  | Dare to be daring Author: Wallace, Chelsea Lin | |
| Price: $23.78 | ||
Summary:
From tasting a new food to a trip to the dentist (or the basement!), this picture book is an invitation to be brave in the face of what feels scary.
| Illustrator: | Cho, Lian |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (05/01/24)
School Library Journal (00/05/24)
Booklist (07/01/24)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 05/01/2024 K-Gr 3—Everyone has hesitations and fears that prevent them from doing what they really want to do. Wallace has a fear of spiders, and in this book tackles some of the things young children fear. "Today, I will dare to be daring when I get to the playground to play. My eyes will not peek, but I'll certainly shriek in a will-I-come-down sort of way." The "dare to be daring" catchphrase acts to coax the child, here with light brown skin and wearing a worried look, into taking a risk. Every scene teaches that it's okay to make mistakes, to fail, to give up. Stage fright, fear of throwing oneself into the dodgeball game, or the frightful scene of a dark basement steps are all here as in the first person, "I will dare to be daring" is repeated right before the facing of the obstacle. Cho's colorful and engaging illustrations are an excellent complement to Wallace's use of repetition, rhythm, and rhyme to walk young children through the most common things that they fear. VERDICT The creators have come up with an excellent book for caregivers and children who are struggling with their fears, for discussion or as a guide to pushing through.—Laura Ellis - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 07/01/2024 Lots of kids feel nervous about trying new things, and this bright, animated picture book in peppy, bouncing rhymes offers plenty of encouragement and support. A refrain of “Today I will dare to be daring” kicks off a wide variety of experiences, and the wary kids carry on: “I’m going to try, / even while I’m still shy,” says one kid, who is later enthusiastically welcomed into a game of marbles. Other scenarios involve trying new food, going to the dentist, learning to ride a bike, and meeting a dog. One kid’s goal—to descend to a dark basement—comically breaks up the rhyme scheme (“Today I will dare to be daring. / I will . . . No, I can’t”) at intervals until she finally succeeds, emphasizing how sometimes courage takes persistence. The worries are all different, but the lively approach is lighthearted and reassuring, which is carried through charmingly in Cho’s bold, blocky cartoon illustrations that express the kids’ shifting emotions with playfully exaggerated facial expressions. A fun pick for group storytime. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
