Vinnie the Brave
by Jeff Tucker, Miranda Morrissey
Vinnie is fearless. He's so fearless, everyone calls him Vinnie the Brave. He's not afraid to climb way up high, capture creepy crawlies with his bare hands, or stare down ghostly looking things. But this courageous kid does have one giant fear that he desperately wants to hide. It's a terror so big, it sends a cold shiver down his spine, leaves him speechless, and makes him question just how brave he really is. Vinnie's great fear - speaking up in class. When he doesn't understand the material or the teacher goes too fast, Vinnie refuses to raise his hand. He doesn't want the other kids to laugh at him, judge him, or say he's clueless. He sits in silence and pretends it all makes sense. But now he's falling behind. His grades are slipping, and something has to change. Vinnie and his teacher come up with a secret signal he can use whenever he needs help or wants the teacher to slow down. The discreet signal involves tugging on his ears. It works perfectly until the day he tugs and tugs and tugs, but his teacher never notices. Now what? Will Vinnie keep yanking his ears? Will he raise his hand and finally speak up? Or will he sit in silence and fall further behind? With vibrant illustrations and a main character everyone will root for, award-winning author and school counselor Jeff Tucker explores the fears kids have about speaking up in class and being judged by their peers. A special page written specifically for parents and teachers offers practical tips on helping kids recognize the differences between helpful and harmful fears and how to manage social anxiety. Vinnie the Brave is the third title in the popular Chicorée Elementary Stories for Success book series.
Paperback
English
Brand New
Author Biography
Jeff Tucker is a licensed professional counselor with experience providing mental health services to students of all ages. Jeff earned his Master's in counseling from Louisiana Tech University and is pursuing his Doctorate in counselor education and supervision at Adams State University. Jeff is passionate about education, promoting mental health in children, and social justice issues. In 2020 he authored his first children's book; My Name's Sammy, and I'm no Snitch! Jeff has always been an avid reader and writer and believes in the power of books to help children thrive. Jeff lives in Little Rock, Arkansas with his spouse and their spoiled dog.
Review
Bravery. Courage. Confidence. Self-esteem. This are inextricably linked and inter-changeable with children. Tucker has crafted a beautiful book that opens up the conversation about what it means to be brave and that there are many different kinds of bravery. The book is a great way to show children that everyone is afraid of something and that fear is normal and natural and completely okay. Some experiences can be nerve wracking for children but this book empowers young people and validates their anxieties and worries. Bravery and courage are great themes to discuss, as well as believing in yourself, trying new things, and overcoming challenges. This story was both entertaining and educational, which can be a tricky balance to maintain in a children's book, and I will be suggesting it to teachers whenever possible. Incorporating social-emotional skills and topics such as this into children's picture books is a tried and true way to teach an important life skill in a way that is fun. This would be an amazing addition for classroom libraries, counselling offices and more. -Daniele K, Educator
I feel this book will help a lot of kids and also a lot of adults in dealing with anxiety, fear of facing certain activities which everyone considers normal. I personally still struggle with similar issues even as an adult. For a book which will give some very useful insight to the situation the child character is facing and knowing how to ask for help, I recommend this believing that some kid's life will change after reading this book. -Reviewer
I really appreciated this book. This book highlights the fear a child may have about not keeping up in class or speaking out when struggling. Being brave and vulnerable is ok, and this book helps kids who might be confident in some areas but not others. Speaking up and honoring your feelings are what make this book a great read. This takes place in a school setting with a kid who is about 9-10, so it wasn't something that immediately connected with my youngsters. I can see this being great for kids who are having issues with learning in school as it shows how it's ok to say you're having trouble grasping subjects. Beyond that, I'm not sure it would translate to other areas well. -Deziree B, Reviewer
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