SUPERHEROES DON'T BABYSIT

Dealing with a little brother is a huge distraction from being a superhero, but it may also be just the job for a young masked avenger.

With a bit of the cause-and-effect feel of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, this book describes the thankless task a young superhero takes on when her dad asks her to babysit. The unnamed characters spend the day dealing with messes and grabs for attention, culminating in a near meltdown (from the hero, who longs to shout, “I WISH YOU WEREN’T MY BROTHER!”). But it ends with the younger child’s offer of a favorite teddy bear and a hug, and the hero’s embrace of the idea that “MAYBE little brothers aren’t so bad after all.” It’s well-worn territory: the ubiquity of superhero entertainment, the writing style, and the lesson. But the elements jell well, and the illustrations strike a fresh balance, featuring aged photos, bygone wallpaper backgrounds, and restrained use of comic-book–style panels. The stakes are real-life pint-sized, not stretched to fantastical proportions, making the unnamed superhero’s journey all the more accessible. Any caregiver who has witnessed siblings start World War III over a hairbrush will appreciate this caped crusade, which effectively makes the case that putting aside sibling rivalry is a job big enough for a superhero. Dad and kids all have light-brown skin, theirs lighter than his.

Combines familiar picture-book tropes into something clever and new.