Brave Horace

by Holly Keller

Horace has been invited to a monster-movie party. And he can't tell anyone how much the thought scares him. He pretends to be brave, but it doesn't work-until the day of the party when his friend Fred is even more frightened than he. And then Horace knows just what to do. Holly Keller's lovable leopard who first appeared in Horace returns in this reassuring (and rib-tickling!) picture book for young readers.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1998

About the author

Holly Keller is an American author and illustrator of children’s books, celebrated for her warm storytelling and distinctive minimalist cartoon style, often featuring animal protagonists. A lifelong reader and artist, she studied history before turning to illustration, encouraged by a design professor to pursue picture books. Her debut publications introduced a body of work known for gentle humor and emotional insight. Keller’s stories frequently explore themes such as adoption, belonging, friendship, sibling bonds, and coping with loss, offering young readers reassurance alongside entertainment. In addition to writing and illustrating her own titles, she has created artwork for texts by other children’s authors. Her books have received numerous honors and remain widely appreciated for their clarity, empathy, and timeless appeal.

Reviews

[Terry]

The story simply illustrates the idea that love and family go far beyond looks. I was surprised at the statement to Horace that he "lost" his family when he was little.

See more of our review on the Reading Tub website

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best part of this book (for me) was Horace sticking up for his friend.

[Andréa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why are so many of the characters tigers?