“A pleasant kids’ story about making mistakes and facing fears.” Kirkus Reviews
Best friends Akash and Mila learn a powerful lesson about fear and empowerment in the fifth book of the award-winning Owning the Dash Kids’ Book series by Anthony C. Delauney.
It’s their first gymnastics class. After Akash attempts to jump off the springboard, it doesn’t go as planned, and he crashes on his belly in front of the other gymnasts. Fear of judgement quickly takes root, and both Akash and Mila no longer want to participate.
Two older gymnasts, Dash and Lulu, step in to help and offer some words of wisdom. They share a personal story of their early years in gymnastics, and Lulu explains, “Making mistakes is okay. We know they’re never planned. But now you get to choose. Do you want to try again?” With their encouragement, Akash overcomes his fear, jumps again, and this time lands on his feet, followed by cheers from the class. Mila follows with a fantastic first-time jump!
This book’s lesson is about trying new things, even if you fail one or multiple times. It highlights how all individuals experience fear of judgement, and it illustrates how encouragement from peers can play such an important role in shaping how we view ourselves and others. We can raise each other up!
With Anthony Delauney’s charming rhymes and Chiara Civati’s irresistible illustrations, this book is sure to be a favorite on your bookshelf.