About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is facing a new challenge, such as starting a new sport, joining a club, or attempting a difficult skill, and seems paralyzed by the fear of looking foolish. It is a gentle, metaphorical exploration of a young boy who initially ignores a glowing chance that appears to him. When he finally tries to grab it and falls, he experiences the heavy weight of embarrassment and decides it is safer to stay on the sidelines. The story beautifully captures the internal struggle between the safety of doing nothing and the thrill of taking a leap. Parents will appreciate how this book validates the very real fear of failure while providing a visual language for bravery. It moves beyond the simple advice to try your best and instead shows that bravery is a choice we make even when we feel exposed. It is an ideal choice for children aged 4 to 8 who struggle with perfectionism or who tend to retreat when things dont come easily on the first try.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The story depicts the protagonist experiencing public failure and the resulting feelings of shame and social anxiety, which may be distressing for sensitive children.
Ideal Reader
A 6-year-old child who is hesitant to try new things because they are afraid of making a mistake or being laughed at by peers. It is perfect for the perfectionist child who needs to see that falling is a natural part of the process.
Parent Prep
The book can be read cold, but parents should be ready to share a time when they took a chance and it didnt work out. Personal vulnerability from the adult strengthens the books message. A child saying, I dont want to go because I might mess up, or seeing a child sit on the sidelines of an activity they previously expressed interest in.
Age Experience
Preschoolers will be drawn to the magical, butterfly-like imagery of the chance and the simple concept of being brave. Older elementary students will more deeply resonate with the specific social anxiety of the boy falling and the fear of being watched by others.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many books that focus on the result of success, Yamada focuses on the internal mechanics of bravery. The use of the glowing chance as a physical character makes the abstract concept of opportunity tangible for young minds.
Read plot summary
A young boy is visited by a physical manifestation of a chance: a glowing, golden, winged object. Uncertain and afraid of what others might think, he ignores it until it disappears. When another chance arrives, he attempts to catch it but fails publicly, leading to feelings of shame and a desire to avoid all future risks. Eventually, he realizes that while taking a chance can be scary, missing out on what that chance could become is much worse. He takes a literal and metaphorical leap, discovering the beauty of a life lived with courage.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The boy felt embarrassed when he fell and people saw him. Have you ever felt that way? What did you want to do next?
2
Why do you think the boy decided that not taking any more chances was actually worse than falling?
3
The chance looked like a bright, glowing butterfly. If you had a chance today, what would it look like and what might it be asking you to do?
4
What do you think the boy meant when he said that a chance can become 'something incredible'?
