Captain Awesome vs. Nacho Cheese Man

Stan Kirby's second Captain Awesome book is a very silly superhero story for 5 year olds about two best friends who fall out over a missing comic.

What happens

Eugene and his best mate Charlie aren't just ordinary kids at Sunnyview Elementary. They're secretly Captain Awesome and Nacho Cheese Man (Charlie fights evil with cans of squirty cheese). With Turbo the class hamster, they're the Sunnyview Superhero Squad.

The book opens with a tree house sleepover, a plate of brownies and the brand new Super Dude comic. Eugene loves it so much he declares it his favourite comic ever. Then he goes one better and calls it double-ever!

So when it disappears from its hiding place under his bed, it's a disaster. Eugene showed it to Charlie, and nobody else. Then Turbo rolls straight past Eugene to Charlie on Turbo Day. And on the school trip bus, Charlie lets Meredith (sorry, Little Miss Stinky Pinky) bag the seat next to him.

You can guess where this is heading. There's a huge row on the swings and Charlie quits the Squad.

What makes it so much fun is that it all happens inside Eugene's head. His baby sister is Queen Stinkypants from Planet Baby. The dog next door is Mr Drools, a slobbering monster from the Howling Paw Nebula. There's a BARF or a GROSS in capital letters all the way through.

Underneath the jokes there's a proper little story about jumping to conclusions. Eugene's dad sits on the end of his bed and has a lovely chat with him about what really makes a hero. It's never preachy. It's just kind.

If you've got a reader who's ever been certain a friend did something they didn't, they'll recognise every bit of this. And if they've ever been cross about a bus seat, even more so!

Captain Awesome vs. Nacho Cheese Man is American, so it's Mom, field trips and the second grade throughout. The chapters are very short, which suits a child just getting going on their own.

What to read next

When they're ready for more, Captain Awesome and the New Kid opens with the boys on rocket bikes, rescuing their Frisbee from the drooly jaws of Mr Drools.