A man of Native American descent contemplates what lessons he will pass on to his newborn son in this heartfelt, expansive exploration of fatherhood, identity, and legacy. Based on the true story of the birth of his son,Be Brave, Be Brave, Be Brave recalls the thoughts of author F. Anthony Falcon upon holding his child after the baby and his wife endured a life-threatening labor during Hurricane Harvey's landfall in Corpus Christi,Texas. Having felt adrift from his Native roots, Falcon found himself with a deep desire to understand his heritage so that he might better bestow it upon his son. A meditation on what it means to "be brave," this is the tale of little Lakota's perilous arrival into the world, of Falcon's struggle to reconnect with a heritage that was lost to him, and a father's attempt to describe what it means to be a Native American man in America today. PreS-Gr 2-A father's tribute to his newborn son attempts to draw on his lost Native American heritage in this debut picture book. Addressing his son directly, Falcon recounts the arduous journey that brought his child into the world, a difficult labor with medical complications that was further challenged by Hurricane Harvey. Throughout, he repeats to himself the mantra "Be brave," and considers how to pass this courage along to his child. Inspiration comes in the form of relatives arriving with a ritual sage blessing that reminds the author of the Native traditions from which he draws strength: childhood memories of attending powwows and admiring his uncle's collection of "spears, bows, and arrows." Unfortunately, there is a lack of tribal specificity in both Falcon's text and in Mason's ethereal watercolor illustrations. Falcon attempts to address this in an author's note, explaining that his family's oral history mentions an Apache great-great-grandmother, and he briefly touches on the importance of Tribal Rolls in establishing Native American ancestry. The author's explanation that a DNA test "confirmed" his Native identity may lead readers to conclude that genetics, rather than cultural heritage and tribal ties, determine Indigenous identity. VERDICT While government policies of forced removal have no doubt contributed to the loss of important tribal ties, as may be the case for Falcon, this attempt at sharing a nebulous Indigenous identity employs too many tropes to be recommended.-Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MN "Mason's watercolor artwork mixes moments of striking portraiture alongside stormy landscapes, and Falcon, who bases the story on the birth of his own son, named Lakota, offers a multilayered celebration of resilience, ancestry, and bravery." ― Publishers Weekly F. Anthony Falcon found his love for books in the library at William B. Travis Elementary School in his hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas. His love for history led him to research his own Native American heritage in the hope that he could one day instill that pride in his children. Anthony has a love for writing as well and a huge imagination which, when put together, makes for some very interesting reading. He currently resides in Corpus Christi, Texas with his wife and son. About the Illustrator Trisha Mason attended the Herron School of Art + Design (IUPUI) where she graduated with Honors and a BFA in Drawing and Illustration. She has illustrated for Riley Children's Hospital, The Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library, and often participates in group art exhibitions. Trisha currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana where she enjoys creating watercolor pet portraits, and frequently braves the nature trails with her dog, Gilly. You can view more of Trisha's work on her website, www.trishamasonart.com.