Eliot Jones, Midnight Superhero. Anne Cottringer. Illustrated by Alex T. Smith. Toronto, ON: Scholastic Canada, 2008. 32 pp., hardcover, $8.99. ISBN 978-0-545-99318-0. Preschool-grade 2 / Ages 3-7. Review by Linda Ludke. ***1/2 /4

excerpt:

Sometimes the mayor needs Eliot’s help.
“The lions have escaped from the zoo!” he cries.
“They’re rampaging through the streets!”
Luckily, Eliot is an expert lion tamer.
He leaps from his bedroom window, races through the screaming crowds....

By all appearances, Eliot Jones is a mild-mannered young lad. Quiet and studious, his hobbies include tending to pet goldfish and watching a neighbour wash his car. However, when the clock strikes midnight, Eliot is transformed into a caped superhero. Ready for adventure, he “hangs out of helicopters”, “skis down glaciers” and even tames rampaging lions. His talents are well-known. When the Coast Guard needs help towing a ship to safety, they call upon Eliot. Even the Queen of England requires the small boy’s sleuthing skills to foil a jewel thief. Eliot’s “most important mission ever” involves using his “Meteor-Busting Rocket Launcher” to save the world from destruction. Being a Midnight Superhero is tiring work. Eliot’s flights of fancy keep him up late at night, which explains his quiet demeanor during the day.

     Alex T. Smith’s zany cartoon collage illustrations are filled with action. The curly-haired hero is shown swimming in shark-invested waters, piloting a jet over the Caspian Sea and scaling steep mountain cliffs. End papers are stamped “Top Secret” and show detailed graph drawings of inventions involving lampshades and toilet paper rolls. The final page shows Eliot relaxing in his bedroom, happily dreaming of more adventures.

     Children will applaud Eliot’s daring accomplishments and wild imagination. With its great pacing and vivid images, this book would be a great read-aloud choice for storytime.

Highly Recommended.

Linda Ludke is a librarian in London, ON.

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