Alfie The Brave

by Richard Harris
Illustrated by Simon Howe
Published by Penguin Random House
ISBN 971761041358

A delightful story showing that not everyone or animal is brave and there is no need to worry.

Though the life of a young pup, Alfie, a Staffordshire bull terrier, whose mum and dad were perfect in his eyes we see how we judge ourselves often unnecessarily. Alfie is worried that he isn't perfect, his tale tends to sit to one side instead of straight, his ear flops about in the wind and he is definitely not brave.

The lack of brevity is the most concerning to Alfie. His human family, mum, dad and his brother and sister see Alfie has loveable. But he wishes he was brave. Just like the border collie he meets on the beach who likes swimming and jumping, or being frightened of those big cows in Farmer Ken's fields.

There are several instances where Alfie is anything but brave and I can especially relate to one of them!

One day Alfie's brevity comes to the fore, his human father Harry is in danger and he is completely unaware. Alfie instinctively leaps to warn his dad and find out that he is brave, so brave he wins admiration and a medal.

It is a beautifully told story for young children that being brave doesn't always come naturally. The author is Dr Richard Harris who is brave - he was a key member of the international cave-diving group who rescued the Wild Boar soccer team in Thailand. Love the cute illustrations, by Simon Howe, especially Alfie's emotional ups and downs expressions.