Hero represents all dyslexic children. The character is inspired by the late actor, singer, and activist Harry Belafonte - better known as "Mr B" - who was a great advocate for children with reading difficulties. Mr B saw dyslexia not as a disability but as a gift - he called it a 'superpower.'
One of Hero's favorite hobbies is reading, despite the fact he finds it hard. Hero enjoys lots of other activities too and has many great qualities in addition to his perseverance with reading.
All the other characters in the book are childhood versions of real-life famous people who are or were dyslexic. For each of them their dyslexia gives them a superpower, represented by something they are wearing or an object they have. As well as providing details about the places Hero visits, the list on pages 16-19 includes descriptions of each character's remarkable achievements. These mini-biographies show dyslexia is not a barrier to success, and are intended for adults to share with young readers, who may enjoy spotting the identifying clues in the illustrations.
May every dyslexic child beam with hope from reading this book. And may all readers - whether they are dyslexic or not - find their inner strength to be and their own special superpower.
