Brave Dave

by Giles Andreae, Guy Parker-Rees (Illustrator)

Overview

From the bestselling team behind Giraffes Can't Dance comes another rhythmic and joyful picture about the importance of being brave!

Dave the bear lives in the shadow of his brother, Clarence. Clarence is tall, handsome, bold, and brave. Dave… isn't. Dave wonders if he'll ever live up to his brother's example, until he finds a special talent that's all his own.

"To know that you’re different, but be who you are...

Have the courage to say it out loud,

To go out and find what can make your heart sing...

Oh Dave, nothing could make me more proud!"

Brave Dave is the empowering story of bear named Dave, who discovers the importance of simply being himself!

From the creators of the international bestseller and much-loved classic Giraffes Can't Dance, Brave Dave will have young readers jumping with joy as they discover the courage to embrace who they are, with lots of laughs and smiles along the way.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338850109
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	09/06/2022
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	370,894
Product dimensions:	9.70(w) x 11.80(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Guy Parker-Rees' exuberant and energetic illustrations have made him a household name and one of today's bestselling children's illustrators. Notable successes include the picture book classic Giraffes Can't Dance, a worldwide bestseller; Spooky Hour; and Free to Be Elephant Me. Guy lives in Brighton, UK, with his wife and three sons.
Giles Andreae is the author of many top-selling, award-winning picture books. These include Free to Be Elephant Me, Rumble in the Jungle, Commotion in the Ocean, and I Love My Mummy. However, it is for the international bestseller Giraffes Can't Dance that he is best known. Giles lives with his wife, Victoria, a children's clothes designer, and their four children by the river in Oxfordshire, UK.

Editorial Reviews

"Brilliantly hued illustrations capture a forest tale of self-acceptance and bravery... useful for launching a discussion about going beyond mere acceptance and tolerance to true celebration and appreciation of the diversity in our world." — School Library Journal

Praise for Giraffes Can't Dance:

"Full-page color illustrations done in pen and ink and watercolor are bold and warm. Characters are whimsical and expressive." — School Library Journal

"[Parker-Rees's] artwork exudes a fun, party vibe." — Publishers Weekly

"Shows insecure young readers that everyone can be wonderful, even those that march to the beat of a different cricket." — Amazon.com

From the Publisher

08/12/2022

K-Gr 2—From the duo that produced Giraffes Can't Dance comes the rhyming story of Dave, a bear who needs to be true to himself. While his brother is brave and strong and all the things that a bear is allegedly supposed to be, Dave doesn't fit in that model. He longs to be true to his love of color, self-expression, and clothes. Reminiscent of Mo Willems's Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, the young hero of the story decides to boldly display who he is and what he loves, finding himself accepted by his community. Soon all the animals are enjoying fashions by Dave! More importantly, Dave and his brother feel good about themselves and about each other. VERDICT Brilliantly hued illustrations capture a forest tale of self-acceptance and bravery. This title would be useful for launching a discussion about going beyond mere acceptance and tolerance to true celebration and appreciation of the diversity in our world.—John Scott

School Library Journal

2022-07-27
The author-illustrator team behind Giraffes Can’t Dance (2001) returns with a rhyming ode to bravery starring a pair of anthropomorphic bears.

Strong, handsome, courageous Clarence catches fish and finds honey with ease; in short, he’s “everything grizzly bears ought to be.” A loving big sibling, he gently encourages younger, smaller brother Dave to follow his example, but sensitive Dave presents a different image of masculinity. Wearing a flower garland, he cries: “I’ll never be Clarence, not EVER!” But Dave is struck by inspiration when he finds a brightly patterned piece of fabric on a walk and embarks on a secret project. Eventually, he invites all the animals to his den and presents his brother with a fabulous cloak, explaining that creating it “makes me feel…TRUE.” The transformation is tied up with an emotional bow as Clarence sheds tears of joy and tells Dave that accepting who he is makes him brave. The immediate and unanimous acceptance of Dave’s affinity for fashion is sweet if perhaps a bit idealistic; human children may not be as accepting as the gaggle of woodland critters, though the trepidation Dave feels in breaking from the norm rings true. Given how reassuring Clarence is from the get-go, there isn’t much dramatic tension, and it’s a story we’ve seen countless times before. The illustration style is love it or leave it, with campy, bright colors and a nostalgic, retro feeling in the shading and slight shadows. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A gentle counter to traditional notions of masculinity and grit that breaks little new ground. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews