Words are powerful at any age: from the moment we start to talk, we’re told to “”use our words.”” But using your words isn’t just about asking for something; it’s about communicating one’s needs—emotionally, spiritually, and practically—and connecting to the world around us.

Harold Green III’s Words Are My Superpower offers practical advice for younger readers on how the words they choose have the power to change not just their own lives but others’. Some of the greatest “”villains”” in our lives include anxiety, fear, disappointment, and failure. But if we empower ourselves through language—employing affirmations, mantras, compliments, and more—we can overcome anything or anyone who stands in our way while lifting up those around us. Green expertly weaves a metaphor about categories of words acting as superheroes throughout this guide to help readers harness the superpowers offered by optimism, gratitude, and more. Infused with Green’s gorgeous poetry and Andrea Pippins’s eye-catching illustrations, Words Are My Superpower teaches the importance of positive thinking and communication for young people to effect change.