They're Heroes Too: A Celebration of Community

by Pat Brisson, Anait Semirdzhyan (Illustrator)

A picture-book celebration of the ordinary people—grownups and kids—who hold our world together by going about their daily lives and work. We celebrate cops, firefighters, and soldiers, and rightly so. But let's also celebrate teachers, bus drivers, grocery clerks, mail carriers, and the other folks who keep the world spinning around every day. And let's give a nod to kids, too—kids who are kind and brave and help each other. They're heroes too. In structure, flow, and pitch, very much like Pat Brisson's Before We Eat. Anait Semirdzhyan is the illustrator of our award-winning picture book The Arabic Quilt and of The Cottonwood Tree.

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Childrens, Juvenile, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published July 5, 2022

About the author

I have been writing picture books and easy-to-read chapter books for the last twenty years. My first YA, The Best and Hardest Thing, a novel in verse, will be coming out in May 2010.

I am a former elementary school teacher, school librarian and reference librarian in a public library. I now write full-time and do author visits to schools.

My husband and I have four grown sons. We live in Phillipsburg, New Jersey.
Our last name has a short "i" sound and rhymes with "listen".

Reviews

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ordinary people we see every day - directing traffic, teaching in schools, serving food, helping the sick, and delivering mail - those people are heroes. Their contributions are so important that society could not survive without them. And when we take time to act with generosity and kindness, we are heroes too!

I loved this sweet book! It has such a positive message of gratitude for all the people in our communities who we might be tempted to take for granted. I really liked the thoughtful writing style. It makes you stop and think about all the people we rely on each day, and how we can also make the world a better place.

The artwork is so beautiful! The pencil art style is really attractive. I love the wispy lines and colorful designs.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book follows a young girl as she travels through her community and realizes that there are many different types of heroes living on those streets and that maybe she, too, is a hero when she reaches out a kind and friendly hand to someone in need of it. The colorful illustrations show teachers, doctors, bus drivers, chefs, crossing guards, and waitresses, among others, who are heroes just by virtue of doing their jobs well and providing basic services. The text and images even show protesters as being heroes as well as youngsters. As it turns out, there are far more heroes out there than most of us ever imagined. This picture book reminds readers to acknowledge and be grateful for the everyday deeds that make life move smoothly for them. It is rather heroic to take a job seriously and perform it with pride, something that should prompt appreciation. This book might be useful to share when celebrating the accomplishments of some of those more famous individuals in history or popular culture.

[The Silvan Reverie | Sarah Street]

This is a nice book that celebrates everyday heroes. The idea is that often kids will either celebrate superheros by default or even firefighters and police officers ... but lots of more "ordinary" jobs are worthy of celebration: bus drivers, chefs, crossing guards, teachers. I agree with the basis of this book and think children will resonate with the message, especially at the end where the ideas is that children themselves can be heroes. It's an empowering message.

That said, I did feel just a little lackluster. I kind of wish even more careers were celebrated in this book. It felt like not enough to fully bring home the theme.

The illustrations are nice and provide a nice inclusive snapshot of community. My kids liked following the main girl throughout the pages as we read.

***Note: I was given a review copy of this book via Publisher's Spotlight. Opinions are my own.

[StoryTimeReadAloud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Instead of celebrating Superheroes--this story celebrates everyday people around us and how we all help each other. A little girl notices a crossing guard, a hairstylist, the garbageman, restaurant workers, etc. and the impact they have because they are helping others. Inspired, she works to help another saying that these heroes bind our world together, which is something heroic.

I grew up with Sesame Street and loved the "These are the People In Your Neighborhood" song. I love the view that they are heroic and their efforts have meaning and that we can all collectively help the world be a better place.

The illustrations are cute, giving homage to each hero it mentions (I particularly loved the produce man's "Employee of the Year" badge).

[Linda Trott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pat Brisson has been as reliable as a good friend with her latest book, They're Heroes Too: A Celebration of Community. I especially loved her books about Kate and the road trips she took across this beautiful country.
They're Heroes Too is a celebration of people who are often considered invisible. The people that we meet in the course of daily living. Anait Semirdzhyan's beautiful illustrations are a perfect compliment to this inviting tome.

I would use this to introduce a unit on the community, or a unit on superheroes to provide a different perspective for those who would don a cape, or wings. I found myself humming "There are the People in Your Neighborhood" from Sesame Street. A must have for elementary libraries, writing classes and classes for children learning English.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for those who teach about community for social studies in preschool and lower elementary. And perfect for all of us to remember that all the essential workers are heroes for keeping our world running (even during a pandemic). It's a simple rhyming book and shows how kids can be community heroes, too, by doing things like cleaning up our school yard or planting trees or sitting with a lonely kid in the cafeteria:
"And when we're brave or generous,
we kid are heroes too.
You be there for me,
and I'll be there for you."

[Dannaca · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this one for our community helpers story time. It's an easy to read book that rhymes. It mentions a wide array of community helpers, from the typical ones to ones that I feel like are more often overlooked like people who cut hair and grocery store workers. There are also a lot of things to point out in the pictures, like when the library is shown in the background. It ends with a call to personal responsibility as well which I really liked, reminding kids that we should all be looking out for one another.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told with rhyming text, this book is a lovely one to share aloud. It talks about the less obvious, non cape wearing, heroes among us. Several professions such as teacher, garbage collector, crossing guard that we see in every day life are highlighted. The best part, to me, is how the author circles it back around to the child at the end. It encourages them to use small, meaningful actions to be a hero themselves. A lovely ode to caring about others and building community.

[Kathy Temean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that this book celebrates ordinary people, like garbage collectors, bus drivers, crossing guards, teachers, nurses, restaurant worker, and more. Nice theme to help children realize we are surrounded by everyday super heroes and none of them wear capes. A good book for teachers to use to get a discussion started about jobs. Anait’s illustrations are gorgeous and will keep everyone turning each page and coming back for more.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

They're Heroes Too has SUCH an important message that's too often overlooked; everyone can be a hero in even the smallest way. We discovered during the pandemic just how integral our essential workers are, and I hope along the way we've finally learned to appreciate everyone for what they do every day. With a simple message and great illustrations, this book will certainly teach its readers that lesson.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hopefully children are continuing to be exposed to instructional units on community helpers. This is an excellent title on the subject and gives its message in a flowing text and very pleasing visual way. This is the second title I have read that was illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyan and I hope to read more than she has illustrated.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for this book that celebrates everyday heroes and essential workers often overlooked

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Lourdes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at our everyday community of folks who does not wear a cape or get the limelight of first responders, but are just as important to the community for the services they provide on a daily basis.

[Michelle Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Themes: being a hero, community workers

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the heroes included in this story

[Susan Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent message that everyone in our community is essential and important and a hero. A child's eye view for celebrating everyone and realizing the value that each individual contributes.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

3

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preschool and school-age
Rhyming

[KhiN’Millie Friesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that soooooo many people are heroes!- Khi 3

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rhyming story expounding on the virtues of everyday community helpers.

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre biography
Grade Level - K-3rd
This is a nice book that celebrates everyday heroes. The idea is that often kids will celebrate superheroes or firefighters and police officers but in reality, there are lots more "ordinary" jobs that are worthy of celebration. For example bus drivers, chefs, crossing guards, and even teachers. I agree with the basis of this book and think children will echo the message, especially at the end where the idea is that children themselves can be heroes.