Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave by Jessica Hische
Recommended Ages: 3-7
Synopsis
Tomorrow I’ll be all the things I tried to be today:
Adventurous, Strong, Smart, Curious, Creative, Confident, & Brave.
And if I wasn’t one of them, I know that it’s OK.
Journey through a world filled with positive and beautifully hand-lettered words of widsom, inspiration, and motivation. As this book reminds readers, tomorrow is another day, full of endless opportunities–all you have to do is decide to make the day yours.
Reflection
As a parent, I’m always mindful to ensure I’m setting good examples for my kids while also teaching them valuable life lessons that will benefit them in their adult lives. Like many parents and caregivers, I want my children to grow up and lead successful lives. While there are many things that lead to success and happiness, I believe one of the most powerful things is courage.
During the average person’s lifetime, they will likely experience successes, failures, rejections, and many unexpected turns. That’s why I think it’s important to instill courage in children from a young age and continuously expose them to safe opportunities where they can practice being brave in real life scenarios.
For example, my daughter sometimes gets anxious if she’s picked up a bit later than usual at school. This is especially true at the start of any new school year or after an extended break from school. It usually takes her about a week or two to get back into the school routine after being at home during school breaks. If she’s picked up late she will cry non-stop until either myself or my husband arrives. Whenever this happens, my husband and I reassure her that one of us will always be there to pick her up from school. We also read lots of books about anxiety, having courage, and being brave like Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave. It’s the perfect book to read to give kids the courage to keep going, to find a different way, and of course the courage to try and be brave in the first place.
This book teaches kids that bravery isn’t about something magical that happens inside us to make us ‘not scared’. It’s about something magical that happens inside us to make us push through fear, self-doubt, anxiety, and do the things that feel hard or risky or frightening. Sometimes, being brave only has to happen for seconds at a time – just long enough to be brave enough. This book also reminded me about one of the most important parts of being brave: knowing that somewhere inside of you, ‘brave’ will be there when you need it, whether you feel it or not.
There is also a fantastic overall message that rings loud and clear in this book:
Tomorrow I’ll be all the things I tried to be today…and if I wasn’t one of them, I know that it’s okay.
Children get the reassurance that if they haven’t been any of the things they hoped to be today, there is always tomorrow, which is full of endless opportunities. I think that messages give children space for imperfection which is a great growth staple.
In summary, there are so many great things I enjoyed about this book:
- It teaches children they are strong, that they can cope, and that they are not as fragile as they might sometimes feel.
- There are wonderful vocabulary words like: adventurous, curious, confident, brave
- Kids understand brave is about doing what’s best for them
- Encourages children’s sense of adventure
Check this one out if you’re looking for a picture book to help have a discussion about bravery and courage with your little readers.
About the Author
Jessica Hische grew up in Pennsylvania. She currently lives in San Francisco, where she works as a letterer, illustrator, type designer, and relentless procrastiworker. Clients include Wes Anderson, Dave Eggers, The New York Times, Tiffany & Co., OXFAM America, McSweeney’s, American Express, Target, Victoria’s Secret, Chronicle Books, Nike, and Samsung.
