Cover Image: Be A Star, Wonder Woman!

Be A Star, Wonder Woman!

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This was a really adorable book, a great read for anyone with children. Not only is Wonder Woman a great role model for girls, she sets a great example for boys as wel

Was this review helpful?

This is a good book that is full of messages of confidence, helpfulness, empowerment, and being positive. The book shows that every girl can be their own Wonder Woman in whatever they do.

Was this review helpful?

Adorable picture book that I look forward to sharing with my students!

Was this review helpful?

Much like the Bedtime for Batman kids book I reviewed several months back, I have a hard time recommending this to anyone. That won’t stop anyone from picking it up, and really, I don’t blame you either. Kids are into Wonder Woman for the first time in years it seems like and in my opinion that is a great thing.

From a review standpoint, though, this story isn’t very good. It attempts to teach some superficial morals, but never successfully explains why any of the morals are important to learn. That is the point of teaching kids with stories, is to explain to them why they should learn from the story. Instead, the story cheats and says, “If you want to be a hero like Wonder Woman, you have to do these things.” Which is dangerous learning in my book. Learning to do something without knowing why you’re doing it, whether it’s good or not, teaches kids to blindly follow instead of asking questions… which is the opposite of every superhero book I’ve ever read.

The other hold up to this story is the fact that it's written like a toddler book but geared for a slightly older age group. This weird disconnect makes it even harder to recommend to any one age group because it doesn’t match them very well.

The art is a strange beast as well. Just like Bedtime for Batman, it uses the Bruce Timm design for Wonder Woman. It’s classic, it’s iconic, and of course, I love it. I also grew up with it, and now I’m in my thirties. It sends a confusing message to kids because if DC were smart, they’d mimic what they’re promoting to kids currently in the cartoons and other forms of media. It’s another strange disconnect that makes it seem as if this is trying to play on parent’s nostalgia more than it’s trying to be for kids.

Listen, I know that not every parent or grandparent research the books they give their kids and that some of them are happy even to get their kid to read a book. I’m not here to discuss parenting, but as someone that does research the books and reads them before giving them to their child, I find Be A Star, Wonder Woman! to be a cash-in with flimsy morals, rather than a book that’s as strong and powerful as Wonder Woman. It’s not a terrible book, but it’s a far cry from good. Take your kid to see the movie instead.

Was this review helpful?

A girl gets ready to go to school and follows Wonder Woman’s characteristics and ideals by restoring peace when her classmates are fighting over toys, brave when she needs to tackle recess, honest when she needs help from her friends, and of course she must never give up.

This is a wonderful story that shows what it means to be a hero and a friend and how to overcome challenges along the way. This is a great empowering book for young girls that they will love since it shows how they can be a hero too.

Was this review helpful?

What a cute book for young children with wonderful, colorful illustrations about the dynamic influence of Wonder Woman on a small schoolgirl who is inspired with positive motivation throughout her day. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ebook for review.

Was this review helpful?

'Be A Star, Wonder Woman!' by Michael Dahl with illustrations by Omar Lozano follows a young girl through her day and also shows what Wonder Woman is up to. It's the third book in this DC Superheroes series, and it's every bit as charming as the books featuring Batman and Superman.

A young girl starts her day by posing heroically, just like Wonder Woman. At preschool, she sees some kids fighting over toys and proposes a peaceful solution. She faces her nemesis, a rope up to a treehouse, out on the playground, and faces it with courage.

These are fun picture books with superheroes and the kids that want to act like them. The illustrations are fun as well.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Capstone Young Readers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

Was this review helpful?

When I requested this book, it was shortly before I went to see the Wonder Woman movie. I wanted to read this book because the art was very attractive for a picture book and I've been looking for things to read to my son. I didn't realize at the time that this was part of a series from an author I'd previously reviewed: Michael Dahl, author of Bedtime for Batman, which was a 4 star read for me.

What I like about Dahl's previous Batman book that carries over to his Wonder Woman book is the parallel story between Wonder Woman and the little girl in the story. While Wonder Woman is battling a super adversary, the main character is battling her own "adversaries": the first day of school, sharing, being brave, meeting new people, etc.

I also like the diversity of the children in the schoolroom. There were several ethnicities represented.

I'm not quite sure who all the DC characters were except for the popular ones (Batgirl, Super Girl), which wasn't a huge issue, but a small insert at the back with what their names are would've been appreciated as I don't think I'll be the only one whose child asks "who is that?" and possibly not be able to come up with an answer.

Now, while I liked the parallel stories, I also felt that the text of the book felt a wee bit disjointed between the two. I don't think that a child (the intended audience) will make as many of the connections between Wonder Woman's actions and the little girl's without some explanation from whoever is reading to them. It may well make for a good reading time experience, but for a young one to read on their own, I'm not sure if they'll like the story so much as the bright and brilliantly stylized art.

Was this review helpful?

Yes! Love this book with its gorgeous illustrations of a little girl going about her day at school and Wonder Woman going about her day saving the world. It teaches kids that anyone can be a hero by being kind, brave, honest (asking for help), and strong. This is one I’d love to buy for my two little wonder women.

Was this review helpful?

This is a beautiful little story about a young girls first day of school. She imagines all her activities as challenges that her favorite hero Wonder Woman. I loved the illustrations in this book .Capstone does a great job of making these books colorful and fun.

Was this review helpful?

This is an adorable book that tells you that no matter how big or how small you are, you should always be a star. There is even a check book at the end of the book with what you need to be in order to be a star: Prepared, Kind, Brave, Honest, Strong and Heroic. Stars are not born, they are made.

The illustrations in this book are awesome - showing wonder woman as well as the super cute little girl wonder woman who is a star at school. So cute.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review, I was not otherwise compensated.

Was this review helpful?

Michael Dahl, the author of more than 200 picture and young adult books is back again for another DC/Capstone picture book and Be a Star, Wonder Woman! is the best one yet! If you took a little one to see the Wonder Woman movie over the weekend and now have a Wonder Woman devotee on your hands and you’re in need of another age appropriate Wonder fix, this picture book is your answer!

As a new day dawns, a young girl faces the ultimate challenge: school! Follow along as she demonstrates her greatest superpower (sharing), overcomes her worst fear (the playground), and conquers her archenemy (a spelling test).With courage, kindness, and other heroic traits of DC’s Wonder Woman, she’ll turn a difficult school day into an amazing adventure that delivers an imaginative read-aloud for your littlest super heroes!

Be a Star, Wonder Woman! is a companion piece to Bedtime for Batman and Good Morning, Superman!. But whereas those two stories explored a bedtime and morning routine respectively, Be a Star, Wonder Woman! offers something with a little more scope. Following a little girl through her school day, we don’t just get a checklist of how to prepare for bed, we get a checklist of what it takes to be a true hero and just a good person!

Like the two DC/Capstone picture books before it, Be a Star, Wonder Woman! is a story aimed at the four to seven crowd and shows each part of the story from the little girl’s perspective and then from Wonder Woman’s. While the little girl is brave to climb a rope on the jungle gym, Wonder Woman is brave to fight Circe and a set of dragons. At the heart of what both are doing are the messages that Wonder Woman has instilled since her creation: bravery, honesty, and kindness. Compared to teeth brushing or eating a good breakfast, this is a story that definitely gives you a look at the bigger picture of life.

The broader topics might seem out of place at first, but I personally think that they fit well with Wonder Woman as a character. If you want a mystery solved, you call Batman. If you need an asteroid destroyed, you call Superman. If you need to stop a war and bring peace, you call Wonder Woman. The woman has a broad set of talents to be sure! Be a Star, Wonder Woman! also focuses less on a routine and more on shaping a caring human being, so the broad topics are there to cover the biggies like teamwork and the importance of hard work in a way that a young reader will understand and relate to.

What I think is always a great element of these DC/Capstone picture books is that the main character is a child of colour. Be a Star, Wonder Woman! is no different, with even more little ones of colour throughout as background characters. Diversity is important and I applaud Dahl and Lozano for putting in the effort to be inclusive!

Just as well done as the story of Be a Star, Wonder Woman! is the art. This is some of the cutest artwork you’re ever going to see! Every person and action they perform is full of life and is so delightfully expressive. The colours are bright and beautiful and everything is textured and soft around the edges. The art is sure to delight anyone who reads this book, no matter the reader’s age!

The Verdict

Buy it! The DC/Capstone picture book series offers so much more than just bedtime stories. Be a Star, Wonder Woman! is such a sweet little book that is great for easy before-bed-reading and learning, but is also a great way to have kids thinking about things like honesty and teamwork. The artwork is adorable and the message is strong without being preachy. Wonder Woman fans of any age will adore this wonderful little picture book!

Was this review helpful?

Michael Dahl comes to us with his third entry in superhero picture books. First, we had bedtime with Batman, then getting ready in the morning with Superman, and now we have going to school with Wonder Woman. This new book is not up to par with the first two. First, the rhythm and tone of "Good Night Moon" has been abandoned; not a good idea as that in itself is always a winning combination. So this just reads like a regular simple picture book. Like the others, it compares the child's school day to Wonder Woman's superhero day. But rather than comparing them as being similar, "Be a Star" is heavily didactic telling the child how to behave in a hero or star manner. The art, however, is very compelling as in the other books and the highlight of this one. Wonder Woman is drawn in a tall, slim, angular fashion which compliments the short, childish, roundness of the little girl. Good for Wonder Woman fans but not for those looking for a continuation of the first two books' quality.

Was this review helpful?

Great children's book about kindness and positive things.

Was this review helpful?

Great book! I love the way the book alternates between the skills the child Wonder Woman will learn in school and how she uses these skills as an adult Wonder Woman.

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me preview this books!

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely adore this series of DC books for kids! I've ordered all three for my library.

Was this review helpful?

This is the third in a series of picture books tying DC Superheroes in to common behaviors or situations for preschoolers. It might be my favorite of the series, although the Batman and Superman titles have also been excellent.

Was this review helpful?

Love the illustrations for this book and the back and forth between the little girl and Wonder Woman. Great choice for beginning of the school year and to introduce the very little to Wonder Woman!

Was this review helpful?

My niece is obsessed with Wonder Woman (and Supergirl). I will definitely be adding this one to her library. It's a great little book for girls who like superheroes, because you get a good dose of the caped crusaders but also see how the same traits of these heroes manifest in their own lives at school and with friends. Also, the art is too adorable. Can't wait to read this one to my own little Wonder Girl.

Was this review helpful?

~Disclaimer~
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A little girl goes off to school in her Wonder Woman costume. She is ready for anything the day may throw at her. She resolves a fight between two classmates. She asks for help when she needs it. Throughout the book there are scenes of Wonder Woman saving the day. At the end it summarizes all of the qualities to be a hero. 1. Be prepared. 2.Be kind. 3. Be brave. 4. Be strong. 5. Be heroic. 6. Be Honest.
I really enjoyed this book. It is a good way to introduce young children to the world of comics and super heroes. I liked the way the Wonder Woman and little girl scenes were merged together seamlessly. There were also children depicted from diverse ethnic backgrounds, which is always good. This book will inspire little girls to accomplish their goals. It will install in them that they can achieve their dreams at a young age. Girl Power!

5/5 ⭐

Was this review helpful?