Rebel Wilson (text) and Annabel Tempest (illustrator), Bella the Brave, Hachette Australia, October 2021, 32 pp., RRP $19.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780734420572
Bella the Brave, the debut picture book from Rebel Wilson, one of Australia’s most celebrated and loved creative talents, is an empowering, relatable, and bright tale of a young girl Bella who is riddled with shyness, fear, and many associated deep emotions.
When Bella finds herself at her first choir lesson with twenty other girls, the only way she can overcome her shyness is to channel her sister’s boldness and confidence. She calls herself by her sister’s name Stella and within a few lessons she is finally able to overcome all her fears and bring down the house.
Young readers will enjoy seeing Bella’s transformative journey from a shy girl to one that is able to work on her strengths and finally be herself. Annabel Tempest’s illustrations are kid-centric with a highly appealing bright colour palette. The emotive close-up illustration of Bella when she breaks free from her shyness will strike an emotional chord with the intended readership of 3+ years who are just starting to learn about themselves and their role in their world. But what makes this picture book even more special, is the powerful message and reminder to all children, especially those that are a little more introverted. It’s okay to be quiet, you don’t always need to be outgoing. But when you’re a kid, the most important thing is to keep growing.
Bella the Brave is a great picture book resource to share with younger readers on the relatable themes of being brave, bold, and confident. It reassures readers that having introverted feelings are natural and that the butterflies in their tummies are quite a special and beautiful thing!
Reviewed by Lana Spasevski
