Courtesy of a People exclusive, DC today announced You’re A Superhero!, a new early reader graphic novel from writer and actor Azie Tesfai and illustrator Penelope Rivera Gaylord, arriving November 3, 2026. Created for readers ages 5–7, this uplifting story introduces young fans to six-year-old Mariam, a girl who loves superheroes but is not sure she sees them in her everyday world until she discovers that heroism is all around her.
Here’s how the publisher describes the graphic novel:
In You’re A Superhero!, Mariam wishes the heroes she sees on TV felt a little closer to home. But as she explores her neighborhood with her mom, she begins to notice the extraordinary people who make her community work: the building super who keeps everyone safe, the bus driver who knows every kid’s name, the electrician who brings light back to the block. Inspired by the real-life heroes around her, and by her super mom, Mariam learns the most important lesson of all: she is a superhero, too.
Tesfai is no stranger to superheroes. Arrowverse fans likely know her best from her role as Kelly Olsen a.k.a. the Guardian on Supergirl, becoming the first Ethiopian and Eritrean person to portray a superhero on television, and the first CW actor to write for the network, penning the Guardian’s debut episode “Blind Spots.” Her work on the series centered on community, inclusion, and the idea that everyone has the power to protect and uplift the people around them.
Tesfai shared the inspiration for this book:
“I wrote this book because playing a superhero on television opened me up to a world filled with imagination, power, and possibility, one I hadn’t fully experienced when I was growing up. It made me think about how meaningful it would have been to meet these heroes at a younger age and to see myself reflected in that world from the very beginning. With this story, and as DC begins an exciting new chapter in the kids’ space, I wanted children to have that experience early on.”
She added:
“Telling the story through the lens of a young Ethiopian girl and her single mother allowed me to bring my culture into DC history for the first time, while inviting kids to meet some of the most iconic heroes, Superman, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Batman, and The Flash, right alongside her. My hope is that You’re A Superhero! helps young readers fall in love with these legendary characters and, more importantly, recognize that the courage, strength, and imagination they admire already live inside them.”
Illustrator Penelope Rivera Gaylord brings Mariam’s world to life with warmth, humor, and expressive character design. A visual development artist whose credits include DC’s Diana and the Hero’s Journey middle grade graphic novel, Cartoon Network, Imagine Entertainment Kids and Family, and 9B Collective, Gaylord has also illustrated several Little Golden Books, including Captain Marvel and Avengers: Battle on the Moon. Born in the Philippines and raised in the Washington, DC, area, she now creates stories alongside her husband Jerry, and pursues what she calls a “cowabunga lifestyle.”
You’re A Superhero! is the latest addition to DC’s growing line of early reader graphic novels, joining titles like Superman’s Good Guy Gang, Aquamanatee,Supergirl’s Zoo‑per Heroes: Krypto’s Big Break, and Superman’s Good Guy Gang: Follow the Leader. These books introduce young readers to the DC Universe through fun, accessible stories that celebrate courage, kindness, and the power of imagination.
You’re A Superhero!, by Azie Tesfai and Penelope Rivera Gaylord, arrives on November 3, 2026, wherever books and comics are sold. The book is available for preorder now through Penguin Random House.
For more information on DC’s early reader graphic novels and upcoming releases, visit dc.com or follow DC on social media.
You’re A Superhero! by Azie Tesfai and Penelope Rivera Gaylord
On Sale November 3, 2026; ISBN 9781799504047, $12.99 US, 72 pages
Early Reader (Ages 5–7 | Grades K–2)
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