How to be brave

PreS-K--A brown child with black hair surrounded by animals--cheetah, leopard, penguins, gorillas, elephants, bear, and more--is shown peacefully walking through natural landscapes while an omniscient narrator counsels that it's hard to face new things and normal to be nervous about them, want to take them slow, fail first, and have ups and downs. But along the way, there will be friends, love, support, and memories. With watercolorlike illustrations, this is a pitch to go exploring, to try new things, and to be kind to yourself along the way, no matter the outcomes. The big finish includes a bonfire, with many of the same players seen in the previous pages enjoying the camaraderie. These are lovely, amorphous thoughts, cheerful if unstructured. VERDICT A kindly, if directionless, guide to getting up the gumption to try new things and to push through the setbacks; an additional purchase.--Ginnie Abbott

An encouraging message for kids as they embark on that adventure called life. Trying something new can be scary, but friends can help us over hurdles. A young child with brown skin and curly dark hair experiences nature alongside animal pals such as a mouse, a cheetah, and a bear. The friends support one another--the child comforts a little elephant who looks on, overwhelmed, as others play in a watering hole. On the next spread, the child cheers as the elephant races a young zebra on the dusty plain--a playful and joyous moment. Each page contains spare text that acknowledges the anxiety that accompanies trying something new but also encourages kids to give it their all, take a step back if they need to, and try again. Images and words build to support the final message: "You might not know how each adventure will end…but you're never alone when it is shared with friends." Painterly illustrations of sweetly smiling animals burst with life, making this a good book for group reading, though children reading this independently will note smaller details and appreciate the vignettes, such as one depicting a polar bear pondering star constellations. Although aimed at younger readers, the book's positive message would also make it a good gift for any reader in transition. A reminder that though life is unpredictable, good friends can help you do anything and go anywhere. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.