I Am So Brave!

by Stephen Krensky, Sara Gillingham (Illustrator)

Overview

Celebrate trying new things with this encouraging board book from the Empowerment series!

I was scared of big dogs.
Then I made a new friend.
I was scared of the water.
Now I love the deep end.

With relevant and charming specifics, Stephen Krensky and Sara Gillingham celebrate the achievements of overcoming fears and trying new things.

The Empowerment series addresses the small victories of growing up and starting to embrace the world on your own terms with encouraging text and retro-fresh illustrations. Celebrate the milestones of toddlerhood with the whole series.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419709371
Publisher:	ABRAMS
Publication date:	07/15/2014
Series:	Empowerment Series
Pages:	12
Sales rank:	669,277
Product dimensions:	6.45(w) x 8.95(h) x 0.35(d)
Age Range:	1 - 3 Years

About the Author

Stephen Krensky started writing stories for children while in college and has been happily doing it ever since. He has now written more than 130 fiction and nonfiction children’s books, including novels, picture books, easy readers, and biographies. Among his favorites are the five earlier books in the Empowerment series—Now I Am Big!, I Can Do It Myself!, I Know a Lot!, I Am So Brave!, and I Like to Share! Krensky and his wife, Joan, raised two sons in Lexington, Massachusetts, where they are still living happily ever after. Sara Gillingham is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator, art director, and designer who has helped publish many bestselling books. Gillingham has written and illustrated more than 25 titles for children, including Snuggle the Baby, All Better Baby!, Love Is a Truck, Love Is a Tutu, Love Is a Ball, and the Empowerment series. She lives in Vancouver with her family.

Editorial Reviews

Krensky's simple declarative text is made more interesting by Gillingham's eye-catchingly cute silk-screen illustrations…

The New York Times - Sarah Harrison Smith

★ 06/02/2014
An African-American preschooler stars in this fourth book in Krensky and Gillingham’s board book series about children overcoming fears and showing off their knowledge and skills. Krensky showcases common fears (dogs, swimming, the dark, etc.), but bolsters each moment of uncertainty with one of affirmation. “I was scared of good-byes,” he writes as Gillingham shows the boy sobbing when it’s time for school. “Now I’m happy to wave,” reads the opposing page. Gillingham’s distinctive graphics, with their weathered retro aesthetic, and consistent positive reinforcement throughout make this outing another winner. Ages 1–3. Illustrator’s agent: Amy Rennert, Amy Rennert Agency. (July)

Publishers Weekly

"Cheery and empowering, this simple story should resonate with tots everywhere."

Booklist

12/01/2014
PreS—In this appealing selection, a sweet, engaging narrator shares some of his experiences overcoming his initial trepidation and trying new things. Gillingham's bold, graphic-style art is expressive and exuberant and perfectly complements the empowering text to help toddlers as they begin to grow and explore their worlds.

School Library Journal

★ 2014-06-27
This upbeat ode to conquering fears will resonate with tots both timid and not. The sparse text of this sturdy board book is a series of three quatrains, presented one brief line per spread, describing the various fears a little boy has overcome: "I was scared of big dogs. / Then I made a new friend. // I was scared of the water. / Now I love the deep end." Having also conquered fears of the dark, loud horns and goodbyes, he proclaims on the final pages: "I'm not scared like before. / I am so brave!" The skillful verses read smoothly and depict situations that toddlers and preschoolers will relate to. The illustrations center around a wide-eyed African-American child as the main character, with Caucasian children also populating some of the scenes, including the final spread, which features the narrator leaping boldly into a pit of colored balls. The design and color scheme, mostly bright blues, yellows and reds, give the title a distinctly vintage feel, which will lend it appeal to both adults and children. A comforting celebration of everyday courage with lots of charm to boot. (Board book. 1-3)

Kirkus Reviews