Max and the Bravery of Big Feelings
Max, a young boy who loves soccer, learns to deal with his worries and anger with the help of his dad and trusty sloth friend, Stevie, while confronting a big, imaginary Kraken named Kary.
Characters
Max is a cool kid of mixed Korean, Mexican, and Italian heritage who loves soccer.
Daddy is an Italian guy who loves to program.
Stevie is a light blue sloth stuffed animal.
Kary is a very large Kraken that is evil and dangerous.
Pages
Max was feeling worried about his first big soccer game tomorrow. He laid in bed, staring at the ceiling with Stevie, his light blue sloth friend, by his side.
Daddy noticed Max was quiet and sat on his bed. 'Worried about tomorrow's game?' he asked gently.
'A little,' Max admitted. 'What if I mess up?' Daddy reminded him that everyone learns from mistakes and that his team will support him no matter what.
Later, Max imagined Kary, the big, scary Kraken, in his room. Its tentacles seemed to reach out, mirroring his worries.
Max took a deep breath and squeezed Stevie tight. 'I'll practice being brave,' he thought, remembering Daddy's words.
The next day, as Max walked onto the soccer field, he felt a flutter of nerves but also excitement. He remembered to breathe deeply.
The game started, and Max played with all his heart. When he made a mistake, he remembered to stay brave and strong.
After the game, Daddy hugged Max tight. 'You were so brave!' he cheered. Max beamed, feeling proud of facing his big feelings.
Understanding and coping with big feelings can be brave and rewarding.