I CAN LEARN TO BE BRAVE

A heartening secular parable from Episcopal bishop Budde, who drew national attention after calling upon President Donald Trump to show mercy to the vulnerable.

“There once was a girl who wished she was brave. But mostly…she was not.” Our unsure protagonist encounters another girl, a bold youngster who invites her to embark her on an adventure. First, they must climb a hill. The not-so-brave girl has a list of excuses why she can’t, but her new friend offers some gentle words of wisdom: “The first step is the hardest, but it’s also the bravest.” After they make it to the top, they confront other challenges, like a rope swing (“Just because you have to try something again doesn’t mean you failed,” reassures the brave girl) and a tree (“Sometimes being brave means asking for help”). Budde, who knows something about bravery herself, narrates this fablelike tale with a gently guiding tone that rings true. Notably, she stresses that being courageous is a work in progress: “I think we’re all learning to be brave all the time.” Hatam’s illustrations depict sweet-faced, cartoonish characters against collage-style backdrops that pop with tactile textures. The protagonist has paper-white skin and black hair; her friend has brown skin and hair.

A boon to uncertain youngsters everywhere.