Dare to Be Daring

“Today, I will dare to be daring./ It is something I’ve wanted to try.// No sidelines for me—I’m jumping in, whee!/ I’ll dodge it, I’ll duck it, I’ll fly!” Lin Wallace’s upbeat rhymes riff on the titular phrase to encourage bravery in the face of various experiences via this upbeat picture book. As arrayed children conquer common childhood challenges such as performing onstage, trying a new food, going to the dentist, and more, a trip to the basement lurks, on repeat, as a seemingly impossible act of courage (“No, nope, not happening”) until, at last, even that feels achievable. Paint smudges and squiggles form a colorful backdrop for Cho’s round-faced figures, portrayed with various abilities and skin tones, as they smoothly map to the text. Relatable, motivating messaging seems sure to strengthen readers’ resolve. Ages 4–8. (July)