A CHILDREN'S STORY BY APRIL RODRIGUEZ PLOTT
Brave &Kind
A Story of Care, Courage, and Calm
A children's story created to support meaningful conversations about kindness, calm, safety, belonging, and courage through a diverse community of children and the Heart, Leaf, Shield framework.
Care, courage, calm, belonging
MOTHER · EDUCATOR · STORYTELLER
stories
with heart
with heart
ABOUT BRAVE & KIND
It began
at home.
Brave & Kind began with questions my children brought home. They had questions about safety, belonging, differences, and things they were hearing and seeing in the world around them.
I wanted a gentle way to keep those conversations going. As a family, we kept coming back to a bigger question:
OUR QUESTIONHow do we want to show up in this world?
Our answer is through brave, calm, and kind actions. We believe in caring for ourselves, caring for others, and making thoughtful choices in the communities we share.
Those conversations became Brave & Kind.
THE SAME QUESTION, WIDER
And it grew.
Through my graduate studies in Legal Studies, with a focus in Land Use, at Claremont Lincoln University (CLU), I began exploring that same question at a broader level: What does it mean to care not only for ourselves and one another, but also for the communities we share?
Brave & Kind begins with the child, but the idea reaches further. Brave, calm, and kind actions shape how we listen, care for one another, make choices, participate, and show up as neighbors in our communities.
Ourselves→Others→Our Communities
THE BOOK
Care.
Courage. Calm.
Brave & Kind is a visual story about kindness, belonging, relationships, representation, calm, growth, bravery, courage, choices, boundaries, community, and safety for self and others.
READ THE COMPLETE BOOK ↗Explore the story, then turn every page.
HEART: KINDNESSKindness
Kindness
starts with care.
The Heart reminds us to care for ourselves and others. Kindness is how we show love through our words, our actions, and even our thoughts.
THE LEAFCalm makes
Calm makes
room to pause.
The Leaf reminds us to slow down, breathe, pause, and notice.
SHIELD: BRAVERY AND SAFETYBrave Choices Can
Brave Choices Can
Keep Us Safe.
The Shield reminds us to stay safe and be brave. Being brave does not mean we are not scared. It means we do the right thing even when it feels hard.
Scroll to explore
THE COMPLETE BOOK
Brave & Kind
Step inside the complete story and turn the pages of Brave & Kind.
OPEN FULLSCREEN ↗BRAVE & KIND · DIGITAL EDITIONHEYZINE FLIPBOOK
HEART · LEAF · SHIELD
The framework
starts here.
Heart, Leaf, and Shield give children simple symbols they can remember when a conversation moves from the page into everyday life.
Heart
Kindness
How can I show care for myself and others?
Care · Empathy · Connection · Inclusion · Belonging
SEL connections: Social Awareness, Relationship SkillsLeaf
Calm & Growth
Can I pause, notice, and make a thoughtful choice?
Pause · Breathe · Notice · Reflect · Thoughtful Choices
SEL connections: Self Awareness, Self Management, Responsible Decision MakingShield
Bravery & Safety
Is this safe? Do I need help from a trusted adult?
Courage · Boundaries · Caring and Safe Choices · Speaking Up · Asking for Help · Trusted Adults
SEL connections: Responsible Decision Making, Self Awareness, Relationship SkillsKind actions. Calm actions. Brave actions.
EXPLORE THE FRAMEWORK ↗HOW IT FITS TOGETHER
READ
Begin with the story.
TALK
Continue the conversation.
PRACTICE
Put Heart, Leaf, and Shield into everyday action.
CONNECT
Carry those ideas into our relationships and communities.
BELONGING
Belonging runs
through all three.
Heart helps us care for one another. Leaf helps us pause, listen, and remain curious. Shield reminds us that safety and dignity matter for ourselves and others.
Every person matters. We all have a place in the communities we share.
EXPLORE BELONGING ↗There's Room for EveryoneFinal-page illustration from the published book will be placed here.
RESOURCES
From story to
everyday life.
Brave & Kind is a place to begin. Resources help children and caring adults keep the conversation going through reflection, conversation, creativity, and everyday practice.
FOR FAMILIES & CARING ADULTS
FOR EDUCATORS
HEART · LEAF · SHIELD
Talk, Practice, Try
A conversation guide, the free Activity Book, and the one-page Brave & Kind Challenge.
EXPLORE ↗
FOR EDUCATORSSEL Companion
Extend Brave & Kind into the classroom with the SEL Companion in PlayLab (PlayLab account required).
EXPLORE ↗
HEART · LEAF · SHIELDFramework Tools
Explore the framework definitions and practical applications.
EXPLORE ↗
FOR EDUCATORS
Brave & Kind SEL Companion — PlayLab
Scan the code to extend Brave & Kind into the classroom with curriculum connections and activities for educators.
PlayLab account required.
OPEN THE SEL COMPANION IN PLAYLAB ↗FREE ACTIVITY PAGES
Practice together.
Continue the story through drawing, reflection, breathing, noticing, and connection activities designed around the Brave & Kind framework. Download them free and print at home or in the classroom.
ACTIVITY BOOK · PDF
Brave & Kind Activity Book
An activity book for calm and connection: color, create, breathe, write, and connect.
FREE PRINTABLE · ONE-PAGE PDF
Brave & Kind Challenge
Little choices. Big difference. Choose simple ways to Be Kind, Find Calm, Be Brave, and Be You.
COMMUNITY
THE STORY CONTINUES
Ourselves. Others.
Our Communities.
Brave & Kind begins with the child—with safety, kindness, calm, courage, and belonging. Future stories will follow these ideas outward, helping children explore how we care for other people, the places we share, and the communities we call home.
As the stories grow, the question remains the same: How do we want to show up in this world? With brave, calm, and kind actions.
DISCOVER THE PROJECT ↗BOOKS
One story now.
More stories ahead.
Brave & Kind is the first featured title, and future stories will follow its ideas outward.
Brave & Kind
Care, courage, calm, representation, belonging, and Heart, Leaf, Shield.
EXPLORE ↗✦
FUTURE STORYOur Shared World
Future stories can extend the work into environmental stewardship, laws, communities, and participation.
COMING SOON✧
FUTURE STORYOur Community
Stories that invite children to notice how communities work and how people can participate.
COMING SOONCOMMUNITY
Brave & Kind
in the Community.
Readings, family activities, classroom conversations, community events, and partnerships create opportunities to bring the ideas in Brave & Kind off the page and into the places we share.
01Author readings and read alouds
02School, library, and bookstore visits
03Family, educator, and community programs
04Speaking opportunities and collaborations
INVITE APRIL / PARTNER WITH BRAVE & KIND ↗SHOP THE STORY
Bring the story
into everyday life.
Get the book, read it online, or explore the free resources.
Buy Brave & Kind
Get your own copy on Amazon.
BUY BRAVE & KIND ↗Read the Book Online
Turn every page of the complete story.
READ THE BOOK ONLINE ↗Free Resources
Activity pages, the Challenge, and more.
EXPLORE FREE RESOURCES ↗