Ryers Readers - Brave Dave

Episode Date: November 4, 2022

A little bear learns what it really means to find your inner brave, and have the confidence to be yourself!

Let's do this! Thank you so much for tuning into today's story! Don't forget to tell your grown-up to go check out the Ryers Reader's Instagram page for more fun content. Before we get into the story, do you want to know a fun fact? Did you know that the hump on a grizzly bear's back is actually a huge muscle? This strong muscle powers their front legs, helps them dig and eat. even tear through fallen trees looking for yummy bugs to eat. They can also dig out their dens in the winter, even if the ground is rocky. Pretty cool, huh?

Okay, story time. Today, we are going to read Brave Dave by Giles Andre. Clarence was mighty, and Clarence was strong. He was handsome and tall. He was brave. He was everything grizzly bears ought to be, and then there was... Then there was Dave. Dave was his brother, much smaller than him.

He looked up at Clarence with awe, and each famous deed that his brother performed made Dave try to be like him more. Like this, Dave? Like that, Dave? said Clarence. Come on. Keep going, and someday you'll see that if you do all... everything just how I say, you'll end up as brave as, well, me. Dave tried his best to do everything right, but one day he started to cry. I'll never be Clarence, not ever, he sniffed as he gazed at the darkening sky. He walked for a while, feeling lonely and sad through the soft meadow grasses and trees. But on his way home, something straight.

caught Dave's eye, blowing gently about in the breeze. As soon as he held it, Dave felt his heart sore, the patterns, the colors so bright. It lifted his soul like the far distant stars that he loved to watch twinkle at night. The very next day, Dave began picking flowers of all sorts of colors and hues. bright sunny yellows and deep berry reds, pinks, purples, and luminous blues.

He didn't see Clarence, his brother at all. He kept out of everyone's way, retreating most nights to the depths of his cave, afraid of the things they might say. I reckon he's keeping a secret in there, said a chipmunk. But what could it be? It sounds like he's real busy with something for sure. Keep still and perhaps we might see. One day, Dave felt like his heart might explode, and he knew he was left with no choice.

So he called all the animals there to his den, and he spoke in a trembling voice. I'm just not the same as others, he said, as he stood at the mouth of his cave. I'm not very strong, and I'm not very tough, and I'm certainly not very brave. But there's something that makes me feel happy at last and finally makes me feel true. And he held out a gift for his brother to take. I made it, Dave said.

It's for you. The cloak was the color of wild mountain skies, of the valleys, the rivers, the birds, and all the animals stood there amazing. as they waited for Clarence's words. You made it? said Clarence. You made it for me? I did, Dave replied.

Look, with these. And he showed him the colors he mixed from the flowers and the threads from the grasses and trees. I've never seen anything like it, said Clarence. It's just so bad. Beautiful, Dave! And to speak with such honesty straight from your heart,

well that, let me tell you, that's brave. To know that you're different, but be who you are, have the courage to say it out loud, to go out and find what makes your heart sing. Oh, nothing could make me more proud. Dave felt his body collapsed with relief,

and the animals started to cheer. Then come with me, everyone, quickly, said Dave, I think you might like it in here. The animals followed Dave into his den and couldn't believe what they saw. It was filled with patterns and colors and shades of the magical land they adored. Turquoises, oranges, crimson, and greens,

stripes, circles, and star-shining, bright. The animals each chose a robe for themselves and paraded long into the night. And now, if you go into the forest yourself, please don't be surprised if you see a grizzly or two dressed in dazzling clothes, looking happy as happy can be. The end. Don't forget to stick around to see if you can answer. today's paying attention question before you go do you think you can answer today's paying attention question what did Dave use to make all the colors on his robes if your answer was flowers you did it great great job you sure were paying attention I hope you

enjoyed that story I wonder what we're going to read next