Bravery Grows: questions to ask and activities to try
A girl chats happily at home, but at school and in busy places her words get stuck. A gentle story about anxiety and selective mutism, and about growing bravery one small step at a time.
What age is Bravery Grows for?
Bravery Grows is best for ages 4–7.
Bravery Grows (Melissa Giglio, Daisy Geddes and Ira Baykovska)
- Age
- 4-7
- Best for
- Shy or anxious children, including those with selective mutism
Only 50pBravery Grows activity sheet3 printable pages: questions to talk about, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the grown-up. Instant PDF.
Just want the questions? Get the free question card ↓
Read it quietly together and let your child nod or point instead of answering out loud. Never push a child to speak: praise trying, not talking. If your child finds it hard to speak in some places for more than a month, talk to your GP or health visitor.
Is this book right for your child?
- Age
- 4–7 (Reception to Year 2)
- What they'll enjoy
- A girl chats happily at home, but at school and in busy places her words get stuck. A gentle story about anxiety and selective mutism, and about growing bravery one small step at a time.
- Helps with
- Shy or anxious children, including those with selective mutism
- Buy or borrow?
- Borrow it from the library first if you can. If your child asks for it again and again, it’s one worth owning, and the questions and activities on this page work best with the book open next to you.
What it helps with
- Feeling shy or anxious
- Selective mutism
- Taking small brave steps
- Understanding a quiet classmate
Comprehension and discussion questions for Bravery Grows
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Where does the girl find it easy to talk?”
- “Where do her words get stuck?”
- “How does her body feel when she can’t talk?”
- “What did her mum and dad say to help?”
- “What small brave step did she try?”
- “Where do you feel brave? Where do you feel shy?”
- “How could you help a friend who finds talking hard?”
For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.
Print these questions: free question card for Bravery Grows
All 7 questions for Bravery Grows on one printable page, each marked with the reading skill it practises. Enter your email and download it straight away.
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5-minute activities to try together
Brave ladder
Draw a ladder with small steps, from easy (waving) to harder (saying hello to a friend). Colour in a step each time your child tries it.
Grow a brave flower
Draw a flower stem. Add a petal for every brave thing your child does, however small, and watch the bravery grow.
Joining in without words
Practise ways to join in without talking: a thumbs up, pointing, a wave or a drawing. These help shy children, and their friends too.
Bravery Grows activity sheet: printable worksheet and questions
All the questions and activities above on a ready-to-print activity sheet: questions tagged by reading skill with space to answer, a drawing and writing page with a self-check, and notes for the adult with curriculum links and a 20-minute session plan. Pay by card, PayPal or Payhip and download straight away.
- Page 1, talk about it: questions about the story, each tagged with the reading skill it practises, with space to answer or tick
- Page 2, my favourite part: a drawing box, a sentence starter and a “how did I do?” self-check
- Page 3, notes for the adult: curriculum links, a 20-minute session plan, extension activities, and support and challenge ideas
- Read it togetherEnjoy the story first.
- Ask 2 or 3 questionsFrom the list above, while everyone is calm.
- Print the activity sheetAn activity sheet with questions, a drawing page and notes for you.
Worries bundle15 activity sheets for books on the same themeThe 15 books:The Huge Bag of WorriesRuby’s WorryThe Invisible StringStick ManMonkey PuzzleThe GruffaloWe're Going on a Bear HuntGoodnight MoonAfter the FallSilly BillyOwl BabiesThe Kissing HandTadA Bit LostLullabyhullaballoo!£4.99 3 sheets for £1.25Bravery Grows + The Huge Bag of Worries + Ruby’s WorryThe 3 books:Bravery GrowsThe Huge Bag of WorriesRuby’s Worry£1.25 Pick your own books: build a bundle with this one, up to 15% off →
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Use it as a lesson plan
Children can listen to Bravery Grows, answer questions about it and give a reason for their ideas, and talk about feeling shy or anxious.
A 20-minute session for ages 4–7 (Reception to Year 2), for a class, a small group or one child at home.
- Warm up (2 minutes). Show the cover and read the title. Ask: “What do you think this story will be about?”
- Read aloud (6 minutes). Read it all the way through. Tip: Read it quietly together and let your child nod or point instead of answering out loud. Never push a child to speak: praise trying, not talking. If your child finds it hard to speak in some places for more than a month, talk to your GP or health visitor.
- Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “Where does the girl find it easy to talk?” works well to start.
- Activity (6 minutes). Do Brave ladder. Draw a ladder with small steps, from easy (waving) to harder (saying hello to a friend). Colour in a step each time your child tries it. Children who finish early can try Grow a brave flower.
- Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.
Want to go further? The Bravery Grows activity sheet has these questions with space to answer, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the adult.
If your child liked this, try
The Shy Book (Howard Pearlstein)
- Best for
- Feeling shy, and worrying that others will find you boring
- Age
- 3-7
Ruby’s Worry (Tom Percival)
- Best for
- A child whose worry grows while they keep it to themselves
- Age
- 4-7
The Huge Bag of Worries (Virginia Ironside)
- Best for
- Talking about worries
- Age
- 5-8
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 29 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.