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Superdog: The Heart of a Hero
Dexter is a little dog. He′s so little that the other dogs forget to invite him to play, and Cleevis the tomcat bullies him. But little Dexter has dreams -- big dreams. He wants to be a superhero. So Dexter starts a superhero training program. And suddenly, even Cleevis needs his help!
In Superdog, husband-and-wife team Mark and Caralyn Buehner have created a timeless story about a true superhero. Dexter has determination, spirit, and heart as he proves, above all, that no matter how little you are, you can still do very big things.
In Superdog, husband-and-wife team Mark and Caralyn Buehner have created a timeless story about a true superhero. Dexter has determination, spirit, and heart as he proves, above all, that no matter how little you are, you can still do very big things.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
March 18, 2011
Dex a skinny Hot dog often mocked by neighborhood cat starts to exercise and becomes muscular superdog, a cape and a red suit and he is off to the rescue of puppies scared to cross the street and mice trapped.
When his arch nemesis the cat gets stuck in a tree how sweet it is to rescue the poor cat too.
We laughed out loud.
When his arch nemesis the cat gets stuck in a tree how sweet it is to rescue the poor cat too.
We laughed out loud.
December 29, 2021
Good fun book to start a conversation about bullies.
February 20, 2024
I like this book because of the illustrations and the message it sends. The theme of this book is that you can do anything you put your mind to and that size doesn't matter. This story is about a dog named Dex, who gets bullied because of his size by a tomcat named Cleevis who is bigger than him. He had always dreamed of being a hero so he begins training. He becomes a hero in his neighborhood by helping others. Cleevis doesn't believe he is a hero because he is a small dog. One day Cleevis needs help and Dex comes to his rescue making him a believer that you can be a hero no matter what your size. This book would be appropriate for ages 4 to 7 years old. I would use this book in my classroom as a Read Aloud so that we can discuss being kind and working towards a goal. Then we could also compare and contrast the character traits of Dex and Cleevis and then we could do a writing activity, "If I Were Superhero.."
May 17, 2019
Superdog: The Heart of a Hero is cute enough and the pictures are engaging. I think the message is you can be (and are) better than the opinions others have of you. There's lots to like about Superdog: The Heart of a Hero.
As always, the husband of author, Caralyn, Mark Buehner adds more fun with a little seek and find in the book.
As always, the husband of author, Caralyn, Mark Buehner adds more fun with a little seek and find in the book.
November 16, 2017
A great book to give to those that love super hero's. I'm not sure if I would read this aloud, it's geared towards the lower grade levels and it was a bit long. I'm not sure if it would hold their attention long enough.
November 27, 2018
The book I have has the title Superdog: the Heart of a Hero, but came up under the same ISBN. It's a cute book about being who you want to be and helping being better than putting down. A nice lesson learned and fun dogs and cats along the way.
July 26, 2020
A super cute message for young readers! I had students up to 3rd grade who loved this small super hero. It’s not the size that matters, though! A simple plot, appropriate vocabulary, great classroom read.
July 14, 2017
A cute story of a little dachsund who trains and works hard to become a superhero.
July 31, 2017
made the kids want to lift weights. guess thats cool.
October 8, 2017
Read to my son
February 14, 2018
Fun book! Teaches the value of consistency & forgiveness in subtle ways. We both enjoyed it.
April 1, 2018
I read this book to my dogs.
May 4, 2018
It won't win any awards, but for any kid into dogs, dachshunds specifically, and/or becoming an unlikely superhero, Dex is pretty great.
May 22, 2018
i like this book it show a dog that brave dog that wont to be a super dog to save the day.
June 17, 2018
I thought I would like this, as it is about a dachshund (my Teddy is half dachshund) who is a super hero, and it is in a kind of graphic novel format. However, I really didn't like it unfortunately.
June 18, 2019
This book shows any young, or old, hero how to be a hero. Perseverance and a belief in yourself. We always enjoy Caralyn Buehner books in our house c
November 6, 2019
Ok book for me but I haven’t read it to my young boys I teach yet. They are going to go nuts. A young puppy exercises, gets into shape and buts a supersuit. Surprise! Super dog!
March 30, 2022
Fun story of a little dog who wants to be a hero and those around him who learn what a hero truly is. A great read aloud!
October 13, 2022
We loved the dog as the hero. The addition of the partner at the end was great.
February 14, 2023
Engaging story with a nice combo of "warrior kid" style work ethic, followed by a redemption story of the antagonist.
May 25, 2023
Very cute. A small dog becomes a big hero.
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February 27, 2024Mandi (Leah’s mom) read this to us for story time! Cute
July 7, 2011
This is the story of a much-ridiculed short and squatty Dachshund named Dex. The ringleader in making fun of Dex is Cleevis, a large tomcat who never tires of entertaining his peers with jokes that come at the tiny dog's expense. Poor Dex dreams of becoming a superhero. But he does more than dream; he trains. Dex does extra laps on the rug before finally lying down. He increases his leaping and running exercises. Yes, through determination, Dex makes the transformation. Ultimately, he proves his superhero status to Cleevis in a compelling way.
I was never much for superhero comics, but the genre generally appeals to boys. Superdog: The Heart of a Hero, by the husband-wife team of Mark and Caralyn Buehner, infuses comic book elements into the picture book format. In fact, the text boxes for the comic-styled cells are the most fun to read, especially using the deeper, dramatic voice of a radio announcer (e.g., "It was clearly a desperate situation....").
The illustrations are playful, my favorite being the series of cells showing Dex flexing and admiring his suddenly sinewy frame. As noted on the book jacket, Mark Buehner adds to the viewing pleasure by sneaking in images of rabbits, cats and T-Rex dinosaurs in many of the illustrations. (Look in windows, in the folds of Superdog's cape, in the trees and clouds. (I also found an uncredited whale, a witch and even a SuperDex representation playfully added to the background. Intentional? Could my eyes be playing tricks on me?) The bonus caricatures will encourage repeated viewings.
While Superman, Spiderman and Aquaman have devoted followings, Superdog is a treat worth yipping about.
Please read more of my reviews at http://boyzread.blogspot.com/.
I was never much for superhero comics, but the genre generally appeals to boys. Superdog: The Heart of a Hero, by the husband-wife team of Mark and Caralyn Buehner, infuses comic book elements into the picture book format. In fact, the text boxes for the comic-styled cells are the most fun to read, especially using the deeper, dramatic voice of a radio announcer (e.g., "It was clearly a desperate situation....").
The illustrations are playful, my favorite being the series of cells showing Dex flexing and admiring his suddenly sinewy frame. As noted on the book jacket, Mark Buehner adds to the viewing pleasure by sneaking in images of rabbits, cats and T-Rex dinosaurs in many of the illustrations. (Look in windows, in the folds of Superdog's cape, in the trees and clouds. (I also found an uncredited whale, a witch and even a SuperDex representation playfully added to the background. Intentional? Could my eyes be playing tricks on me?) The bonus caricatures will encourage repeated viewings.
While Superman, Spiderman and Aquaman have devoted followings, Superdog is a treat worth yipping about.
Please read more of my reviews at http://boyzread.blogspot.com/.
June 24, 2013
I love this book! Dex the Heart of a Hero is a very cute children’s book about a little dog that works hard to become his idea of a super hero. Poor Dex is ignored and ridiculed for being small but has bigger plans for himself. He decides he wants to become a superhero so he reads all the comics he can about superheroes. From his readings, he devises a training program and works diligently to achieve his goals. One day, the same cat, Cleevis, that torments Dex the most, needs his help. Dex rescues Cleevis and receives the acclaim he has been working so hard for!
In the book, I think the author does a great job using what Fletcher describes as tension. The author explores Dex's internal tension when she states, "Dex lived on dreams until one day, after crawling our from under Cleevis yet again, he decided there had to more to life than gazing at the underside of a cat" (Buehner, 2004, p.10). The author also explores how Dex's inner tension of being small and overlooked relates to his external world and other characters. The author references the drive Dex needs in order to achieve his goals and how once he achieves his goals the world around him perceives him. I think the author uses tension well as I left this book with a sense of the tension Dex experienced both inside his head and in the world around him. The author executes the use of tension by building on relatable experiences and emotions. I think the anthropomorphism of being marginalized makes it more approachable for children. If I were teaching a child to try to use tension, I might suggest he try to do the same about some feelings that may otherwise be scary to explore.
In the book, I think the author does a great job using what Fletcher describes as tension. The author explores Dex's internal tension when she states, "Dex lived on dreams until one day, after crawling our from under Cleevis yet again, he decided there had to more to life than gazing at the underside of a cat" (Buehner, 2004, p.10). The author also explores how Dex's inner tension of being small and overlooked relates to his external world and other characters. The author references the drive Dex needs in order to achieve his goals and how once he achieves his goals the world around him perceives him. I think the author uses tension well as I left this book with a sense of the tension Dex experienced both inside his head and in the world around him. The author executes the use of tension by building on relatable experiences and emotions. I think the anthropomorphism of being marginalized makes it more approachable for children. If I were teaching a child to try to use tension, I might suggest he try to do the same about some feelings that may otherwise be scary to explore.
July 13, 2012
Superdog: The Heart of a Hero is a really cute picture book about Dexter a dachshund that has big dreams of being a superhero. The illustrations in this book are so colorful with an emphasis of yellow, green, blue, red, and brown. In his neighborhood, Dexter was often overlooked by the other dogs and cats. The other dogs grew tired of waiting for Dexter to catch up and eventually didn’t invite him anymore. The book seems to have two stories. One story is about Dexter training to become a superhero and finally becoming a quick and muscular dog who helps other animals around the neighborhood. He even orders and wears a superhero costume. The second story is about Dexter being the superhero; the text is in a small box within the illustrations, for example: “WITH THE COURAGE OF A LION, THE STRENGTH OF A BEAR, AND THE HEART OF A HERO…” Dexter finally gains respect of the other animals in the neighborhood when he saves Cleevis, the tomcat from being stuck in a tree as the crowd yells “SU-PER-DOG!” Cleevis then ask Dexter if he can be is partner and Dexter agrees. This book shows that no matter what size you are, you can accomplish your dreams.
June 10, 2015
Ahh! It's a wiener dog! An immediate favorite for me. I love this story. He's so cute. And I like the lesson that it teaches of working hard and believing in yourself in order to achieve your dreams. I liked the illustrations, too. It was overall really cute. It doesn't quite seem like what I was looking for in my Book Time, but I don't want to pass it up. Perhaps I can do a Superhero Book Time.
12/4/13 I was sure I'd read this in a storytime before--most likely a school-age. So, I don't know why I don't have a review of that. However, I did read this in preschool for my Heroes storytime. Not as great for the preschool crowd. They followed the story, but the humor was too subtle or over their heads.
6/10/15 Used in Friends theme, which worked well with the summer Superhero theme as well. I think the kids enjoyed the story. Not as reactionary, but they listened and kept their attention on me and the book.
12/4/13 I was sure I'd read this in a storytime before--most likely a school-age. So, I don't know why I don't have a review of that. However, I did read this in preschool for my Heroes storytime. Not as great for the preschool crowd. They followed the story, but the humor was too subtle or over their heads.
6/10/15 Used in Friends theme, which worked well with the summer Superhero theme as well. I think the kids enjoyed the story. Not as reactionary, but they listened and kept their attention on me and the book.
January 19, 2010
This is really a good book for both boys and girls but could easily catch the interest of a young boy who is interested in comic books. Dex is a small dog with big dreams of becoming a hero. Everyone laughs at him because of his size but Dex is determined to reach his goal. He works hard and in time the dreams to become a hero prove to become reality, when Superdog must save the day.
Written by Caralyn Buehner and Illustrated by Mark Buehner
Published by HarperCollins
Illustrations: The wonderful illustrations help catch the interest of children. Throughout the story there are secret little pictures hidden that children will enjoy looking for while they listen or read on their own.
Uses: Age range 5-8. This book could be read aloud to large or small groups. It could also be used for guided reading or individual reading depending on the child's reading level.
Notes: Let children know that there are secret images hidden throughout the illustrations.
Written by Caralyn Buehner and Illustrated by Mark Buehner
Published by HarperCollins
Illustrations: The wonderful illustrations help catch the interest of children. Throughout the story there are secret little pictures hidden that children will enjoy looking for while they listen or read on their own.
Uses: Age range 5-8. This book could be read aloud to large or small groups. It could also be used for guided reading or individual reading depending on the child's reading level.
Notes: Let children know that there are secret images hidden throughout the illustrations.
September 20, 2012
This is a very good book. It is well written and has very good illustrations. The story told in the book is describing the "underdog", which any child could relate to if they've ever been picked on or made fun of, which sadly, is most every child. The lesson in this story is that if you keep trying and work as hard as you can, then you can achieve something great and maybe even change the lives of a few people for the better. Dex pushed through all of the teasing and taunting from the cat and the other dogs and was able to get much stronger and became superdog! He was very proud of himself after he was able to help people in their daily lives. He became greatly appreciated by everyone, even those who used to taunt and tease him. This is a very inspiring story and I highly recommend reading this in the classroom.
June 25, 2015
This book follows a dog named Dexter. He is a small wiener dog and is always made fun of by other dogs and even a cat named Cleevis. However, Dexter wants to be a superhero, and so he trains to build up his muscles and puts on a superhero suit to let people know that he is there to help. Once he finishes his training he helps everyone out and they all know that they can count on him. Even Cleevis ends up needing his help. This book teaches children the power of being kind to everyone and not allowing size or anything else stop you from your dreams. I LOVED reading this book! The illustrations are so fun and when Dexter daydreams about being a superhero, the pictures are done in a comic book fashion. I would love to use this book in the classroom at the beginning of the school year as an intro into talking about not limiting yourself.
July 29, 2008
This book is a funny and animated example of a fantasy. Every child dreams of being some sort of superhero so they can really relate to the main charcter, Dex the dog. The author did a fantastic job of creating Dex to be a lovable and memorable character. Dex is a small dog, who decides that the way to get respect, especially from the ridiculing cat Cleevis, is to become a superhero. He exercises, reads up on other superheroes, and even gets a costume. The illustrations have a retro feel to them and are quite humorous. The author also added to the fun by hiding cats, rabbits, and even a Tyrannosaurus rex in the clouds and shadows. This book should be read aloud to elementary children and would make a wonderful addition to any literature unit based on fantasy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews