Michael Maxwell McAllum loves superheroes, especially Perfect Man, “the greatest superhero of them all.” Michael has Perfect Man video games, Perfect Man cereal, and even his own Perfect Man web site. Then, one day, Perfect Man quits. Michael remains optimistic that his hero will return. That fall, Michael thinks he finds Perfect Man in the guise of Mr. Clark, his new teacher.

Like a superhero, Mr. Clark knows all about the solar system and seems to be everywhere at the same time. Best of all, Mr. Clark helps people find their own superpowers. When Michael submits a Perfect Man story to his teacher, whispering, “I know you’re Perfect Man,” Mr. Clark tells Michael he has a super ability to write well. At the story’s end, Michael has grown up to become a best-selling author and Mr. Clark is his biggest fan.

First-time author Troy Wilson, from Victoria, B.C., writes in a simple, repetitive style. His ideas build and flow seamlessly from one event to the next. The heart-warming relationship between teacher and student will resonate with everyone who has ever had a special teacher be a life-long influence.

With its muscled hero and wiry sidekick, Duncan, B.C., illustrator Dean Griffiths’ cover illustration mimics a Marvel comic book. Inside, the book follows a conventional picture book format, but is filled with superheroes doing amazing feats. Griffiths captures the shameful expressions of two schoolyard bullies as they peer up at the smiling face of Mr. Clark, who’s revealed in a glance as a gem who can deal with difficult situations with respect and care. This is a wonderfully uplifting story for young and old.