HOUSTON – For many families, returning to the classroom after winter and summer breaks can bring more than new backpacks and fresh notebooks, it can bring nerves.
With studies indicating 64% of children experience school anxiety, experts say rising anxiety rates are making school transitions increasingly stressful for kids and caregivers alike.
That’s a reality journalist and mom Haley Hernandez, knows firsthand. When her own son struggled with the idea of going to school, Hernandez did what many parents do: she searched for a story that would help him understand why school matters and what to expect once he arrived. When she couldn’t find a book that felt like the right fit, she decided to write the one she wished existed.
The result is School Makes You Super, a reassuring, upbeat picture book designed to help children build confidence as they approach one of their first big life transitions, starting school.
A superhero-inspired approach to confidence and calm
Rather than focusing on fear, School Makes You Super reframes school as a place where kids can develop “real superpowers.” Through playful text, compassionate guidance, and vibrant illustrations, the book introduces young readers to the school experience in a way that feels approachable and empowering.
School Makes You Super will be widely available anywhere you purchase books, including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Publisher praise: “A charming source of encouragement and positivity”
Publisher Greenleaf Book Group describes the book as a timely addition for families navigating school jitters and new beginnings.
“If Dr. Seuss was correct in saying, ‘You can find magic wherever you look . . . all you need is a book,’ then we need look no further than Haley Hernandez’s School Makes You Super,” the publisher said. “A charming source of encouragement and positivity for kids beginning their schooling journey. School Makes You Super illustrates all the potential and excitement awaiting them at school, likening learning to developing your superpowers.”