Tag Archives: Bravery

Elem. – Salat in Secret

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Thompkins-Bigelow, Jamilah. Salat in Secret. Illustrated by Hatem Aly. Random House Studio, 2023. 978-1-894-84809-3. $18.99. 40 p. Grades K-3.

On Muhammad’s seventh birthday his father gives him a salat (prayer) rug. Muhammad is proud to be old enough to pray five times a day. He prepares for his evening prayers feeling very grown up and mature. In the morning he is happy to pray, but is worried about what mid-day will bring. Will he find a place to pray at school? Muhammad hopes to find a secret place but is unsure how to ask for privacy. Daddy drives an ice cream truck and takes breaks during the day to pray very openly. Sometimes people on the busy streets jeer at Daddy, but he is always brave. Muhammad tucks his salat into his backpack, determined to find a place where no one will see him praying. At school Muhammad realizes the coat room might be a place to pray in private. He attempts to ask his kind teacher, but Muhammad gets too nervous as he remembers how people sometimes treat his father when he prays in public. Muhammad is determined to find another appropriate, but secret, place.The bathroom does not seem like a good choice, so Muhammad decides to bring the rug to recess. He quickly finds that it is hard to play soccer with his salat rolled under his jacket. The coat room really seems like the best option. After recess Muhammad lingers as his classmates enter their classroom. Muhammad places his salat on the coat room floor and rushes to finish his prayers, but he is interrupted by a concerned classmate. Embarrassed, Muhammad rolls his rug and returns to class. On the way home he decides he will pray for bravery. After school Muhammad joins Daddy in the ice cream truck. As the sun sets, Daddy unrolls his salat on the sidewalk and begins his evening prayers. A woman walking by stops and glares, attracting police officers. Daddy does not interrupt his prayers. Muhammad takes his own salat and bravely joins Daddy in prayer on the sidewalk. Muhammad sees Daddy’s hands tremble and realizes how brave Daddy truly is. The next day at school Muhammad nervously approaches his teacher and asks for help in finding a place to pray. He has learned that being scared sometimes comes with being brave. 

THOUGHTS: This is a beautiful picture book with many themes to explore about acceptance, bravery, and love. Hatem Aly’s illustrations are absolutely endearing. A wonderful read-aloud.

Picture Book

Elem. – Gustav is Missing! A Tale of Friendship and Bravery

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Zuill, Andrea. Gustav is Missing! A Tale of Friendship and Bravery. Random House Studio. 2023. 978-0-593-48747-1. $18.99. Grades K-3.

Little Cap lived with his best friend, Gustav, in a safe, cozy home. Little Cap needs to have a  safe place because the world is full of very scary things. Unfortunately, someone left the gate open and Gustav goes missing! Little Cap must be brave to find his best friend. He may meet dangerous people and places along the way, but Gustav needs to be found. Little Cap sets out to find Gustav, so they can come home and be safe!

THOUGHTS: This adorable mushroom book about bravery, courage, and facing your fears is fantastic. Despite the scariness of Little Cap’s world, being brave can lead to a new adventure and friendships.

Picture Book

MG – The Lost Library

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Stead, Rebecca, and Wendy Mass. The Lost Library. Macmillan, 2023. 978-1-250-83881-0. 224 p. $18.99. Grades 4-7.

This well-narrated audiobook centers on Evan, an inquisitive boy who loves to read, as he approaches fifth-grade graduation. He lives in the sleepy town of Martinville, which lacks a library since the fire that burned down the old one twenty-five years ago. Two authors penned this delightful tale, ideal for any bibliophile to peruse. Multiple narrators flesh out the story: Mortimer the gold striped cat; AL, the assistant librarian who lives with the other library ghosts; and Evan. The town has just started a Little Library, and Evan nabbed some of the books from the box–all of them due the same day as the fire. As he gets deeper into one of his selections, How to Write a Mystery, checked out by M.C. Higgins, he tries to figure out who started the fire back in the 1980’s. He wonders if his father’s reticence and lack of communication has anything to do with the tragedy. With his best friend Rafe at his side, Evan follows the possible clues. In alternating chapters, AL reflects on her past, coming from the orphanage to serve as a fledgling librarian under the firm but kind head librarian, Ms. Skoggins, and conducting the book club for the local school children. The wise and attentive Mortimer, dear cat, provides the feline perspective on what it surveys: both the routine at History House where the ghosts reside and the movements of Evan as he puts together the puzzle pieces that point to his own dad. This book is a cozy homage to books, readers, libraries, and librarians.

THOUGHTS: A great read aloud. I hope this book can work its magic to entice listeners that libraries, books, and librarians are important. These two authors are some of the best, and this book will not disappoint. Pair it with the fine picture book about the beginnings of the Little Library or, if there are no Little Libraries in your neck of the woods, start a project to place them around town. If that isn’t possible, connect this book with a book drive for shelters. I just found out about a church food pantry that offers a book room for families. Or build a list of books where animals are key characters. At the very least, reading this book students will learn what a pseudonym is.

Fantasy (Magical Realism)

Elem. – Bryson the Brave Bison

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Davenport, Nate, and Luke Freshwater. Bryson the Brave Bison. Illustrated by Richard Cowdrey. Zonderkidz, 2023. 978-0-310-15310-8. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-3. 

Though smaller than most, Bryson the bison is part of a herd who is “taught to be brave and be true.” Such a large group of strong animals have fun together and can protect each other from things that seem scary, but when “Thunder and lightning…boom like a drum” the herd is terrified and runs away. Despite never being the “tallest…the strongest, the fastest,” Bryson’s strength is his smarts. Knowing how to think and use reason, Bryson is able to find a problem’s solution. Amidst a fun afternoon of play, a sound suddenly signals “A storm’s on the way!” Will Bryson be able to use his smarts to lead the herd to safety, or will the storm be too much for the tiny bison? Only a strong herd who listens to and helps each other will know.

THOUGHTS: This rhyming picture book is a perfect SEL title for elementary readers. Use it to discuss fears, teamwork, or strengths.

Picture Book

Elem. – Evergreen

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Cordell, Matthew. Evergreen. Feiwel and Friends, 2023. 978-1-250-31717-9. unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-2.

Evergreen is not a brave squirrel. She is afraid of loud noises, heights, swimming, and thunderstorms. Buckthorn Forest, where Evergreen lives in a tall red oak tree with her mother, is full of scary things. But Evergreen’s mother needs her to deliver an acorn full of healing soup to an ailing Granny Oak. Evergreen has never traveled through Buckthorn by herself … until now. Along the way, she encounters a fluffy white rabbit trapped between two rocks, a red-tailed hawk, and an old toad and his great-grandson. Each new character needs Evergreen’s help, and she must find her courage to solve her fellow forest critters’ problems. What will happen when she meets the fiercest of all the animals in Buckthorn, a grizzly bear? Matthew Cordell’s ink and watercolor illustrations are characteristically wonderful. Evergreen’s expressive eyes and tentative posture reveal her anxiety; she practically quivers on the page! Full-page spreads featuring Buckthorn Forest’s predators add high-stakes drama to the story. A color palette of green, blue, and brown represents the natural world perfectly. 

THOUGHTS: Readers of Garlic and the Vampire by Bree Paulsen and Cordell’s own Cornbread and Poppy series will love this woodsy adventure story. The ending hints at future Evergreen excursions!

Picture Book

Elem. – Wutaryoo

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Magruder, Nilah. Wutaryoo. Versify, 2022.978-0-358-17238-3. $17.99. Grades K-3.

Wutaryoo is a creature that is unlike any other. Being small with a fluffy tail, long ears, and tiny horns, Wutaryoo has always been asked what she is. Wutaryoo does not know what she is, though, or where she came from. She loves listening and learning about all of her friends’ stories, but she wishes she has her own story of where she came from and who her ancestors are. Wutaryoo decides to set off on her own adventure to find out who she is and what her story tells the world.

THOUGHTS: A thoughtful story that highlights the importance of figuring out who you are and what your story is, even if it is different from all of the rest.

Picture Book                    Rachel Burkhouse, Otto-Eldred SD

Elem. – Brave Every Day

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Ludwig, Trudy. Brave Every Day. Alfred A. Knopf, 2022. 978-0-593-30637-6. $24.99. 40 p. Grades PK-2.

Camila worries all the time. When she worries, she likes to hide. Her world is filled with what ifs and can’t. Classmates make fun of Camila. Her teacher doesn’t seem to understand or notice how anxious she is. When a field trip to an aquarium overwhelms Camila, she tries to hide behind a potted plant. She isn’t alone. Kai, who loves everything about the ocean and its inhabitants, is also overwhelmed by the crowd, the noise, and the opportunity to touch a real live stingray. Kai begs Camila to go with him to the Sea Friends Meet & Greet exhibit. Camila is nervous, but realizes helping her friend makes her want to try to overcome her own fear. Camila steps out of her comfort zone and enters the exhibit with Kai. Here she learns about a sea creature who hides to protect itself: the octopus. Camilla returns to school eager to share what she has learned, and encouraged to try to be brave when she has the urge to hide. End notes include questions for discussion, and a recommended reading list.

THOUGHTS: Many children bravely face challenges big and small at school every day. This social-emotional book can provide comfort for children with anxiety, with simple language to use when feeling worried or overwhelmed. The book can also help to educate peers on the difficulties their classmates encounter and the bravery they show every day in many small ways. Beautifully illustrated in cool, layered, aquarium tones by Patrice Barton.

Picture Book          Anne McKernan, Council Rock SD

Elem. – Beyond the Burrow

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Meserve, Jessica. Beyond the Burrow. Peachtree. 2022. 978-1-682-63375-5. $17.99. Grades K-2.

Rabbits are animals that like to be near their home called a burrow. Rabbits prefer to be safe, cozy, and to stick with what they know. They know they enjoy sleeping, hopping, carrots, and staying away from things that are dangerous or have claws, horns, scales, feathers, or hooves. When little Rabbit stretched for a carrot that was just out of reach, she tumbled and fell into a hole that wasn’t hers and continued to tumble away from her burrow. Terrified and alone, Rabbit did the only thing she knew how – she hopped away until she was even more alone, cold, and frightened. Will Rabbit be able to overcome her very not-rabbit day? Will she gain bravery and learn something new or discover her way home, or will something even more not-rabbit happen to her?

THOUGHTS: An adorable illustrated book about bravery, trying new things, and making friends along the way. Young readers will enjoy watching Rabbit as she grows into a whole new type of rabbit!

Picture Book          Rachel Burkhouse, Otto-Eldred SD

Elem. – Thunder and Cluck: The Brave Friend Leads the Way

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Esbaum, Jill. Thunder and Cluck: The Brave Friend Leads the Way. Simon & Schuster, 2021. 978-1-534-48655-3. 64 p. $17.99. Grades K-2. 

Meet Thunder and Cluck, two unlikely friends that are prehistoric dinosaurs. The Brave Friend Leads the Way is the second book in the Ready to Read Graphics Thunder and Cluck series written by Jill Esbaum. In this graphic novel, it is a hot miserable day. Thunder and Cluck find a dark and cool cave that could provide relief from the heat. The question is, which friend will be brave enough to lead the way inside the cool, yet mysterious cave? Thunder and Cluck are goofy and lovable and make the perfect friends to adventure together. This beginner graphic novel is vibrant, attractive, and fun to read!

THOUGHTS: This graphic novel series is perfect for early readers. Each book has an introduction message for the readers that teaches and explains how to read a graphic novel. The easy-to-follow panels, the speech bubbles, and the accessible vocabulary is genuinely spot-on with a relatable storyline. Love this collection! I hope there are more in the series in the future! 

Graphic Novel          Marie Mengel, Reading SD

Elem – I am Courage

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Verde, Susan. I am Courage. Abrams, 2021. 978-0-711-26145-7. p. 32. $14.99. Grades K-2. 

What is courage? Is it speaking out, believing in ourselves, asking for help, trying new things, and getting back up in challenging situations? It also could mean feeling scared yet facing those things that place fear in our hearts. I am Courage, by Susan Verde and illustrated by Peter Reynolds, is a picture book that promotes love and acceptance. The story shows various ways that a person can connect with themselves and others. 

We are strong.
We are capable.
We are important.
We are courage. 

THOUGHTS: I am Courage, the newest addition to Susan Verde and Peter Reynolds I Am series, is a story of empowerment. Readers will be reminded that they can conquer anything and remain strong in their bodies and minds. The yoga and mindfulness exercises at the back of the picture book also will encourage readers to be strong and confident. 

Picture Book          Marie Mengel, Reading SD