1. Ambition
2. Children as authors
3. Family
4. Flight
5. Perseverance
6. Self-image

What child does not wish to be a superhero? Breanna, our main character, wants to be a special hero, one that flies! She asks her Mum and other family members whether wishing on a shooting star could make this happen? They all say, ‘No’. Only Pop says, ‘You never know unless you try’. The family all pile into the car and go looking for a shooting star. There on a hill they see a shooting star, and Breanna makes a wish. Disappointingly, ‘nothing happened’. Family, as family do, offer some compensation. They suggest Breanna could become a superhero doctor, a superhero lawyer, a superhero Engineer, or a superhero vet. Breanna still wants to fly!

Ambelin Kwaymullina’s illustrations feature boldly outlined, solid colours featuring Breanna dreaming about her ambition to fly and her family’s more down to earth possibilities. Breanna, the star of this story, is a younger version of the author who is a Noongar, Gunditjmara, Wiraderjiri and Jawoyn woman. She wrote this, her first published children’s book, when she was eight years old.

Ambelin Kwaymullina belongs to the Palyku people of the eastern Pilbara region of Western Australia. She writes and illustrates in many genres for young people.

1. ‘I Want to Be A Superhero’ reviewed by Cassie Lynch. Books+Publishing, 30 Sept 2020 https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2020/09/30/157376/i-want-to-be-a-superhero-breanna-humes-illus-by-ambelin-kwaymullina-magabala/
2. SBS News. ‘Reg Saunders was the first Aboriginal officer in the Army. His legacy still matters today.’ (Profiles Breanna Humes, his great-granddaughter), 2 Sept 2020 https://amp.sbs.com.au/v1/news/article/reg-saunders-was-the-first-aboriginal-officer-in-the-army-his-legacy-still-matters-today/3f587fba-1687-40f0-8da9-bb99d449c2a5
3. ‘The Role of Heroes for Children’ by Marilyn Price-Mitchell, PhD, 7 May 2012 https://www.rootsofaction.com/role-of-heroes-for-children/
4. HUFFPOST. ‘Why Are Children So Obsessed with Super Heroes?’ by James Moore, 22 May 2015 https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/14/why-are-children-so-obsessed-with-super-heroes_n_7357530.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJpYwezg0aZffXjn0PE3BD0Uc9aUvJzWH7iVB5aNjzRR1wtfK_aOGBd-IPw8KjB7n8m38oK1p63X8U4FiCWAwjXFFi3s_Bxhy667u4wIZNeoRQCHPJh6AYCi03qy6H6pxz9BHOVRFOQhU-DiyfFzbROcSZsZN3Xlldzq4vNBfXLF
5. ReadPlus Review Blog, 3 Nov 2020 https://www.readplus.com.au/blog.php