Love Builds Bravery
Helping children understand fear, courage, and what it really means to be brave.
Hank the Brave is a funny, reassuring picture book for ages 4–8 that gives educators a natural way to talk with children about fear, emotional safety, courage, and taking the next brave step.
Because being brave doesn't mean you're not scared. Sometimes it means feeling safe enough to try.
Hank the Brave in the Classroom
Big feelings don't always look big.
Sometimes a child cries. Sometimes they avoid. Sometimes they get quiet. And sometimes, just like Hank, they freeze.
Hank the Brave gives educators a funny, gentle way to begin conversations about fear without telling children they shouldn't be afraid. Instead, Hank's story helps children discover that courage can happen while they're still scared—and that feeling safe, supported, and loved can make the next brave step possible.
Ideal for:
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) • Read-Alouds • Morning Meetings
Counseling Groups • Character Education • Classroom Libraries
Helping Children Talk About Fear & Bravery
A fear doesn't have to look big to feel big to a child.
A buzzing fly. A dark room. A thunderstorm. Walking into a new classroom. Trying something for the first time.
Adults may know a child is safe, but simply saying “Don't be scared” doesn't always make the fear disappear.
Stories can give children a safer way to explore those feelings. Instead of asking them to stop being afraid, we can help them recognize the fear, feel supported, and discover what their own next brave step might look like.
Bravery isn't the absence of fear. It's learning that you can be scared and still take one small step forward.
The Language of Brave
The words we speak today become the voice children carry tomorrow.
Sometimes a small shift in language can change how a child experiences fear. Instead of trying to talk children out of being scared, we can use words that acknowledge the fear while reminding them they aren't facing it alone.
Instead of Saying...
“Don't be scared.”
“There's nothing to be afraid of.”
“Be brave.”
“Just try it.”
Try Saying...
“It's okay to feel scared. I'm right here.”
“I can see this feels scary to you.”
“You can be scared and still be brave.”
“What's one small step that feels possible?”
The Hank Effect
Love Builds Bravery
The Hank Effect is the idea at the heart of Hank's story: when children feel safe, supported, and loved, they're more willing to take brave steps.
It isn't about removing every fear or asking children to push through before they're ready. It's about creating the kind of environment where a child can say, “I'm scared,” and still begin to believe, “I can try.”
Every child deserves someone who believes in them.
Classroom Resources
Simple ways to bring Hank’s message of bravery into your classroom.
These activities are designed to help children talk about fear, identify the people who help them feel safe, and practice taking one small brave step.
Resource #1 — Love Builds Bravery
A drawing and writing activity that helps children explore how someone’s love and support can help them through a scary or difficult moment.
Resource #2 — 10 Brave Things Kids Can Try
A bravery challenge that encourages children to practice small acts of bravery at school, at home, and in everyday life.
Resource #3 — Who Helps You Feel Brave?
A reflection activity that helps children identify their own “brave team” — the people they can turn to when they feel worried, scared, or unsure.
Bring Hank the Brave to Your School
Bring Hank the Brave beyond the page with an author visit designed to help children explore fear, courage, and what it means to take one small brave step.
Dana Eikenberg brings Hank's story, The Hank Effect, and The Language of Brave into engaging conversations with students and educators.
Ideal for:
School Visits • Read-Alouds • SEL Programs • Literacy Events • Family Literacy Nights