BRAVERY GROWS

A child struggles with selective mutism.

“At home, my confidence shows, / at home, my bravery glows.” But when the young narrator is out and about, everything changes. Interacting with other kids at the park is “a big task.” “I try to play, I try to shout, / but my brave voice just won’t come out!” Though the protagonist looks forward to school, upon arrival, “fear replaces my words, and my legs start to shake.” When the teacher asks a question, the child’s “glow” is nearly extinguished. But the narrator is comforted by Mum and Dad’s repeated reassurance: “It’s OK to feel upset, / my brave muscles haven’t grown fully just yet.” As the narrator practices “brave talking” at the park, a restaurant, and more with the help of a special present, those muscles gradually strengthen: “My glow stays bright even though my voice is still small, / each time I am brave, / I feel 10 feet tall!” Reinforcing the emotionally descriptive rhyming text, Baykovska’s expressive cartoon illustrations sympathetically convey the contrast between the talkative exuberance the narrator displays at home and the sadness and anxiety experienced in public. The narrator and the rest of the family have tan skin; background characters are racially diverse. Backmatter includes tips and resources on selective mutism for caregivers.

Gently encouraging.