Last Son of Krypton

by Michael Dahl, John Delaney (Illustrator)

Overview

The distant planet KRYPTON faces total destruction. Before it explodes, the scientist JOR-EL and his wife LARA send their only son into outer space. Later, the child's rocket crashes into a Kansas cornfield where a farmer and his wife discover the boy and his strange powers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781434211552
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	01/01/2009
Series:	Capstone Superman Series
Pages:	56
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	620L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Michael Dahl is the prolific author of the bestselling Goodnight, Baseball picture book and more than 200 other books for children and young adults. He has won the AEP Distinguished Achievement Award three times for his nonfiction, a Teacher’s Choice award from Learning magazine, and a Seal of Excellence from the Creative Child Awards. Dahl currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Table of Contents

The dying planet — A spaceship too small — Escape! — A new home — Superpowers.

Editorial Reviews

This offering in Stone Arch’s new DC Super Heroes series, a set of chapter books based on familiar comics characters, is as good a place as any for young readers to get to know the most famous superhero of them all, Superman. The story follows the established backstory of a boy named Kal-El sent to earth from the dying planet of Krypton, where he is plucked out of a Kansas cornfield by a friendly farmer couple and renamed Clark Kent. A handful of colored, full-page illustrations highlight the action and establish characters, and the basic text—gentle enough to be reassuring and exciting enough to hold attention—is livened up with the occasional sound effect, rendered much as it would be in a comics panel. While other volumes (starring Superman and Batman, and one with Wonder Woman on the way) might feature more superhero action and crime-fighting capers, this one has the bonus of being an ideal launching pad into the vast world of Superman comics. Discussion questions and writing prompts at the end help make this a nice choice for classrooms as well. -Ian Chipman

Booklist Online

New Superman Series from Stone Arch Books Last Son of Krypton In this book: Years ago, on the distant planet Krypton, a scientist discovers that his world faces total destruction. Before the planet explodes, he sends his only son into outer space. The child’s rocket crashes on a farm in the middle of a Kansas cornfield. A farmer and his wife discover the child and the strange powers that lie in the tiny hands of this last son of Krypton.

Book Bits for Kids Blog

STAR REVIEW: These high-interest, low-level books will entice struggling readers, reluctant readers, and accomplished readers alike. The Man of Steel and Batman are back with exciting, colorful full-page illustrations in chapter book style. Last son of Krypton sets the background for Superman’s epic adventures, with a plot true to the original Superman storyline. The Museum Monsters introduces readers to the adult reporter Clark Kent and his coworker, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen. Batman continues his quest to rid Gotham City of crime. Emperor of the Airwaves involves a clever scheme by the Penguin and The Revenge of Clayface features Clayface and the Joker. “From the Desk of Clark Kent” highlights the end of each Superman book, and a confidential police file on the main criminal appears in the Batman titles. Added features include discussion questions and writing prompts. This set will be a must-have as it clearly features the “wow” factor of brightly colored illustrations to go along with the exciting plots and well-known characters. Glossary. Highly Recommended.

Library Media Connection