Be Brave!

World of Happy

by Helen Exley

Give the Gift of encouragement with our new BE series, these titles have been chosen to promote wellbeing and remind the readers of these key messages. The covers have been designed with coloured watercolour finish to appeal to this generation, they feature quotations by famous people they recognise, like as Rhianna, Taylor Swift and Beyonce.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Poetry, Birds, Growth Mindset

96 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2011

Reviews

[Mary Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m concerned about this spread:
“What’s the matter, Pip-Pip?”
Said his daddy one fine day.
“You cave be scared of water!
What a silly thing to say!”

This bothers me, because it seems like shaming the child for his feelings. I’m also frustrated that the father is telling his son to suppress his feelings. This perpetuates so many stereotypes we are trying to change.

[Ala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piękna historia o odwadze i strachu, dobrze wytłumaczona może zdziałać cuda dla dzieciaków

[Sue Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the rhythm and rhyming text in this book; it keeps the story pacey and the reader engaged. I like the opportunities offered for adults to talk to children about their worries, as we can empathise with Pip, our young, penguin character. Pip shows us that with a little self belief and a little act of bravery, it's possible to overcome our fears and discover things may not be as bad as they seem.

[Les Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as well as little ones

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet story about a penguin who is afraid to jump into the ocean. Great rhyming story for learning to be brave. Pretty, colorful illustrations. I would buy for my school. Highly recommended for Grades K-2.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good rhymes, good overall message for scaredy kids. Only negative aspect is that Pip-Pip is peer pressured and teased until he does the "brave" thing and wins his community over, which is not a great message.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are amazing! It's a fun story, too. Little Pip-pip is a penguin who's afraid of the water. The other penguins aren't always nice to him, but his mother is very patient. As she listens to Pip-pip's fears, she is able to help him decide to be brave. This is a good group read aloud!

[Fatima Seraj Alam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored the mum’s approach in gently coaxing little Pip Pip to try and be brave.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute rhyming story about overcoming your fears.

[Jasmine Jones (EDUC378)]

Text-to-Teaching Connection

This story is about a penguin overcoming his fear of swimming. Before reading this text, I would allow the students to share out loud a fear they have overcame. Or, I will have them share a fear that they would like to overcome. If a student does not want to share, it would not be required because I know some children would not want to share their fears.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent book for children that pulls at the reader’s heartstrings, before bringing that inevitable moment of joy. Shame that the Andreae over-stretches slightly with the final rhyme.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andreae, Giles Be Brave, Little Penguin, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees. PICTURE BOOK. Orchard Books (Scholastic), 2017. $17. 9781338150391

Pip-pip the Penguin is afraid of all of the scary things that might be lurking in the water. It takes his mom’s gentle encouragement to help find the joy in the water.

Now here is a rhyming text that works! And it is a encouraging story accompanied by cute illustrations of penguins. This would be a great starter to talk about trying new things – whether food or activities, and a way to get children talking about their fears.

Pre-K, EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

All of us have something that makes us a bit anxious or something we are afraid to do or try. In Pip-Pip's case, he is afraid of the water, something that most penguins embrace. Not only does the tiny penguin have to deal with name calling from others, but even his own father isn't the most patient of individuals, and he tells Pip that he's being silly. Thank goodness for his patient mother who takes the time to address his concerns, listen to what he fears might happen, and then turn them around. Reassured by her words and her presence, Pip-Pip finally surmounts his fears and starts to swim. He even ends up providing some comfort and encouragement to his mother. The last lines in the book are great reminders for us all: "Sometimes all you have to do is just be BRAVE...and jump!" (unpaged). Ah, yes, but that can be easier said than done. Youngsters will enjoy reading this story and thinking about ways to overcome some of their own fears. I'm certainly glad that Pip-Pip had such an understanding mother who provides a good model for how other parents should handle the fears of their offspring. Bright colors and lots of movement are featured in the book's illustrations.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be Brave Little Penguin is an excellent story that can encourage students to be brave and face their fears. This book is suitable for 5-9 year olds, but could also be used with older students to encourage bravery in the classroom. I would most likely read this story to students at the beginning of the year to encourage them to be brave in their learning. Prior knowledge about penguins, where they live and how they survive would help students to understand the dilemma that Pip-Pip is in.

Literary techniques used in this book include rhyme and rhythm. Some of the words at the end of each line rhyme with another line in the same section of the page. There are certain places where this rhyming does not occur, but most of the time the story follows this pattern. When reading this book to myself, it became clear that the story has to be read in a certain way for it to sound effective because there is a distinct rhythm to it. This is evidenced through the story being written like a poem, with sentences broken over multiple lines. The story was more enjoyable to me when I followed the intended rhythm as I read it, both in my head and aloud.

The illustrations complement the story perfectly. It is clear that the setting is in Antarctica because the Antarctic is mentioned briefly in the story, and the illustrations reflect this location. Parker-Rees' portrayal of Pip-Pip's fear is made very clear with his facial expressions, and on one page it is clear that he is crying. I think that these details make the story more relatable to students as they can see the fear on Pip-Pip's face. Also through the use of the animal story genre, students can understand this human (and animal) emotion through seeing that anyone can have fears. The only way to face these fears is to show bravery. Students can see that even penguins, who typically spend a lot of time in the water, could potentially fear swimming at first.

[Jessie Munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to my children almost every night. I have also read this to my best friend's four children, and everyone loves it. I do not think the father telling Pip Pip that he can't be scared of water and that it is a silly thing to say, is teaching children to stifle their emotions. This is showing children that the outside world will make their own judgements and that we need to navigate that and trust in ourselves. I don't feel like I need to explain this, but the "silly thing" is a penguin being afraid of the place where they find food and spend most of their time. I think most parents find themselves in a situation where one parent might be a little less sensitive to their child's concerns than the other parent. So, when the mother tells the father "We all have certain fears that might be hard to understand," this is a KEY part of the book! I think it's a little extreme to say that the author is having the daddy "suppress his child's feelings." I think the author did a wonderful job in bringing together all the different viewpoints that can occur when someone has a fear that might seem ridiculous to others and helping our children work through these feelings.

[zapkode · Rating 5 out of 5]

{My thoughts} – This has got to be one of the cutest books I have read in quite awhile. It is about a little penguin named Pip-Pip that is afraid of the water. He thinks he can’t swim and he thinks that if he goes into the water that there are monsters beneath the water that might try and hurt him. Eventually his mommy talks him into jumping into the water and being brave and then he is swimming like the little pro he was always meant to be.

I like this book because it helps to show children that it is okay to be afraid of something and that no matter what mommy and daddy will be there to help you through it. I also like how it is written in poetry form and it flows so nicely. The words on the pages match the images perfectly.

I actually read this one out loud while my little one was running around the living room playing with her older brother. I look forward to reading it to her many more times in the near future.

[Kabao Lor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
Little Pip-Pip the Penguin is the smallest penguin of all. He fears the water, to swim and to play, for the water may be freezing, and maybe he can’t swim, and there may be monsters under the sea who eat him. His mother and father try to help him learn to be brave and plunge into the water so he can have fun with all his friends, but will Pip-Pip ever learn to face his fear and just jump in?

Activity:
Compare Pip-Pip’s fear of water with a fear of your own. How are they alike, and how are they different? Then, create a comic strip that illustrates how you would face your own fear. Would you like to have your friends around to make it feel less scary or would you rather go it alone? Would you do it all at once or slowly, piece by piece? Consider your level of fear. Students will share with one other classmate.

Andreae, G. (2018). Be brave, little penguin. New York, NY: Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc.

[Cecilia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this would be a good book if read in the right conditions. In some ways, this story makes light of fears, which I don't support--just because a fear isn't present from one point of view doesn't mean the fear isn't completely valid for another point of view, and I feel like this book forgets that. That, "nothing to be afraid of," troupe always really bothers me. And its all about the attitude written into the story. Little Penguin's fears are never addressed in any way that isn't dismissive.

Then again, if you have a child who has a lot of fear about something no one else seems to have and they want or have to get over that fear (a penguin not swimming would result in its eventual death), then this could be a good book to help said child work through their issues.

Because I'm not the intended audience and the aforementioned troupe just annoys me personally, I only gave it 2 stars.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

BE BRAVE LITTLE PENGUIN tells the story of Pip-Pip who is the smallest penguin in the group and is afraid of the water. While everyone else is swimming, Pip-Pip stands on the edge too scared to join in on the fun. What if he can't swim? What if a monster smells him?

Pip-Pip's mom encourages him to dive in that it isn't as scary as he believes. Finally, his mom's words give him the strength to take the leap into the water. He discovers how fun swimming is and all of the things he can do in the water. He realizes there really wasn't anything to worry about.


Final Verdict: BE BRAVE LITTLE PENGUIN is a story about overcoming your fears to discover something wonderful and almost magical. I would recommend this to children who have trouble with fear or who need a little encouragement. Pip-Pip is both inspiring and cute.

[Kelsey Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book would be a great read for students at the beginning of the year. I can see myself incorporating this book into a read-aloud for my students as they start a new school year with a lot of unknowns, and fears when it comes to a new teacher, new classroom, and new classmates. This book is about how a little penguin faces his fear of the water. This book is a good reminder to students to believe in themselves, be brave, and take that leap! As teachers, it is important to encourage our students and guide them through the scary parts of the beginning of a school year. Making friends can be challenging, and new situations can be scary, but so many good things can come from facing our fears and believing in ourselves. I would recommend this book to any teachers or parents helping kids through new situations.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story about Pip-pip a nervous (and adorably spherical!) little penguin who is scared of the ocean. Great lesson about being brave and taking that jump - a lesson that's personally one I need to be reminded of right now!

A great book for storytime. The rhymes are a bit sing-songy (the reason why it's 4 stars instead of a full 5) but they do at least flow - not clunky feeling. Would be a good addition for a storytime on penguins or on being brave (would work well with Courage or The Koala Who Could).

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Format: Picture book

Summary:
Pip-Pip the penguin has one big problem: he’s afraid of water. He wants to play with his friends but is too scared to try. Eventually, with some encouragement from other penguins, he is able to face his fears and find the courage to join his friends and play in the sea.

Why I chose this book:
The simple, rhyming format makes this book easy to read aloud and makes it fun for kids to read on their own as they develop language skills. The illustrations of all the different types of penguins (fat ones, thin ones, short ones, tall ones) mirror the differences we have as humans. It’s a story about finding courage and overcoming fears, which is something little ones often have as they are growing and experiencing new things.

[Izzy Templeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be Brave, Little Penguin is an endearing story of little Pip Pip the penguin who wants to be able to play with all of his penguin friends, but there is just one problem. He's afraid of the water!!!! Will Mommy and Daddy Penguin be able to convince Pip Pip to get in the water? Will Pip Pip be able to play with his friends?

I thought this book was incredibly sweet as it talked in a great way about facing fears. Everyone has fears and some fears are a cause of bullying. So overall, this book is a great way to tackle the issues of facing fears and bullying in one go!

From a school standpoint, educators can use this book to help kids understand that having fears is ok and facing them can be hard! This story can also be used to talk about bullying and friendships!

[Sharon Coffey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Leap of Faith

The author of Giraffe’s Can’t Dance, Rumble in the Jungle and Commotion in the Ocean, some of my all-time favorite books, has come out with another winner, Be Brave, Little Penguin. This heart-warming rhyming story is about overcoming fear. Pip-Pip, the smallest penguin, is sad and lonely. The other little penguins make fun of Pip-Pip and call him names. While they splash and dive, Pip-Pip clings to the ice. His biggest fear-the ocean.

What if he can’t swim? What if there are monsters in the ocean that will eat him? My favorite line- “We ALL have certain fears that might be hard to understand.” How true. That saying rings true for children and grown-ups alike.

Mommy puts a positive spin on Pip-Pip’s fear. In the ocean Pip-Pip will find friends, treats and warmth. Thanks to Mommy’s encouragement, Pip-Pip takes the plunge and SPLASH! Children need to see characters that have fears. In identifying with characters such as Pip-Pip, children can feel empowered to take their own leaps of faith.

Guy Parker-Rees' illustrations are vibrant. Many two-page spreads bring the story center stage in big, bold beautifulness.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book with fun rhyme and meter about the smallest penguin who did not want to go into the ocean and swim. He is lonely onshore and the others tease him from the water. He worries about all the things that could be lurking in the water and what awful things could happen. But with patience mommy penguin persuades little Pip-pip into taking the risk. When little Pip-Pip jumps in, his Mommy can't find him and is very concerned. The ending is satisfying.

[Alyce Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zophia absolutely loved this picture book. As soon as we started reading it to her she was shrieking with excitement, and there was quite a lot of grabbing at the pages too! From the authors of Giraffes Can't Dance (which has always been one of my favourite picture books) it was to be expected that this story would be wonderful, and the lovely illustrations and bright colours are the icing on the cake. Can't wait to purchase a copy of this so we can revisit it over and over again.

[Briley Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about penguin who is scared of water! He is so consumed with worry until his mom helps him overcome his big fear! He ends by jumping into the water like he was made to do!

This book is sweet and has a great message of how you can overcome your fears with courage! I love the easy to follow story line and the cute illustrations!

I would definitely use this book when talking to my class about looking for ways they can overcome obstacles even if they are scared!

[Hannah Falgout · Rating 5 out of 5]

" Be Brave Little Penguin" by Giles Andrea.
This book was sweet; it is about a little penguin named Pip-Pip who fears the water. He tells his mom all his fears about the water, and his mom tells him all the good stuff about the water. Little Pip-Pip begins to get the courage to jump in, and he enjoys swimming, telling his mom multiple times as they swim together. The pictures are beautiful, and the setting is the arctic. I enjoyed this book; it is a great read when a child fears something.

[Teresa Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Penguin is scared of the water, so he must watch as all the other penguins play in the water. He feels lonely and sad. Then, with the kind encouragement of his mother, he faces his fear and...flies! Great book to start a discussion on fear and how to help each other face the things that trouble us.

[Freddie D · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet tale of courage and overcoming your fears that fails to live up to the perfection of its creators' previous gem: Giraffes Can't Dance. Nevertheless, it's a fun read and the rhyme is well-timed.