending too and the positive message about love - I would definitely recommend this book for school libraries for those in younger years.
I think it would be the perfect Father's Day present too for dad's to read with their younger ones as it makes great points, even though they are caught up fighting the bills and having to work, it doesn't mean they love or care any less and they will always be there when they can.
It is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Here, our child narrator is annoyed that his father is a plain superhero, unlike the fathers of his friends. But when a bike crash proves that superhuman size and strength are no good, a store of comedy quips are useless and throwing money at new gadgetry is not of benefit on this occasion, he learns that the heartfelt love and care and sticking plasters of his father actually are the super-benefits he needed all along. This is one of those reads where everything feels pretty obvious and you just can't care about that, because it's all charming and pleasant – and pretty well presented, too, with the author's artwork shining. The text is clever too, in the way it presents the mortgage and the 9-2-5 the father has to face on a day-to-day as being his super-enemies. Men, get this for your kid and they will find a decent little story, and you won't disprove of the message either. A strong four stars.
April 7, 2026
Heart-ful picture book full of love and superheroes.
It's adorable - a son sees superheroes all around him in his friends' parents, but is his dad the same? He fights the 9-2-5 and MORT GAGE but mostly is just loving rather than 'super'.
But when a beloved bike is broken and the other parents' super powers just aren't working, will love and patience be the powers that win out?
Really adorable story, child perspective and sweet pictures showing a kind and 'there' parent who does his best to trudge through life and make it as safe and full for his child.
Love the patchwork cape, the little touches and names that seem created by a young child to understand his or her world.
Works on levels for the listener and the reader, both coming to the conclusion that super powers aren't the best sort of powers for parents.
Lovely bedtime read that's clearly a personal piece of writing.
For ages 3-7.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
It's adorable - a son sees superheroes all around him in his friends' parents, but is his dad the same? He fights the 9-2-5 and MORT GAGE but mostly is just loving rather than 'super'.
But when a beloved bike is broken and the other parents' super powers just aren't working, will love and patience be the powers that win out?
Really adorable story, child perspective and sweet pictures showing a kind and 'there' parent who does his best to trudge through life and make it as safe and full for his child.
Love the patchwork cape, the little touches and names that seem created by a young child to understand his or her world.
Works on levels for the listener and the reader, both coming to the conclusion that super powers aren't the best sort of powers for parents.
Lovely bedtime read that's clearly a personal piece of writing.
For ages 3-7.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
November 30, 2025
Children’s picture book. Dad’s should play an important part in a child’s life. So as that, there is something to recommend this book. The story is nicely laid out in text and pictures. About life’s pressures meaning we aren’t always there, but being there when it really counts.
Other thoughts. As a Dad/guy I looked at the first few pages that suggested Dad isn’t around because he does the 9 to 5/pays the bills/pays the mortgage. I considered is this true or just a Dad stereotype - that Dad does these things/would mums be upset with this suggestion? I decided while it isn’t only Dads that do this, this book is about a Dad’s place in a child’s life. So it’s okay. Maybe the author wants to consider a matching book can mum save the day.
Thank you to DK and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
Other thoughts. As a Dad/guy I looked at the first few pages that suggested Dad isn’t around because he does the 9 to 5/pays the bills/pays the mortgage. I considered is this true or just a Dad stereotype - that Dad does these things/would mums be upset with this suggestion? I decided while it isn’t only Dads that do this, this book is about a Dad’s place in a child’s life. So it’s okay. Maybe the author wants to consider a matching book can mum save the day.
Thank you to DK and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews