When he was a kid, Steve spent a lot of time reading books, both fiction and non-fiction. Like a lot of kids, he also read lots of superhero comic books and watched them on TV. He thought it would be fun to become a superhero when he grew up, but he never did get superpowers. This was unfortunate because he would have made an outstanding superhero. But many times, when life closes a door, it opens a window. Years later, Steve faced the daunting task of getting his son, Ryan, ready for daycare. Ryan was very grouchy in the morning, and Steve learned that telling him stories made him much less grouchy.

Since Ryan also loved superhero stories, Steve told him all the stories he could remember about Batman, Superman, Spiderman, Daredevil, the Hulk, and more. Then there came a day when Steve said, “I just don’t remember any more superhero stories.”Without thinking for even a second, Ryan said, “Then make some up!” That was the beginning of a long road that eventually led to the stories about a Superhero Named Cockroach. Every year, Ryan’s school had a day where parents were invited to read a book to the kids. Steve read drafts of his stories, and some of the kids started to refer to him as “The Superhero Dad.”

So, later in life, his dream of being a superhero actually did come true—sort of. Besides writing about superheroes, Steve has been a nonprofit executive and is currently a career coach who helps people to find jobs that they love. He is also a freelance writer and has won numerous awards for his writing and for his speeches in Toastmasters International. In his spare time, he participates in community work to advance truth, justice, and the American way. He lives in Skokie, Illinois.

As a kid, Steve Frederick wanted to grow up to be a superhero, but never got superpowers. This was unfortunate because he would have made an outstanding superhero. But later in life, he got his wish. Steve told his son superheroes stories he’d read in comic books and seen on TV. When he ran out of memories, he made up stories. When he wrote down a story and shared it with his son’s kindergarten class, the kids loved it, so he wrote more. Every year, he’d share the stories with his son’s class. Soon, he became known as the “Superhero Dad.”

As a kid, Steve Frederick wanted to become a superhero, but unfortunately never got superpowers. Later in life, he got his wish. He made up superhero stories and shared them at his son’s school. The kids loved them, so he wrote more and shared one every year. Soon, he became known as the “Superhero Dad.”