THREE WAYS TO BE BRAVE

Fear and anxiety are difficult, overwhelming emotions for children. In order to help them grapple with such big feelings, this book focuses on bravery, not fear, and supports a growth mindset.

This gentle, quiet book presents three stories about times when young children are given opportunities to be brave: “Under the Covers” (about a thunderstorm), “Nervous Belly” (the first day of school), and “Got the Jitters” (a well-child visit to the doctor). In each story, a child protagonist faces a triggering situation and must decide how to handle their feelings. In the first story, a child presenting as Black makes the brave choice to check on and comfort a baby sister instead of going to their parents’ room during a thunderstorm, an act that is beneficial to both of them. In “Got the Jitters,” a kid with tan skin and straight, brown hair is terrified of receiving a shot. A nurse counsels his patient to “use your brain / to ease the pain!” and the reluctant patient imagines riding a bike. Once relaxed, the child receives the shot and gets to pick a sticker to recognize the feat. These and the other messages about bravery are relayed authentically and accessibly. The characters exemplify ways that children can draw on their own inner resources and effort to meet a challenge. The comforting, full-bleed illustrations are composed in warm colors that sync perfectly with the story, which is conveyed in rhyming couplets. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An insightful and sensitive introduction to what it means to be brave.