Can an illustrated children’s book help you to encourage your child to be courageous?

We think so.  That is one of the reasons that we wrote and continue to write the Lima Bear Series.  You see, Lima Bear, one of our major characters, is a very brave bean…smart, too.  His adventures are always exciting but they also exhibit Lima Bear’s bravery in tough situations.  Take, for example, Lima Bear’s action in the Lima Bear Series book, The Cave Monster.

In The Cave Monster story, Lima Bear comfortably waits in his home for his cousin, L. Joe Bean to visit.  He learns from his friends Whistle-Toe, Maskamal, and Back-Back that L. Joe Bean has been captured by the cave monster.  All the friends are scared.  They don’t WANT to go to the cave where the cave monster is keeping L. Joe Bean but they must go.  We learn that courage is not always a comfortable feeling and that courageous people are fearful but they do not let that fear keep them from action.

…”children like books about values and ethical dilemmas…these questions are at the heart of what makes life meaningful” 

In a post titled, How to Raise a Child of Character, Dr. Laura Markham, of ahaparenting.com  believes that books can help you encourage your child to act with courage. She says in this article, “Most young children like books that talk about values and ethical dilemmas. That’s because these questions are at the heart of what makes life meaningful, which is a primary question for children beginning at about the same age — the preschool years.

“at the heart of what makes life meaningful”-  What a lovely sentiment that is. We agree.

How to start a conversation about courage using a children book such as The Cave Monster

Books like The Cave Monster give parents the perfect vehicle to start a conversation about a subject children desire to discuss.  In The Cave Monster specifically, a way to begin the conversation about courage could start with first reading the book with your child.  After reading the book you could sit with your child and (using the ideas from “extend the learning” pages found in the back of each Lima Bear Series book) you could ask the following questions:

**What do you see when I say the word “monster”?

**How does the author let you know that the characters are afraid of the Cave Monster?

**Would you be afraid of the Cave Monster?  Why or why not?

**Have you ever been afraid?  How did you handle that feeling?

Reading a children’s book and starting a conversation about courage could be an important step in imparting your values to your children and fostering great habits in your child.  Have you had a similar experience with your child?  Are any of the books you like to read together good to promote courageous behavior?