This is a story that so many children and adults can relate to. That feeling of confidence amongst those you love but that fear when in front of larger groups. The flow of the text is beautiful and the rhythm will encourage whole class reading so that those who are uncomfortable may join in with every one else. The images and setting are relatable as is the simplicity of an object that can give confidence to a child and help them feel brave enough to share their unique voice. Emotional, embracing and engaging.

This is an empowering story of a shy girl who is gently encouraged to use her brave voice to speak to her friends. My 6 year old loved this story.

Bravery Grown 5 ⭐

This little book has taken a big place in my heart.
I'm the mother of a little girl who is selectively mute in front of other children or new environments.
And any parent knows that although it's a matter of personality, these issues shake our hearts.

This encouraging book tells us the story of a little girl who, at home, was a reflection of joy and spontaneity and, in social contexts such as the playground and school, went into her silent shell, experiencing symptoms of anxiety.

Through small gestures, the author explains how to increase a child's confidence and how taking a small step can be the gateway to a great achievement.

Although the main subject of this book is selective mutism, I strongly believe that it can be encouraging for other issues, particularly anxiety.

On a positive note: the last few pages of the book include advice and tools for parents and teachers.


Thank you to NetGalley, to the publisher, author, and illustrator for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was absolutely one of the best 'mirror' books I've read with my kid. They have never been more represented in a book, plus it's so beautiful to see it normalized and broken down in such a simple understanding way. They kept making comments like 'mama, I do that too... we're the same' it equally broke and healed my heart.

We will definitely be adding the physical copy to our shelves in the near future.

This book had lovely illustrations and a clear story, but it got long to read aloud to my four-year-old. I did find the parents’ guide at the end interesting and useful. This may be better for older age groups and a great book for families specifically tackling selective mutism in their family.

This is geared towards children and caregivers of children with selective mutism, however I can see this being useful for my entire class. The book discusses being brave in different settings and it would be useful for my whole class or small SEL groups.

A lovely children's picture book dedicated to children with social anxiety disorder and selective mutism. The main character of this precious book works to overcome her selective mutism with guidance and support of her adoring parents. Her parents provide positive reinforcement for their daughter by taking her to the playground to meet new people and talking with her often about opening up to new people. Eventually, the young girl learns to find new and creative ways to overcome her anxiety. The author includes an informative section about selective mutism at the end of the book along with promising resources which can help parents and children overcome this specific issue.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the chance to read this ARC.

I read it to my 5 year old who enjoyed it and could relate to it, so had lots of questions, however he found it a little long.

A full review has been left on Goodreads

Who doesn't have anxiety nowadays!?
This adorable children's book is an informative read that every child should have. The storyline is of a young girl who suffers from mutisim. With those she knows and love; her family in her own home she speaks. However when out in public everyday life she is mute. It's an uplifting read of two parents encouraging their daughters bravery to use her voice out in the world.
The message behind the book is easily relatable to anyone of any age. Highly recommend!

I read this book with my 8-year old son, we have always talked about neurodivergence openly and this was a nice way to introduce the idea that sometimes, people can't find their words. This can go beyond being shy and we need to show patience and compassion, rather than making assumptions. This was a lovely story that progressed at a good pace for kids to read, I would recommend to other families as well.

Interesting reading from the point of view of a child with selective mutism. A great book to share with a child who is affected but also for the peers of an affected child. Written in rhyme using simple and repetitive phrases this book is perfect for even very young children.

I was interested in reading this book because of the representation of anxiety in a children’s book.

The illustrations are beautiful and I love the inclusion of physical and emotional feelings in the story to help children identify what they may be experiencing. The resource guide for caregivers at the end of the book has great information. Overall I think this book will be extremely helpful for children and caregivers in expanding understanding and providing tools.

My children are young and I felt like the book was a bit to long for their attention spans. I also felt like some of the rhythm and sentence structure was a bit off.

Will definitely recommend to other parents.

A book on selective mutism and bravery for young children.
I read this with my 9yo.
We both found this to be an encouraging book about selective mutism and anxiety.
The illustrations depict the situations well. The colours are lovely, and the overall grading is a bit muted.

So cute! We loved the main character, loved the drawings and the overall story line. My son read through this one pretty quickly.

This is a very useful children's book about selective mutism. I love how it is worded so that children of all ages can understand what is being said. This book can be used from children all the way up to adults, because of how it is worded. It has a fun, engaging, yet not too kiddy tone. The author describes the emotions that go with selective mutism and/ or anxiety, how the body reacts, and ways to address the anxiety. The illustrations are fun and the characters are well thought out and relatable. This would be great for schools, children's groups, social groups, and more.

The story resonated deeply with me even though I read it to my little niece. As someone who experienced not being able to use my voice in my childhood - being vibrant and expressive at home but unable to find my voice at school or in new situations - this book hit close to home.

Watching my niece's face light up as she connected with the main character, especially noting "She looks like me!" when seeing the beautifully illustrated brown-skinned, curly-haired protagonist, was particularly moving.

The illustrations throughout are stunning, and the text flows with a natural rhythm that makes it a joy to read aloud and fun for everyone! The educational page about selective mutism at the end adds valuable context, offering insights that even taught me something new about this condition.

This is the kind of book I wish had existed when I was a child. It validates children's experiences with anxiety and selective mutism while showing them they're not alone. The representation through thoughtful character design makes it even more powerful for children of color who rarely see themselves reflected in stories about these experiences.

A great picture book showcasing how a child can overcome their fears. The back matter is also very informative for care givers on how to handle selective mutism!

Sometimes a little bit of bravery is all you need to take the first step in a task that seems insurmountable.

Our protagonist, a young girl with selective mutism, is loud, proud, and silly at home, feeling comfortable with her surroundings and her family. But when she goes to school or the playground, she can't help but clam right up. Despite her frustrations, her parents help her with a lot of practice, role-playing, questions, and most importantly, encouragement. She soon learns that even the smallest 'hi' can be huge progress, and her confidence only grows her courage!

An adorably illustrated and beautifully encouraging book for kiddos with selective mutism (and honestly, I can see it being helpful for other anxieties too.) The back pages have helpful advice and resources for parents and caregivers, as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really sweet and informative book on how adults can support children with childhood and anxiety and selective mutism. The illustrations were so well done, and I loved how they told parts of the story that weren't written. I loved how the story is about facing what might be hard and learning to be brave, and the adults in the story reinforcing that behavior rather than shielding the child away from what might scare them. The author clearly knows what she's talking about, and also included a helpful guide at the end of the story for more information on SM.

The lines of the story themselves weren't necessarily always rhythmic and didn't flow smoothly at times. This is also a bit on the longer side for a children's book and they may not want to sit through the entire thing.

This is a beautifully written story letting kids know that it's okay to feel all their feelings. The child in the story has mutism, and there is information about that too. The parents are loving, supportive, and patient, and the rhymes are fun. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.