Super Goat Girl - by Tracey Baptiste (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A shy new kid tries her best to fit in with her classmates on an action-packed first day at superhero school"--

Book Synopsis

A graphic picture book about a shy new kid in superhero school, who's not like any of the others, and has to figure out how not to feel so super-strange

On Super Goat Girl's first day at her new school, she's met with stares. Laserbeam Lass, Robo Kid, and Noodle Boy don't know what to make of her--after all, what kind of a super has no swagger, and not even a cape? At recess, while the others have fun writing with lasers, doing lightning-fast math, and being super stretchy, Super Goat Girl doubts she can measure up. But when an army of evil aliens appears and ties up their teacher, Miss Damsel, it's Super Goat Girl to the rescue--the only one who can chomp through the impossibly strong rope. She's sure she'll fit in now, but the other kids just seem confused--is chewing even a superpower? So maybe she's still not the right kind of super. At lunch, she gets another chance to prove herself when a giant gorilla crashes into the cafeteria and her supersonic bleat scares him away. But is being loud a superpower?

Then the biggest test comes when the other kids accidentally create a black hole and Miss Damsel is sucked inside. This time when Super Goat Girl helps them save the day with her bravery and quick thinking, they begin to appreciate her. After all, almost every day calls for some superpowers--and they now realize that by sticking together, they'll have the best chance of taking on anything that comes their way.

Review Quotes

* "This thrilling adventure beautifully demonstrates the power of persistence and how leveraging one's distinct abilities makes any individual truly remarkable. The dynamic and bright illustrations infuse the story with the playful energy of a Saturday morning cartoon, expertly rendered with the sequential storytelling of a graphic novel. The artwork is full of lively animation in the characters' faces, perfectly capturing their wide range of emotions and reactions to the extraordinary school day. Each scene is cheerfully portrayed with bright colors, making the adventurous narrative highly engaging and visually appealing for young readers. This vibrant and heartwarming tale is an exceptional addition to every school and classroom library. Not only is it fun and exciting, but it also delivers a powerful and necessary message about recognizing the value in everyone's abilities, affirming that each individual is important and necessary." --School Library Journal, starred review

"In a class of superheroes, the pressure to shine runs high. On Super Goat Girl's first day of school, her teacher Miss Damsel introduces her to the class. Though the students include an alien and a robot, they quickly decide that Super Goat Girl doesn't fit in. . . . But when evil aliens lasso Miss Damsel, Goat Girl's teeth chomp through a rope made from impossibilium (the strongest substance on the extraterrestrials' planet), rescuing the teacher when the other students can't. Is chewing a superpower, her classmates wonder? Using other talents such as her intense bleat, Goat Girl repeatedly saves her teacher. . . . Only teamwork, in the end, convinces the classmates of Super Goat Girl's value. Divided into graphic novel-esque panels, Adeola's zany cartoon illustrations, with their cheerfully discordant color scheme, give distinct personalities to these unusual characters and offer an empathetic view of the shy protagonist, whose confidence grows as she helps. A worthy tale in which the seemingly ordinary becomes extraordinary." --Kirkus Reviews

"The eponymous protagonist of this classroom-set picture book experiences new-kid woes after starting at a school for superheroes. . . . Yet when nemeses arrive to wreak havoc--aimed mostly at teacher Miss Damsel--Super Goat Girl seems to have the crucial talent. She chews through evil aliens' seemingly impenetrable rope and bleats at a frequency that routs a giant gorilla. Initially skeptical or grudging, her classmates finally pull together to help Super Goat Girl achieve the day's final rescue. Irreverent text from Baptiste (Mermaid and Pirate) is filled with running jokes and winks to goats' cries ('Is eeevery day like this?'), while digital artwork by Adeloa (Speak Up!) both pays tribute to and gently spoofs classic superhero comics. It's a funny, high-energy take on how embracing one's unique talents is the surest path to becoming the GOAT." --Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Tracey Baptiste is the New York Times bestselling author of Minecraft: The Crash, Because Claudette, Mermaid and Pirate, Marley and the Family Band (cowritten with Cedella Marley), Looking for a Jumbie, African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History, The Jumbies Trilogy, and Angel's Grace. A former elementary school teacher, Tracey is on the faculty at Lesley University's Creative Writing MFA program. She was born in Trinidad and Tobago, and lives in New Jersey.

Dapo Adeola was the 2022 British Book Awards Illustrator of the Year. Born in Britain and of Nigerian heritage, Dapo creates characters and imagery that challenges expectations around race and gender in a fun, upbeat way. He is the co-creator and illustrator of the bestselling picture book Look Up!--winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and the UK's number-one debut picture book of 2019. He also runs illustration and character design workshops for children and organizes events to help highlight the possibilities of a career in illustration to underrepresented members of the Black diaspora. He lives in London.