Superdad's Day Off

I wrote this book for my son, Stanley.

Love you pal.

First published in 2017 in Great Britain by Barrington Stoke Ltd 18 Walker Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7LP www.barringtonstoke.co.uk Text © 2017 Phil Earle Illustrations © 2017 Steve May The moral right of Phil Earle and Steve May to be identified as the author and illustrator of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in any part in any form without the written permission of the publisher A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library upon request ISBN: 978-1-78112-684-4 Printed in China by Leo This book is super readable for young readers beginning their independent reading journey.

Contents

1. What Is Normal?

1

2. Friday Arrives!

17

3. A Moggie Goes Missing

25

4. Pouncing on a Panther

34

5. Bath Time

46

6. Monster Truck

63

7. The Dynamic Duo

79

Chapter 1

WHAT IS NORMAL?

Stanley was a normal boy.

He was a normal height, a normal weight, and his head was full of normal dreams. The same things you and I dream of.

3

Stanley lived in a normal house with an older sister who was annoying, but normal. Even his dog Bonzo was normal.

Bonzo liked bones and walks and cocking his leg in places that made Stanley’s mum very cross.

There was nothing about Stanley’s life that would make you raise an eyebrow. There was nothing that would make you look twice.

4

Except for … Stanley’s dad.

His dad, you see, was not normal or ordinary. Far from it.

Stanley’s dad was extra-ordinary.

Stanley’s dad was a SUPERHERO.

6

Stanley’s dad was Dynamo Dan, the greatest crime-fighter our world has ever seen. Or any other world, for that matter. Day after day, week after week, year after year, Dynamo Dan would save the day.

“Help! Help! A comet is going to crash-land on top of New York City!”

Not today – with Dynamo Dan on hand!

7

“Oh crikey, oh blimey. Bad guys have kidnapped the Queen!”

Not to worry – here comes Dynamo Dan! “Oh pooh-sticks. Robbers have stolen a billion pounds from the world’s biggest bank!”

They won’t get away – Dynamo Dan will sort them out!

10

There wasn’t a crisis or emergency too big for Stanley’s dad. And there were a LOT of emergencies, believe me.

So many that they all started to make Dynamo Dan a little … tired.

11

That’s right – even superheroes get tired sometimes. I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true.

And that’s why Dynamo Dan had a day off, every week. He didn’t want to, but Stanley’s mum put her foot down.

12

“I don’t care if a hurricane is about to hit Hawaii,” she yelled. “The bags under your eyes are bigger than suitcases. Every Friday you’ll have a rest, or I’ll hide your Dynamo Dan costume. You can spend some time with Stan.”

Stanley was delighted. Of course he was. He loved spending time with his dad.

14

“After school, we can go to the park,” Stanley told his dad with a grin.

“Imagine how high you can push me on the swings with your super-strength …”

“High enough to grab the moon!” Dad answered, with a yawn.

15

“Plus, there’s the roundabout. One shove from you and it’ll be like riding a rollercoaster.”

“Deal,” said Dad. “Then I’ll take you for ice cream. How about that?”

“Brilliant!”

16

Stanley smiled. He was proud of having a superhero for a dad. Who wouldn’t be? But sometimes it could be lonely too. Dad worked long hours and Stan wasn’t allowed to ring him for a chat. It wasn’t possible to answer a call while you were saving the world.

Besides, Dad’s costume had no pockets to put a phone in.