What’s Under Your Cape: Superheroes of the Character Kind
Barbara Gruener, Author
Ferne Press, Nonfiction, May 2014
Suitable for: Elementary Teachers, Counselors, Parents
Theme: Character Education, Elementary Students, Teachers, Character Traits
Winner: Mom’s Choice Gold Award for Adult Books
Cover Synopsis: What if students in your classroom could excel in academics and character education? What kind of impact would they make on the world? Through stories and activities, learn how Barbara Gruener uses the word SUPERHEROES to define positive character traits. This powerful handbook will change the way you look at character education.
Why I like this book: Barbara Gruener’s work with character began when she was a girl active in 4-H. She learned a pledge which she took to heart. “I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to great loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living.” It molded her own character and became the core tools she used to help students find their own strengths and superpowers. She has written an inspiring and powerful book that will motivate educators, counselors and parents to want to teach character education to children. This practical and user-friendly guide is brimming with ideas, projects, hands-on activities, games, stories, and songs. Barbara says “SUPERHEROES are all about service.” Her material can be used with any age group. If character development is included in every school in America, just think how different our world would be. These superheroes will be our future leaders and bring change. Teaching character development from a young age could lead to a major paradigm shift in our schools, homes, communities and world. This is a must-have guide for educators and parents.
Barbara Gruener is a counselor and character coach at Westwood-Bales Elementary, a National School of Character. With 30 years of teaching and counseling children K-12, she’s believes that we must begin implementing character development among children at a very early age. Make sure you visit Barbara Gruener at her popular website Corner on Character.
Book Giveaway: I will be giving away one copy of What’s Under Your Cape. If you’d like a copy, please leave a comment by Sunday, September 21, and let me know that you’d like to be entered in the giveaway. I will announce the lucky winner onWednesday, September 24.
Children's Books Heal 
This sounds fabulous, Pat! I can’t wait to read it to my kids. Thanks!
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I think you would really enjoy using Barabras book with your kids. So many great ideas and fun activities.
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It would be amazing to have character education back in classrooms. It used to be called values clarification, back in the day. Sadly, I don’t see it making a big comeback until there’s a way to test it, measure it, collect data, analyze the data, and put it on a bar graph. I hope this book can sneak a little of that 4-H wisdom in under the common core radar.
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I wish my daughter had a teacher like Barbara and attended a school that was completely committed to buildng character. I really think her work is very special. And, I think that it is significant that her school is named a National Character School. Hopefully, there are many more teachers and schools teaching character.
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We need lots more Barbaras in the world! That’s for sure!
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Couldn’t agree more. She has a large following and hopefully they are teachers.
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I’m happy to say my kids’ school does a nice job with character education. A “pledge of respect” is said every morning: “I am a smart, special and valuable person. I respect myself and others. My words and actions are kind and honest. I expect only my best in all that I do. I’m proud to be me.” In addition, they have school-wide inititatives to reward caring behavior. How great is that??
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You are so fortunate t have your chidren attending a school that focuses on caracter education. I love the pledge and how the school rewards carng behavior!!
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I teach in a rural area. I would love to have another resource to add to teach my students about helping them to to become better students in their everyday life. They are precious students always willing to learn and listen.
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I am so happy that you are interested in Barbara’s powerful book! It is so timely and user-friendly.
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This is such an important element to include in any child’s education. Great post Patricia.
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Thanks Niamh. I think about the lack of respect I saw in my daughter’s high school. I really think it needs to be taught at a young age and continued in middle and high school.
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This book is on my “must read” list. It makes it even better knowing I have the chance to win it! Thank you!
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Thank you for leaving a comment. I’m glad you are interested in Barbara’ book! I can’t think of anything more important than helping develop a child’s character.
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This sounds like a fabulous book, Pat. I’ve seen it around on the blogosphere, but haven’t had a chance to read it yet. Kudos to Barbara fro writing this much-needed book!
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Yes, Barbara has really written an excellent book for educators and parents. You’d like it.
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WoW … what a wonderful page to open up after a long day at work! Thank you, Pat, for a lovely endorsement. My heart is touched to its core. And to your thoughtful readers for their kind comments, I appreciate your day-maker affirmations! I am just so delighted that my book has been so well-received and I’m honored to have a page on Patricia’s amazing blog. Cape UP!
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I am excited to have the opportunity to share your book on character development with my readers. I’m so glad you liked the review! I hope you book receives a lot of visibility because it is a tool that will be helpful to educators and parents. Your work withe kids on character is making a difference.
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Sounds like a wonderful book. We need more focus on character education, as those lessons will last a lifetime.
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It is a wonderful book. I feel the same way. The earlier you start with the child, the better.
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This sounds like a great book for teachers!
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Yes, Barbara Gruener wrote an outstanding guide for teachers and parents.
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Love this! I’m going to school to be a teacher, and this would be awesome to have! So important to teach kids about these kinds of things!
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So happy that you enjoyed Barbara’s book. Can’t think of a better way of starting your career as a teacher with the knowledge if teaching character building to children. I know you’d enjoy her book. I hope this is a growing movement as I read the feedback from readers.
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I read Barbara’s book this summer and couldn’t wait to share it with the administrators at my school. Our theme this year is “Super Heroes” and it was just what I needed to get into the spirit. I would love to have another copy of the book, since I keep sharing my copy with others. Please enter my name in the give away!
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I’m glad to hear from someone who is using the book. That alone is an endorsement. It is so cool that your theme is “Super Heroes.” Will enter you in the contest.
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This sounds wonderful! I would love a copy – next summer’s CSLP theme is “Every Hero has a Story” and this looks like it would be a great place to start – empowering kids to be superheros. As a Mom of a teen boy I think this book would be a great discussion starter too. Thanks for another wonderful suggestion and review!
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Yes, Barbara’s book is an excellent place to start. I know you’d love the book. Thanks for leaving a comment.
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I am loving Barbara’s ideas and suggestions on Facebook, so I would love one of her books to add to my collection! As a second-year school counselor, I am learning so much about what’s under my own cape…I can’t wait to help students discover what’s under theirs too!
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PS Please enter me in the giveaway!
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Will enter you in the drawing.
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I am glad you are enjoying Barbara’s ideas and suggestions about character on FB. Her book pulls all of her work together. It is great for teachers, counselors and parents.
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Wow! I have been looking at this book. Think it’s a clever story to read at work (k-5 counselor) or at home with my own children (4 and 2.5). 😃
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It’s not a story but a guide book full of ideas, suggestions, activities to help kids develop character. Barbara has been teaching character for 30 years, so she offers a wealth of experience and information.
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Awesome job!
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Glad you like Barbara’s book and the review.
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I would love to win a copy! What a great concept 🙂
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I’m happy you enjoyed the review of Barbara’s new book. It is exceptional.
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That Ms Gruener is such a wonder!!! She is a daily inspiration! Her joy needs to be spread far and wide! Thanks for doing that Ms Tilton! You’re kind of a wonder as well!
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Couldn’t agree with you more Rhythm. Her joy need to be spread far and wide! Her work is a true service to children everywhere.
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I would LOVE to use this book at my school! I would be perfect for our superhero theme!
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Thank you for visiting. Hope you’ll come back. I know you’d love the book!
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Please enter me ! I´d love this book 😛
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Jenna, thank you for visiting my blog. I’m glad you are interested in Barbara’s truly inspirational book.
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Sounds like a book that can make a difference in children’s character development. Please enter my name in your contest.
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Barbara’s book is a labor of love. I’m glad you enjoyed the review!
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This book sounds perfect for our school and our character education program. Would love a copy to share with our staff.
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Glad to hear that you have a character education program in your school. Barbara’s book would be an asset.
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I would love to win a copy of this book. I like this philosophy.
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I’m glad you enjoyed Barbara’s book on character development.
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