Member Reviews

I really like the look and find books that incorporate a message. This rhyming book is about all the people you find in your community from those who help to those who those who teach. It is very colorful and fun to find the people you are looking for. The end has a hero award for your child to make for themselves. Also at the end is a list of all the heroes on the page in case you can’t find one.

Was this review helpful?

This book is a beautiful way to teach children to recognize how people impact their neighborhoods, communities, and society. It emphasizes how we can work together and be kind to one another. The illustrations are very nicely done and are engaging for the reader. The various "teaching" opportunities the book provides were also a plus. You and your children will enjoy exploring each page and the various professions! My 6-year-old loved it!

Was this review helpful?

a cute book that shows kid the importance of people working in different job and how they have an impact in their life, I just wish these jobs were actually written in the book.

Was this review helpful?

Love the idea, but I found the execution lacking, The illustrations are bright and engaging, but the forced-rhyming text doesn't add much to them - in fact, simple headings like "Heroes Who Heal Us" or "Heroes Who Care for the Earth" would have been much clearer. Most confusing, though, is that some of the depicted "heroes" are actually groups of people, which makes the counting aspect of the book essentially impossible - definitely not age appropriate for the intended audience, who are still very concrete in their understanding of numerical correspondence (i.e. one hero = one illustrated person). Lists of what to look for in the back of the book help somewhat, but this flaw really undermines the entire premise of a counting book.

There are also a surprising number of words in the illustrations, for a book aimed at preschoolers. On pages 8-9 alone, you need to read the words "Food Bank", "Book Drive", "Clothing Drive", "Run for the homeless", and "Building homes for those in need" to understand what's happening - otherwise the run just looks like some kids running and the home-building could be anyone constructing a house. Illustrations also include brand names and/or logos of specific organizations, including the Peace Corps, Special Olympics, Save the Children, and Best Buddies. Not exactly equivalent to product placement, but it still feels a bit odd to me, like we're trying to cultivate future donors by priming them to associate these organizations with being heroic...

It's worth noting that the spread on pages 12-13 references God and refers to religious leaders as heroes, depicting two churches, a synagogue, a mosque, and a Buddhist garden. While I appreciate the religious diversity, it feels a bit out of place with the rest of the book, and the implication that religion is an important way to help the world may be off-putting to nonreligious families. "Giving thanks and praise to God" is not in the same category as planting trees or helping the homeless, in my mind.

The disability-themed spread on pages 16-17 concerns me a bit as well - the text is fairly meaningless, especially to literal-minded young children ("showing us that real success is when our spirits lift"), and it definitely seems to border on the "inspiration porn" approach to disability that so many disabled folks decry. Everyone in the other spreads is actively making the world a better place, while the disabled kids are just here to "lift our spirits"?? I'd be very curious to know if any sensitivity readers with disabilities were included in the editing process. To be clear, I love the inclusion of wheelchair users, blind kids, etc - but why not just put the kids reading braille on the spread about books, for example? THAT would be true inclusion.

Overall, the book is a nice concept and the illustrations are lovely, but I'm unlikely to recommend it to families. I could maybe see using it as a jumping off point for conversation about what's happening in the pictures - and I do love the prompt at the end asking readers to consider how they can be a hero too - but I'd probably make up my own narration and challenge kids to find as many "helpers" as possible rather than sticking to the somewhat arbitrary numbers given on each page. 2/5 stars.

Was this review helpful?

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great book. It was very informative and the pictures are great!

Was this review helpful?

I love this hide and seek book about the many types of heroes that we may see in our communities. A hero is a person who helps someone else. Some examples from this book were doctors, nurses, veterinarians, teachers, sanitary workers, and many more.

I enjoyed the rhyming prose of the book. I would have liked for there to be more verbiage.

The illustrations in this fun book are vibrant, fun, and extremely detailed. I often found it challenging to find all the heroes on each page. Luckily, there is a key at the end of the book to help find any heroes that you may have missed.

This book is targeted for 3 – 8-year-olds. I think that this book would be a fun addition to any child’s home, preschool, or lower elementary school classroom. I’ve yet to find a child that doesn’t like hide and seek books.

I want to thank Author Mark K. Shriver, Illustrator Laura Watson, Loyola Press Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this Advanced Reader’s Copy. This is a voluntary review, and all comments and opinions are entirely my own.

Was this review helpful?

10 Hidden Heroes reminds me of Where's Waldo. Children will have to find the "hidden heroes"- everyday people with heroic jobs. Very bright and very fun!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

10 Hidden Heroes by Mark K. Shriver is a lovely look-and-find children's picture book with an important message. The book is a series of colorful pictures that encourage children to look for the "hidden heroes" in the pictures, meaning people with everyday jobs who actually help a lot of people. According to the description, "this vibrantly illustrated book helps children develop counting skills and learn how they too can be heroes in day-to-day life."

Overall, 10 Hidden Heroes is the perfect gift for the young Where's Waldo or I Spy fan in your life. One highlight of this book is how fun it is. When I was a child, I really enjoyed the I Spy series. My parents and I would spend hours looking through colorful pictures, trying to find small, hidden objects. Reading this book reminded me of those times. If you're intrigued by the description, I highly recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!

Was this review helpful?

Pros: This is a lovely book for children (and adults) to read about helping one another. Some ways people help are obvious, but this book does a great job highlighting some of the quieter ways we help each other. This would be a wonderful book for children to read with an adult because it is very interactive and the adults can ask the children what examples of helping they see in the pictures.

The illustrations in this book are so bright and cheerful. I loved the inclusiveness of the illustrations. I think any child reading this book will see themselves represented in the illustrations. It features different religions, races, and abilities.

Cons: None that I can think of!

Thank you to NetGalley and Loyola Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Was this review helpful?

A wholesome picture book filled with engaging illustrations where young readers seek out the kind deeds of kids in their community. A great book for teaching the virtues of kindness and caring to young ones. A good start for discussing how people being helpful makes the world a better place for everyone.

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately the file is not downloading to my device and I cannot leave a rating or review, sorry!

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book! I love the pictures, the concept, and the ability to really develop conversations with our children about important people in our society. I do wish that the seek and find parts were on each individual page so that it is easy for the children and caregivers to find the different heroes on the page. Either way, I love the way that the story is simple, each page could be done on its own, and the discussion that could be had from the seeking for items in the pictures.

Was this review helpful?

Peculiar Book

Though I’ve done lots of reviews of books over the years, I feel unsure how to review this one. The pages count back from 10 to 1, spotlighting different groups of “hidden heroes,” like those who take care of people who aren’t feeling well (doctors, nurses, and “regular” people) and those who keep us safe (police, school crossing guards). For the age I believe this is meant for, I’m not sure that a child will make the connection between the bigger concept of a particular type of hero and what is depicted on the page. In all honesty, it seemed like a peculiar book. The number one hero at the end is the child reader. A certificate page that can be filled in by/for the reader immediately follows this, proclaiming his or her hero status. All in all, I wasn’t wild about the book.

Was this review helpful?

Charming little book that makes it moral lesson in a clever way that makes readers and will surprise parents as well as the kids.

Was this review helpful?

The illustrations were lovely, cute, and detailed. I liked the messaging about all types of heroes and my kids love search and find books. I also really like that the last hero was the reader and asking them how they would help others. I did not expect the religious element for one the sections. I prefer secular books for my children and I feel like that was snuck in.

Was this review helpful?

This book draws the attention of children to people around us who are dedicated to helping others but may not receive public recognition for their efforts on a wide scale. These heroes are introduced in groups of varying numbers. The number one hero is the reader and the book asks them what they can do to help others. I appreciate the focus of the book on helping others but at the end, especially with the hero award page, it felt like there was a bit too much fanfare for heroes. I would want my children to help others because its the right thing to do and not because they are motivated by recognition.

Was this review helpful?

Some heroes are hiding in plain sight!
The first thing that got me was the fun way the illustrations reminded me of the Richard Scarry books where things were opened up and you could see inside buildings as well as all of the general busy-ness. Then there's the simple prose asking the readers to look for the heroes in each of ten categories. It all finishes up with an invitation for the reader to see self as a hero!
The illustrations are vibrant and detailed while remaining somewhat simply depicted. Terrific for all ages.
Maybe I'll get one for the local library, too!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Notable Kids Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!

Was this review helpful?

Great book showing pre schoolers what a hero means. Really vivid and engaging artwork for kids to enjoy. Helps to engage the kids in a conversation with others. It's a great way to highlight to kids how different professions and ordinary people can be heros. Would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher and author for allowing me ARC for honest feedback.

Was this review helpful?

This is a fantastic children's book which has amazing illustrations which are highly detailed, bright and colourful. The book shows different heroes in our lives who help and heal people, such as teachers, doctors, parents, shop assistants, police, fire people, bin people, life guards and carers. It is a great book, which I highly recommend.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This was a fun new spin on a look and find book that targets so many curriculum topics. The illustrations were beautiful and detailed with so many opportunities to start discussions about community helpers and connections with others. This book would be a wonderful addition to our classroom library.

Was this review helpful?