When Eliana heard that a woman was running for vice-president, she immediately asked that we find a book at the library to learn more about Kamala Harris. The catalog didn’t offer many choices, so we selected the first one available: Superheroes Are Everywhere, written by Kamala Harris herself. Due to the pandemic, we had to request it sight unseen, and we were a little surprised that it ended up being not a straight autobiography but a sweet blend of family anecdotes combined with mini-lessons on what makes a hero. Mechal Renee Roe’s bright illustrations boast a beautifully diverse vision of children in the community.
Natasha’s Verdict:
This book hits all the right notes for me as a mom and a teacher. The focus here is not on Kamala herself, but on all of the people in her life who made her feel valued and empowered at every stage. Each page spread features a heroic character trait with a brief example from Kamala’s family. It then invites children to reflect on their own family, considering which members might personify heroic traits. (Hello, text-to-self connections!)
To my delight, the story ends with a framed mirror proclaiming that “Heroes are… YOU!” and encouraging kids to be kind, brave, helpful, fair, etc. There is even a Hero Code that they can pledge to uphold, and each tenet is written in terms that even preschoolers can understand.
Eliana’s Verdict:
This book is about how there are lots of different kinds of superheroes everywhere, like in your family or friends. Some examples are people who can make you feel special, who are always very kind. I like this book because it tells us that we can be superheroes to other people and our family too. You do not have to be a big important person to be a superhero—you just have to be kind and friendly, someone who stands up for what’s right, like trying to make changes in the world or protecting people.
I would recommend this book to everybody!
Watch Senator Harris herself sharing her book: