BOOK PICKS.

Byline: The Register-Guard

"Shredderman: Secret Identity"

By Wendelin Van Draanen;

illustrated by Brian Biggs

Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2004

Ages 7 to 10

Move over, Captain Underpants! There's a new superhero in town: Meet Shredderman, also known as Nolan Byrd, the Nerd. Nolan is a fifth-grader who has been tormented by the school bully for years. And he's not the only one; Bubba is mean to all the kids at school. So when their teacher gives them an assignment to report on an injustice in the world, Nolan really wants to write about Bubba the school bully. But that would be suicidal, right? So this nerd uses his smarts to create a Web page, using a secret identity. In fact, since he's creating a secret identity, why not make himself into a superhero? And Shredderman is born.

When the other kids at school discover the Shredderman Web site, where it's all Bubba, all the time, Bubba is seen in a new light. He doesn't stop being a bully, but he's not quite so scary, and meanwhile Nolan (the Nerd) gains self-confidence as he discovers some injustices can be righted by the underdog.

This is a hilarious new series with wacky characters and cool illustrations. The second book is titled "Shredderman: Attack of the Tiger," and the upcoming third, "Shredderman: Meet the Gecko." There's even a Web site where you can read further adventures of the world's first cyber-superhero at www.shredderman.com. Why not celebrate the beginning of the new school year with a book that's bound to inspire the inner superhero in your child, and could also inspire some great discussions about fairness and tolerance?

- Debra Bogart, librarian-between-jobs, Springfield