An insightful and sensitive introduction to what it means 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. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Aug. 24, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-22242-3
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Rise x Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2021
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say.
A dog-loving child encourages a less-than-enthusiastic younger one to imagine they’re both canines.
From the first declaration—“I’d be a big dog! And you’d be a little one!”—readers know who’s calling the shots. Initially, the protagonists cavort off the page and through the neighborhood together, performing doggy capers such as tail wagging, stick carrying, and dirt digging. But by the time they encounter a multitude of like-minded creatures at the dog park, the disgruntled small pup is exhibiting out-and-out rebellion: “Being a dog is YOUR idea! Sometimes I HAVE IDEAS TOO!” The narrative wraps up with the younger child pretending to be a different animal entirely—cleverly foreshadowed through subtle details in the illustrations. Even the endpapers—lively silhouettes of dogs in the beginning and many different animals in closing—extend the theme to suggest the imaginative possibilities of pretend play. Cheerful, lightly hued colors fit the whimsical mood, while expressive body language allows the art to tell the story with a minimum of words. Ending on a surprising note, with a sweet compromise between the two main characters, the tale gives both kids the freedom to embrace their own preferences and styles—while still enjoying their game.
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9780316581721
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
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