Reading Is a Superpower
What if the skills children develop through reading were treated like real superpowers?
That is the idea behind The Super Readers, a new children’s book series created by B Alan Bourgeois in connection with the Texas Authors Museum.
The series introduces four young heroes whose abilities are built around the things books can help children develop: knowledge, empathy, imagination, communication, curiosity, and problem-solving.
Their first adventure, The Super Readers and the Forest of Forgotten Words, launches September 1, 2026.
Meet the Super Readers
Osie — The Knowledge Reader
Osie can absorb useful knowledge from the books he reads and use it for a short time.
If he reads about bridges, he understands how they work.
If he reads about birds, he can recognize their songs.
If he reads about nature, he can use what he learns to help solve a problem.
Osie’s rule is simple:
Read it. Learn it. Use it well.
Amal — The Heart Reader
Amal’s special gift is called Heart-Sight.
When someone chooses to take her hand, Amal can help that person briefly understand what someone else may be feeling.
She cannot force anyone to be kind.
She can only open the door to understanding.
Listen with your heart. Kindness can start.
Bruce — The Story Maker
Bruce comes from a long line of superheroes, but his greatest power is his imagination.
With his silver quill, Bruce gathers clues, draws maps, makes plans, and writes stories.
A clue can become an idea.
An idea can become a plan.
And a plan can become an adventure.
Every great adventure begins with a story.
Ampy — The Language Reader
Ampersand—called Ampy by her friends—can read incredibly fast and understand every language she encounters.
Sometimes, she can even understand animals.
Birds chirp.
Squirrels chatter.
People speak in languages from around the world.
Ampy listens to them all.
Every voice deserves to be heard.
Their First Adventure
The Super Readers and the Forest of Forgotten Words
Something strange is happening in Whispering Woods.
Letters are disappearing.
Signs are losing their words.
Animals are confused.
And the forest is becoming strangely quiet.
The Super Readers soon discover Mina and a mysterious machine that has collected far more words than anyone intended.
Restoring the forest will take more than traditional superhero strength.
The four friends must read, listen, understand, communicate, imagine, and work together.
Along the way, they discover something important:
Knowledge matters.
Understanding matters.
Every voice matters.
Stories matter.
Why the Super Readers Were Created
The Super Readers were created around a simple idea:
Children already have the ability to develop real superpowers.
A child may never fly through the sky or lift a car.
But a child can:
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learn something new from a book,
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understand how someone else feels,
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imagine a solution to a problem,
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communicate with people who are different from them,
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ask questions,
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create stories,
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and use knowledge to make a difference.
Osie, Amal, Bruce, and Ampy turn those abilities into superhero powers children can recognize and develop for themselves.
The goal is not simply to tell children that reading is important.
The goal is to help them understand why reading is powerful.
A Story Told Through Words and Art
The world of the Super Readers is brought to life through richly illustrated pages designed to make reading feel exciting, welcoming, and adventurous.
From the book-shaped home on Library Hill to the mysterious depths of Whispering Woods, the artwork gives children another way to explore the story.
The book also includes:
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character introduction pages,
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colorful story scenes,
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interactive coloring pages,
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literacy themes,
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social-emotional learning,
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teamwork and problem-solving,
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and messages about kindness, second chances, and understanding others.
The result is a book designed not only to be read, but to be explored.
The Texas Authors Museum Mission
The Texas Authors Museum works to preserve, celebrate, and share the stories of Texas writers while helping future generations discover the importance of books, authors, and storytelling.
The Super Readers series extends that mission directly to children.
Through the series, the Museum hopes to encourage young readers to become:
curious readers, thoughtful listeners, creative thinkers, and confident storytellers.
Every author begins as someone who loves words.
Every story begins with an idea.
And someday, a child reading the Super Readers may become part of Texas literary history too.
Be a Texas Story Explorer
You do not need a cape to become a Super Reader.
Start with four simple things:
Read a book.
Ask questions.
Write something new.
Share your story.
Every page can lead somewhere new.
Every word can teach you something.
Every story can open a door.
Book Information
The Super Readers and the Forest of Forgotten Words
Author: B Alan Bourgeois
Release Date: September 1, 2026
Paperback
ISBN: 979-8-2562-7305-7
Price: $9.95
Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-0882-1514-2
Price: $24.95
For Parents, Teachers, Librarians, and Literacy Programs
The Super Readers and the Forest of Forgotten Words was created to work equally well as an individual reading experience or a shared read-aloud.
The book can help begin conversations about:
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the value of reading,
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empathy and understanding,
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communication,
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teamwork,
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problem-solving,
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environmental responsibility,
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making and repairing mistakes,
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imagination,
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and the power of stories.
It is a natural fit for homes, classrooms, school libraries, public libraries, literacy programs, reading events, and children’s programming.
The Adventure Is Just Beginning
The Forest of Forgotten Words is the first adventure in The Super Readers series.
Future stories can take Osie, Amal, Bruce, and Ampy into new mysteries, new places, new words, and new challenges—while continuing to show children that reading can help them understand both stories and the world around them.
Open a book.
Join the Super Readers.
Discover your power.