Parents' Guide to

My Little Brave Girl

By Regan McMahon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Gentle, encouraging book imagines girl's bright future.

Book Hilary Duff Picture Book 2021
My Little Brave Girl Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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What's the Story?

In MY BRAVE LITTLE GIRL, an unseen narrator, presumably the parent of the White girl on the cover, imagines a bright future ahead for her and her diverse group of friends. The girls explore and play outdoors during the day, and then wind up in a sleepover at the end of the day at her Black friend's house.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This encouraging, sentimental book is packed with positive messages that underscore boundless possibilities for young girls. There's no story arc in My Little Brave Girl. Instead, there are scenes of happy, curious girls playing together matched with abstract, metaphorical platitudes, such as "The sun burns bright, my little brave girl, and you will find the light." It may be challenging for little ones to grasp the meaning of the messages, but they'll enjoy Kelsey Garrity-Riley's soft, pastel-palette watercolor and colored pencil illustrations of little girls having fun. And the book could make a cozy read-aloud with a grown-up who can help explain the metaphors.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about all the hopes the unseen parent narrator expresses for the little one and her friends in My Little Brave Girl. What does it mean to reach for the stars?

  • What does it mean to say "Your future knows no bounds." What job can you imagine doing when you grow up?

  • How do you like the art? Which picture is your favorite?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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