Sadoni Squirrel: Superhero

---

If a Squirrel can team up with a cat and use super powers to help others, what can ever get in their way?

Sadoni is a Squirrel with magical powers that she only uses in emergencies to help others, but her feline friend – Jamison - is never around to witness when that happens, so he does not believe her and refuses to be her superhero sidekick. That is until Jamison’s owner gets in trouble and the cat needs his squirrel friend’s super powers to help save his human.

The story is interesting and very fun to read. It delivers the messages of trusting one’s self, trusting others, asking for help when in need, and always offering help even to those who had once doubted us. The art work is simple yet beautiful and brings the story to life in a colorful, fun manner. The story also comes with exercise / dance tips from a ballerina that the children can follow to feel more involved in the story – bringing the whole work more to life.

Every single page has an interesting addition to the story, lovely artwork, and new dance moves, so the children are bound to get more and more excited with each turned page.

I recommend this book to anyone with kids (parents / teachers / care takers …) who wants them to have something fun to read.

—Reedsy (Fatima Aladdin)

Sadoni Squirrel: Superhero by Once Upon a Dance is a delightful story about the antics of an unusual squirrel. Like the rest of her family, Sadoni has the superpower of ‘freeze breath’, turning air or water into ice for the purpose of helping other creatures in need. Trouble is, Sadoni’s erstwhile cat friend, Jamison, is skeptical about Sadoni’s abilities. It is only when Jamison’s human runs into trouble that Jamison trusts Sadoni enough to work with him on a solution. Aside from the quirky story pictures (by Ethan Roffler), Sadoni Squirrel: Superhero has even more than an often-humorous story to offer; it is also a creative movement story. In the right-hand margin of each page, Ballerina Konora explains simple body movements for young dancers to act/dance out the story. Here, age-appropriate, perfectly matched instructions accompany clear, self-explanatory photographs of Konora in motion.

The authors, a mother-daughter team, explain in the peritext that Sadoni Squirrel: Superhero (and others in the series) was started as a result of the pandemic’s restrictions. It is a wonderful idea. The story is good as a standalone for young readers and even better as a creative movement story. The one aspect enhances the other, with the story aspect making the dance sequence as a whole more meaningful. Aside from one or two slight gaps in the text, with adult direction Sadoni Squirrel: Superhero will be a clever, creative, fun, and memorable way for young readers and dancers to enjoy both reading and dance. I loved it.

 — Readers’ Favorite 

Sadoni Squirrel has a very special superpower, but not everyone believes her skills are real. Jamison the cat, one of Sadoni’s neighbors, is often nearby, but he is usually sleeping when danger summons Sadoni to use her superpower to assist others. Baby animals are beginning to explore the world more widely, and Sadoni bravely comes to the rescue to protect them from harm. It is not until Jamison’s owner requires assistance that Jamison finally sees for himself how helpful his friend can be, and he is left wondering what his life might be like if he were to decide to join her in her benevolent superhero quest.
 

This latest in the Dance it Out Creative Movement series by Once Upon a Dance is a delightful and entertaining story. Sadoni and Jamison spend much of the book speaking to one another, and a plethora of action verbs give the narrative forward momentum even before readers get on their own feet. Each page is subdivided vertically into thirds, presenting the illustration, the text of the story, and then a movement guide that includes both words and pictures. No matter how readers choose to engage with the story, they will be inspired to move their bodies and to explore superpowers of their own.
 

The illustrations in this story are fanciful, clearly displaying an emotional connection between Jamison and Sadoni. While the animals represent real creatures, they wear select articles of clothing and behave in ways that liken them to people. Visible pencil lines give texture to each image while pastel colors lend a softness to the story, and readers of all ages will appreciate the delightful overall presentation of the book.
 

Young children who love to express themselves through movement will enjoy all of the stories in this series. Designed to be read in myriad ways, readers can choose to explore the plot before getting into the actions or to attempt everything in tandem. Each of the installments in the Creative Movement series follows a similar structure and pattern, giving young readers the feeling of comfort and familiarity when opening any of them. This is a positive and encouraging addition to library collections for imaginative young children with a passion for movement and exploration.

—Mary Lanni, Independent Librarian Reviewer