In the adorable and conscientious picture book Rae’s First Day, a girl with a limb difference has an empowering introduction to kindergarten.

In Danny Jordan’s picture book Rae’s First Day, a child makes use of her differences to save the day.

Rae was born with a limb difference: she has just one bone in her right forearm and two fingers on her right hand. Her difference gives her a superpower that she has told no one about.

On her first day of kindergarten, Rae is both nervous and excited. The day is rainy, but when the teacher says they’re going to have indoor recess, outdoorsy Rae uses her superpower to change the weather from gloomy to sunny. After speaking to another student, she begins to think she may not be the only kid with superpowers, either.

This cinematic story is structured like a comic book; it mirrors superhero tales. Expository moments are kept apart in square blocks, while people’s speech bubbles make use of a jubilant font. Further, the layout varies between pages, with important moments highlighted in full-page panels.

The illustrations are dynamic: their diverse characters have big eyes and striking, radiant expressions. When a boy in Rae’s class approaches her to ask about her arm, the close-up of his face, with his furrowed brows and a glint in his eyes, conveys that Rae feels intimidated and anxious about what he may say next. And the angles of people’s bodies impart energy, too. Further, the book’s bright colors and bold shapes are appealing.

To generate suspense, the introduction to Rae’s story is slow, with the first several pages emphasizing her mixed feelings as she sits at the breakfast table and rides in the car on the way to school. Because of this, when her superpower is finally revealed, it is explosive, identifiable, and poignant.

In the adorable and conscientious picture book Rae’s First Day, a girl with a limb difference has an empowering introduction to kindergarten.

A kindergartener uses her secret superpower on her first day of school in this picture book.

Rae starts her day with her dad’s affirmations: He assures her she’s strong, smart, and—most importantly—capable. That word gives her a jolt, which she knows emanates from her superpower. But she’s nervous about how kids will react to her limb difference (“Her right arm was shorter than her left, and her hand had two fingers”). To comfort her, her father has her repeat words they’ve shared: “Some people will look at me differently, and that’s okay” because differences “make our world super.” Confidence restored, Rae meets her classmates, and they easily accept her—difference and all—as a friend. When recess is threatened due to rain, Rae confides to a new pal about her superpower, then ducks behind a bookcase to summon the sunshine and save the day. While this series opener addresses Rae’s limb difference, it’s couched within a superhero story that’s the real focus of the comic book–styled work. The tale deftly shows that kids with differences can be heroes. Perciante’s bright cartoon illustrations, featuring a diverse cast, are sometimes full page and sometimes in panels, with lettering in boxes and word balloons to reinforce the comic-book influence. While the vocabulary Jordan uses is more appropriate for confident readers beyond kindergarten, the lap crowd will be enthralled by the format, and preschoolers will find comfort in Rae’s success.

First-day jitters, inclusivity, and an engaging superhero tale all in one.