Being Brave

Children's Literature - Carlee Hallman

Being brave is defined with words and ten situations as examples. "Being brave means facing your fears. Brave people do the right thing, even when it is not easy." A few hand-lettered lines per spread explain the circumstance with heavier print for the conclusion. "Juana is afraid of hospitals, but she knows her visit will brighten Grandpa's day. She goes to see him in the hospital. Juana is being brave." The picture shows Grandpa in bed with one bandaged leg in traction. Juana takes his hand. Other instances of bravery are: getting shots, catching a spider to put outside, wearing a hat when no one else does, eating strange food, boarding an airplane, riding a roller coaster, talking in front of the class, taking part in a fire drill, and going to the dentist.. Brightly colored acrylic drawings are outlined in black. This is one of the "Way to Be!" series. An index, a list of books for further information, and a FactHound website are included. The concept is clearly presented for the age group. This is a good book for discussion with parents and in the classroom. Reviewer: Carlee Hallman