Author Caroline Blakeslee Announces the Launch of Brave Like Sunny

COLUMBIA, SC, July 16, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ — Caroline Blakeslee, a South Carolina-based children’s author, artist, and advocate for social-emotional learning, has officially announced the release of her debut picture book, Brave Like Sunny. Available now through the author’s official website, the book is a warmly illustrated story about a little dog named Sunny who discovers that bravery does not mean being fearless; it means showing up anyway, one small wag at a time.

Sunny is the happiest puppy on Sweet Gum Road. He has one blue eye for spotting butterflies and one brown eye for finding snacks, and every day is a new adventure he can’t wait to wag through. But when Sunny wakes up one morning feeling different, tired, wobbly, not quite himself, he discovers a harder kind of courage: the courage to keep going when the wag feels far away. With his beloved toy Lambie tucked under his chin, Sunny makes his way to the vet’s office, where a kind nurse named Nonie greets him with bubbles, peanut-butter treats, and the reassurance that bravery simply means showing up. Along the way, he meets a new friend in Bootsie the kitten, finds laughter in the hard moments, and slowly, morning by morning, finds his sunshine again.

Written and illustrated entirely by Blakeslee, Brave Like Sunny is rooted in the belief that children going through illness, medical treatment, or difficult seasons deserve stories that reflect their experience without minimizing it. The book speaks honestly about the difference between cloudy days and bright ones, about resting as its own form of bravery, and about the quiet kind of sparkle that shows up in laughter, in listening, and in keeping going through the hard stuff. At the same time, it does so with warmth, humor, and a cast of characters so full of life that even the toughest reader will find themselves smiling at Lambie falling off the bed.

“Brave Like Sunny came from a place of deep personal truth. I have lived through years of illness, loss, and grief, and what carried me through was the same thing Sunny discovers: that courage is not loud. It is the quiet decision to wag anyway, even when you don’t feel like it. I wanted children who are sick, or scared, or simply having a hard day to see themselves in Sunny and to know that what they are doing, showing up, is the bravest thing in the world.”
— Caroline Blakeslee, Author

Blakeslee brings to this book not only her considerable artistic talent, every illustration in Brave Like Sunny is rendered in her distinctive watercolor and ink style, but a life experience that gives the story its emotional precision. She studied studio art and 3D studies at the University of South Carolina. She pursued graduate work in art education and psychology, building a career dedicated to helping children process emotion through creativity. When her own health made traditional classroom work difficult to sustain, she turned to what she had always known: making things. The result is a book that carries the weight of real feeling while remaining entirely joyfully accessible to the youngest readers.

Brave Like Sunny is dedicated to the brave kids and grown-ups who find light on the cloudy days, and to Milo, whose courage and spirit inspired the story. It is an ideal addition to hospital and clinic waiting rooms, pediatric care collections, school counselor shelves, and any home library where children need a story that shows their struggles are seen, their bravery is real, and their sunshine is still there, even when they can’t quite see it yet. Educators, child life specialists, librarians, and parents will find it a natural companion to conversations around medical courage, resilience, emotional regulation, and the enduring value of friendship.

Brave Like Sunny is available now at booksbycarolineb.com. For media inquiries, school visit requests, bulk orders, or review copy requests, visit the official website or use the contact page at booksbycarolineb.com/contact-us.

About Caroline Blakeslee

Caroline Blakeslee is a South Carolina-based children’s author and illustrator whose work sits at the intersection of art, psychology, and emotional storytelling. She studied studio art and 3D studies at the University of South Carolina. She pursued graduate work in art education and psychology, with a career rooted in helping children process emotion through creativity. After years of personal loss, illness, and the particular grief of losing the life she had planned, she found her way back through making things, and Brave Like Sunny is the story that emerged. Blakeslee writes and illustrates every page herself, bringing the same warmth, precision, and hard-won hope to the art as to the words. For updates on upcoming titles, event appearances, or to learn more about the book, visit booksbycarolineb.com.

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