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Luiza: A Story of Courage
← Children’s books New · 2026

Luiza: A Story of Courage

When the fear of making mistakes takes over at school

English edition and Portuguese edition (Luiza, uma história de coragem) · 2026

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The book

Luiza has a secret: a fear that tightens her chest, makes her hands shake and makes her want to disappear when something goes wrong. At school, she believes she has to get everything right, that making mistakes is dangerous and that the others will laugh.

With her teacher, her friends and the story of the monarch butterfly, she slowly discovers that courage is not the absence of fear, but moving forward even when fear is there. A book about school, emotions, connection and growth — because learning is also feeling. The book ends with a certificate of courage, a letter the child can write to themselves, a note for parents and educators, a note for psychotherapists and a theoretical afterword on how the book was built.

Three threads

01The fear of making mistakesPerfectionism and performance anxiety seen from inside a child: the body tightening, thoughts racing, the wish to hide.
02CourageCourage is not the absence of fear: it is taking a step while fear is there. Luiza learns she is the author of her story and that she can choose.
03School as a place of connectionAn attentive teacher, friends who also make mistakes, a butterfly that transforms: learning is also feeling and being accompanied.

A glimpse inside

“This is Luiza. She is a girl who enjoys many things: playing at the park, listening to stories, and discovering new words.”
Page 1 “This is Luiza. She is a girl who enjoys many things: playing at the park, listening to stories, and discovering new words.”
“Fear may show up — the teacher said. — But you don’t have to obey everything it says.”
Page 16 “Fear may show up — the teacher said. — But you don’t have to obey everything it says.”
“I am the author of my story. And in this story, I choose courage.”
Page 32 “I am the author of my story. And in this story, I choose courage.”

« I am the author of my story. And in this story, I choose courage. »

Luiza

How to use this book with children

This book can be read at home, in class or in session with children who fear mistakes or judge themselves harshly. During or after reading, you can:

  • ask the child where fear shows up in their body, as it does for Luiza;
  • spot together the thoughts that say “I have to get everything right” and look for other possible sentences;
  • fill in the certificate of courage offered at the end of the book;
  • write, like Luiza, a letter to themselves for the hard days.

The notes for parents and educators and for psychotherapists, and the theoretical afterword, offer activities and guidance to extend the reading.

Where to buy Printed book. Choose your edition, then the store closest to you:
English editionAmazon USAAmazon CanadaUICLAP (Brazil)
Portuguese editionAmazon USAAmazon CanadaUICLAP (Brazil)

Also on other Amazon stores (UK, France, Brazil, etc.): search the title or the code — English edition : B0GMQL9MDT · Portuguese edition : B0GMJSVYQC

For group orders (schools, clinics, libraries) or a signed copy, write to us. Contact us
Helena Pinheiro Jucá-Vasconcelos

The author

Helena Pinheiro Jucá-Vasconcelos is a psychologist and Gestalt therapist (OPQ #15704-25, Quebec; CRP 05/34161, Brazil) and the founder of the Gestalt Therapy Institute of Sherbrooke. She is also co-author and editor of the book Educação Emocional Positiva and the author of other picture books, born from the same sensitive listening and the desire to translate human experiences into language accessible to children.

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