[Review Copy Courtesy of Running Press Kids]
“Brave kids can save the world. Just by being…brave.”
Have you read Brave yet? If not, you need to. It’s an amazing picture book. With it’s powerful, direct text, and bold, bright illustrations, Brave will floor you. As an adult, it will put you in awe of everything your kids have to do daily just to grow up.
Good luck making it through the first few readings without having to fight back tears. The first time I read it, I had to get up and excuse myself for a moment so I could pull myself back together — and it isn’t even a sad book. It’s the complete opposite.
From Brave by Stacy McAnulty and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff © 2017 Running Kids Press. Image courtesy of Running Kids Press.
It simply rings so true and makes you realize how often kids have to be brave – even on the mildest days – that it’s hard not to get emotional about it.
Every child needs to hear these words and see these images daily — so they can see how brave they are being — and what it looks like from the outside. Because when you’re being brave, you hardly ever feel like the victorious superhero at the time — you feel more like the wobbley, unsteady kid – wondering if you’re going to fall and get hurt.
Brave adeptly shows images that aren’t usually associated with or shown as being brave but should be: playing an adult in a game of chess, checking under the bed for monsters, rescuing a cat, being in the hospital, admitting fault, speaking up for yourself, playing in a recital, etc.
From Brave by Stacy McAnulty and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff © 2017 Running Kids Press. Image courtesy of Running Kids Press.
My children love this book. It does an amazing job of reflecting back to them what life looks and feels like for them. So many different kids, from so many different walks of life, are carefully represented and celebrated. Every spread has something that makes my children want to stop and look further and ask questions. They want to know if these things can happen to them and what would I think if they did some of these things. We’ve had amazing conversations during and after reading Brave.
It’s a short book, an easy one to read to even the most wiggly, attention-wandering child – and is great for either one-on-one reads or large groups. The illustrations, the tone, and the subject matter draws readers in instantly and shows us what it may look like when you are called to be brave, why it is so important for them to be brave, and what a difference their bravery can make.
Brave truly amazes me. It is very needed and I am grateful that a dedicated group of people got together and worked so hard to put this wonderful book out into the world.
Recommended Ages 3 to 7. Running Press Kids. October 2017 32 pages. ISBN: 978-0762457823
Where to Get it:
- [Affiliate Link]: Amazon.com
- [My Favorite Bookstore]: Addendum Books
- [Library]: Worldcat.org
Author and Artist Websites:
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Where Obtained: I received a review copy from the publisher. No other compensation was received. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
FTC Disclosures: Some of the links in the post above are Amazon affiliate links and others are IndieBound affiliate links. If you click on the link and purchase something, I will receive an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Which goes to fund my family’s picture book habit. It’s a vicious cycle, but we manage. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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