Spotlight: The American Dream of Braven Young by Brooke Raybould and illustrated by Juan Manuel Moreno
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Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 56
Ages: 6-10
Motivated by a mission to celebrate and teach children American values, The American Dream of Braven Young (February 2022; ISBN 9781737079651) takes readers on a journey to discover the meaning of freedom through a thrilling fictional adventure story.
Since 2018, Raybould has been sharing her insights as a wife and mother of four boys with an audience that has grown to almost 240,000 people on Instagram.
Her experience of raising a family in Washington D.C. has provoked many questions and conversations about American values with her own children, giving Brooke the inspiration to write The American Dream of Braven Young.
The American Dream of Braven Young tells the story of a boy named Braven Young who begins to question what his dad, a U.S. Senator, does all day long. Braven asserts that if he were “free to do whatever he wanted”, like his dad, he would make different decisions. This leads Braven on an adventure to understand and define the meaning of “freedom.” Braven falls into a dream that lands him in Washington, DC. He, along with all children, are granted their wish: freedom to do anything they please! Along this journey, Braven discovers that freedom is much more than what he thought it was. Freedom is not about doing whatever you want; it is a responsibility to do what is right.
As Raybould explains, “My hope in writing The American Dream of Braven Young is that young children and families can learn about and celebrate American values. While America is not perfect, it is an extraordinary place and stands for ideals that can serve as building blocks to a meaningful life!”
The American Dream of Braven Young highlights the importance of American values in a story that will excite and captivate young minds.
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About Brooke Raybould
Brooke Raybould was born and raised in Orange County, California. She attended The University of Southern California, where she graduated with a degree in Business Administration. In 2016, Brooke went on to receive her MBA from Georgetown University in Washington D.C., where she currently resides with her husband Ryan and their four boys. Despite her many achievements, this chapter of her life as a “mama” is her favorite one yet! For nearly 5 years, Brooke has been documenting and sharing her joy-filled journey through marriage and motherhood with what has grown to be almost 240,000 followers on her Instagram page, @thesouthernishmama. The American Dream of Braven Young is her first book. Her hope is that it will inspire children to cherish and uphold American values, no matter their background.
About Juan Manuel Moreno
Juan is originally from Buenos Aires. As a young boy, he was always drawn to creating images. His first “job” was to color his newborn brother’s head in bright felt pens. He spent most of his childhood years living in the countryside and cultivating his passion for painting. After studying graphic design, he lectured at the university and worked as an in-house illustrator for different studios with clients ranging from Warner, Disney, Conspiracy and Scholastic. In 2003, Juan and his wife, Patricia decided to travel the Americas and ended up living in different countries. In 2006, they finally crossed the pond and decided to stay in Barcelona, where he started a career as a freelance illustrator.
