Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

An over-the-top comic-book adventure within a bedtime story aims for laughs. Veteran children's-book writer Rosen (Aesop's Fables, 2013, etc.) proves he knows what kids like and what they are like. The story begins as Dad reads a comic book to "Emily and little Elmer" at bedtime: Filth and Vacuum are on their way to Earth to take over the world. Within the comic book, savvy schoolboy Brad 40 tries to warn Miss Nice and Class Perfect. In the frame, Elmer gets excited by the story, and Emily becomes impatient with his interruptions. Back in the story, Brad 40 alerts Mayor Troubleshoot of the dreaded duo's approach, and the Mayor mobilizes the heroes. Unfortunately, neither Steel Man, Super-Flying-Through-The-Air-Very-Fast-Man nor Incredibly-Big-Strong-Green Man can fend off Filth and Vacuum. Brad 40 calls on Extremely Boring Man to come to the rescue. With his gray-on-gray outfit and seemingly endless monologue about selecting what to wear, he has a slumberous effect on everyone, including Filth and Vacuum—and Elmer and Emily (as if, Dad!). McEwan alters the style of illustration and palette to cue the back and forth between the stories. The comic adventure is laid out in frames with urgent declarations and sound effects, with a printed-on-newsprint effect, whereas the scenes with Elmer and Emily are often on full-bleed pages and pulse with saturated colors. Although this approach has been used before, rarely has it been executed with such hilarious results. (Picture book. 4-8)

ALA Booklist (Thu May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Time for Dad to read a bedtime comic to Emily and Elmer. After a few preliminaries, we jump from the bedroom into the comic's world, where we learn of two evil beings about to assault the humorously named Townton: Filth (a one-eyed goo monster) and Vacuum (a robot able to inhale anything). Thanks to the quick thinking of a kid named Brad 40, the government tries to stop Filth and Vacuum by calling up Steel Man, who, well, fails. Enter Super-Flying-through-the-Air-Very-Fast Man, who also fails. By the time Incredibly-Big-Strong-Green Man gets his drawers pulled off by Vacuum, it's clear that this is a parody of the superhero tropes of which even the youngest are aware. McEwen comes through like a champ, illustrating the action in convincing Sunday-comics style, complete with flat-looking characters, faded colors, and a background approximating newsprint. The meta element of the reading family (illustrated in a gentler, subtler style) doesn't add much t any silliness here is good silliness.

Horn Book (Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

In this story-within-a-story, Dad reads Send for a Superhero! to Emily and little Elmer at bedtime. The silly comic-book parody stars Brad 40, a clear-thinking boy who helps save the day, and Extremely Boring Man, the most ridiculous superhero ever. Text and art shift smoothly between superhero action and bedtime antics--one funny for its off-brand superheroes, the other for its recognizable family dynamics.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

An over-the-top comic-book adventure within a bedtime story aims for laughs. Veteran children's-book writer Rosen (Aesop's Fables, 2013, etc.) proves he knows what kids like and what they are like. The story begins as Dad reads a comic book to "Emily and little Elmer" at bedtime: Filth and Vacuum are on their way to Earth to take over the world. Within the comic book, savvy schoolboy Brad 40 tries to warn Miss Nice and Class Perfect. In the frame, Elmer gets excited by the story, and Emily becomes impatient with his interruptions. Back in the story, Brad 40 alerts Mayor Troubleshoot of the dreaded duo's approach, and the Mayor mobilizes the heroes. Unfortunately, neither Steel Man, Super-Flying-Through-The-Air-Very-Fast-Man nor Incredibly-Big-Strong-Green Man can fend off Filth and Vacuum. Brad 40 calls on Extremely Boring Man to come to the rescue. With his gray-on-gray outfit and seemingly endless monologue about selecting what to wear, he has a slumberous effect on everyone, including Filth and Vacuum—and Elmer and Emily (as if, Dad!). McEwan alters the style of illustration and palette to cue the back and forth between the stories. The comic adventure is laid out in frames with urgent declarations and sound effects, with a printed-on-newsprint effect, whereas the scenes with Elmer and Emily are often on full-bleed pages and pulse with saturated colors. Although this approach has been used before, rarely has it been executed with such hilarious results. (Picture book. 4-8)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Former British Children-s Laureate Rosen skewers comic-book conventions in this story-within-a-story. With siblings Emily and Elmer cozied up on either side of him, Dad reads them the very book readers are holding in their hands. McEwen-s (I Love You, Little Monkey) mixed-media illustrations shift from soft, homey scenes into energetic comic-book storytelling mode as the family becomes immersed in the story of two villains-Filth, a one-eyed green blob, and Vacuum, a money-stealing vacuum cleaner-who are terrorizing the town of Townton. Lots of sounds effects (-schweee- -skloosh-) and maniacal laughter ensue as three superheroes are called in to save the day. The would-be heroes-Steel Man, Super-Flying-Through-the-Air-Very-Fast Man, and Incredibly-Big-Strong-Green Man-are basically low-rent cousins to Iron Man, Superman, and the Hulk, and where they fail, a secret agent/schoolboy-s suggestion succeeds. The over-the-top superhero drama and pratfall-laden clashes slyly send up familiar comic book tropes, while the mid-story interruptions and diversions involving Emily and Elmer showcase a homey family dynamic that many readers will recognize. Ages 3-7. (June)

School Library Journal (Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

K-Gr 3 In this story within a story, a father reads to his children at bedtime, sharing with them a tale of danger, destruction, and unexpected heroism. Emily and little Elmer listen avidly as Dad begins, "'Danger! The Terrible Two are trying to destroy the world!'" The villains, Filth and Vacuum, plan to pour muck and slime over an idyllic small town called Townton while sucking up all the money, jewels, and treasure to be had. At school, young Brad 40 receives an alert of the impending threat and contacts the mayor. The mayor calls in three strong, fast, and big superheroes who prove to be no match for the Terrible Two. At last, Brad 40 comes up with an ingenious idea to save the day: lull the bad guys to sleep with the help of Extremely Boring Man. As Dad narrates, the children interrupt him with their comments about the rising action. Like many siblings, they squabble, and Elmer delights in imitating the evil cackle of the villains. The mixed-media illustrations are eye-catching and entertaining. Precisely drawn panels filled with subtle humor detail the perils of all-too-perfect Townton in comic-book fashion, contrasting nicely with the plush, jewel-toned family bedtime scenes below. Pair this clever title with another superhero adventure, Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman's Superhero Joe and the Creature Next Door (S. &; S., 2013) for an action-packed storyhour. Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston, MA