Brave Like Me follows four woodland friends who encounter a mysterious figure in a snowy forest and discover that true courage comes from friendship, compassion, and facing fears together. How did you decide which personality traits would represent different expressions of courage?

Over the past 20 years, through my work with Moment by Moment, I’ve met thousands of children facing extraordinary challenges. One of the most meaningful lessons they’ve taught me is that courage and bravery do not look the same in every child.

Some children are naturally curious and eager to explore, while others are sensitive, cautious, or anxious about the unknown. I’ve learned that none of these qualities makes a child any less brave. In fact, sometimes the quietest child demonstrates the greatest courage.

I wanted each of the four woodland friends to reflect a different personality that children could recognize in themselves. Benny Bear is sensitive and gentle, Remy Raccoon is curious and adventurous, Ruby Rabbit is thoughtful but sometimes anxious, and little Mabel Mouse reminds us that courage has nothing to do with size.

I wanted readers to see that none of these woodland friends has to change who they are to become brave. Instead, they discover courage in their own way, with a little encouragement from their friends.

That was especially important to me because I’ve witnessed firsthand how meaningful it can be when a child begins to recognize their own strength through the help of family and friends.

I believe that we should not just tell children, going through any life circumstance, that they are brave; we should help them see it through their own lens of the world. My hope is that every child who reads Brave Like Me will see a little of themselves in one of these friends and realize that being scared and being brave can exist at the very same time.

The mysterious figure creates both suspense and opportunities for self-discovery. How did you balance the excitement of the unknown with reassurance for young readers?

I believe a little mystery can be a wonderful way to help children explore their emotions in a safe and interactive way. When I first imagined this story as a child, surreal 50 years ago, I was drawn to the excitement of discovering something unexpected. As my story evolved, especially after my 20 years working with children through my nonprofit, Moment by Moment, I wanted that mystery to carry a deeper message and began to write Brave Like Me from where I see the world now.

Children encounter the unknown all the time, whether it’s their first day of school, meeting someone new, trying something difficult, or facing a medical experience. What might seem small to an adult can feel enormous to a child. I wanted young readers to experience that sense of uncertainty alongside the four friends, but never feel overwhelmed by it. The snowy forest creates an atmosphere of mystery, while the friendship and different personalities of the characters and their working together to solve the mystery provide reassurance along the way. I wanted children to discover that sometimes the things that we fear are things we simply don’t yet understand.

Ultimately, the story is about discovering that appearances aren’t always what they seem, and recognizing how much easier it can be to take that first brave step when someone (a friend or a loved one) is beside you.

My hope is that children finish the book feeling not only reassured, but a little more confident about facing their personal fears of the unknown.

Your story emphasizes that bravery doesn’t mean being fearless. How do you hope children will apply this message when facing challenges in their own lives?

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned through 20 years of Moment by Moment is that courage isn’t the absence of fear; it is finding the courage to take the next step, even when you are afraid. In 2018, I was in a teenager’s patient’s room, and she had written this on a poster: “Being brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared. It means you keep going when you are.” Those words stayed with me because they captured something I had witnessed in children for so many years. Courage wasn’t about being fearless. It was about finding the strength to keep going, even when life felt overwhelming.

That moment helped me recognize the deeper message I wanted my childhood story to carry. Nearly 50 years after I first imagined those woodland friends, their adventure became a way to share what thousands of children have taught me about courage.

My hope is that children who read Brave Like Me will recognize that bravery exists in their own everyday experiences, whether it’s trying something new, making a friend, or facing something that frightens them.

It is perfectly okay to feel nervous, uncertain, or scared, and those feelings don’t diminish their courage. I also want them to recognize that asking for help, showing kindness, and leaning on others can be expressions of bravery. I especially hope the book encourages parents, teachers, and caregivers to notice and celebrate those everyday moments when children step outside their comfort zones.

Jordan Foster’s illustrations beautifully capture the characters’ emotions and the changing winter landscape. How did your collaboration influence the story’s atmosphere and emotional impact?

My collaboration with Jordan Foster is especially meaningful because our relationship goes back long before Brave Like Me was ever imagined as a published book. Jordan’s mother is one of my closest friends, and I’ve had the wonderful privilege of watching Jordan grow up from the day she was born. Over the years, I’ve watched her creativity and artistic talents unfold, eventually leading her to a career on the digital marketing team at Warner Bros.

A few years ago, while I was working at UCLA Children’s Hospital, I invited Jordan to dinner in Los Angeles. I was beginning to explore the possibility of bringing my childhood story to life and thought that, through her creative connections, she might know a freelance illustrator who would be interested in the project. What I didn’t expect was that Jordan would say she’d like to give it a try herself, and that evening marked the beginning of a very special creative partnership.

This was the first children’s book for both of us, so we found ourselves learning the intricacies of layouts, storyboards, and the illustration process together. While much of the process was new to both of us, Jordan brought a natural artistic vision and remarkable sensitivity to the characters from the very beginning. I had carried these four little woodland friends in my imagination for decades, but Jordan was the one who gave them their faces, expressions, and personalities on the page. Young readers can recognize their curiosity, fear, and ultimately their bravery and courage, even before those emotions are expressed in words.

The winter woodland setting plays such an important role in creating the story’s atmosphere. There’s something magical about a snow-covered forest, but also something mysterious about its stillness, the shadows among the trees, and not knowing what might be waiting just beyond them. Jordan captured that delicate balance beautifully, creating a world that feels both inviting and a little mysterious. The snowy landscape draws children into the adventure, building just enough suspense to make them wonder what the four friends will discover. As the story unfolds, her illustrations help shift that feeling of uncertainty toward warmth, understanding, and reassurance.

I think that’s what made our collaboration so special. I brought a story I’d carried with me since childhood, and Jordan brought the artistic vision to give it life. Together, we created a world where children can not only follow the adventure but also feel the emotions behind it.

Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon