Jess Was the Brave One

Elizabeth Levin is a psychology professor at Laurentian University.

This is a really delightful story, one that children want to hear over
and over again. Claire longs to be as brave as her younger sister
Jessica. Jess is the brave one. Jess isn’t squeamish getting shots at
the doctor’s office. Jess doesn’t think about falling and can climb
trees to the top. Jess isn’t afraid of the dark, of scary TV shows, of
thunderstorms, of dogs, or of anything, it seems. Then one day some
older kids snatch Pink Ted, Jess’s beloved bear, and Claire comes to
the rescue. Surprising even herself, Claire stands up to the bullies who
have kidnapped Pink Ted. Using her active imagination, which previously
has always caused her to imagine the scariest happenings, Claire
convinces the bullies to return Pink Ted.

This is a book that three- to seven-year-olds will treasure. Wilson’s
wonderful drawings of Jess and Claire are warm and engaging. This is a
book that looks and feels good.