Strong and Brave is a comforting children’s book designed to help kids understand what happens during surgery—before, during, and after—in a gentle, kid-friendly way.
For Blake, surgery feels like facing a dragon. As the day unfolds, children are guided through the stages of surgery alongside him: preparing for the hospital, meeting doctors and nurses, going to sleep, waking up afterward, and beginning to heal. Through imagination and simple explanations, the unknown becomes more understandable and less scary.
With his favorite stuffed animal, his family by his side, and God always with him, Blake learns that being strong doesn’t mean pretending not to be afraid. Being brave means facing hard moments with faith, love, and support—one step at a time.
This story gently reminds children that God is with them in the waiting. Parents and caregivers will appreciate how the book opens conversations about surgery.
Strong and Brave: Blake Has Surgery is especially helpful for children preparing for:
- Surgery
- Hospital stays or anesthesia
- Big, unknown, or intimidating experiences
Ideal for ages 2–9, this reassuring story helps children feel informed, loved, and brave—on surgery day and beyond.
Courtney TenBarge is a mom, wife, and entrepreneur. She is the owner of Encompass Solutions, LLC and the author of the Strong and Brave children's books, created to help kids understand and feel prepared for surgery in a gentle and reassuring way.Courtney knows firsthand what surgery can feel like for a child. She was born with a highly vascular hemangioma on her face and has undergone 28 surgeries throughout her life, the majority as a child. Through those experiences, she has faced everything from quick procedures to long hospital stays and difficult recoveries.Later, when both of her children needed surgery to remove their tonsils, Courtney experienced surgery from a completely different perspective-that of a parent. She quickly realized she would rather go through the surgeries herself than watch her children face them. That experience helped inspire the Strong and Brave series, written to help families replace fear with understanding, comfort, and courage.Courtney lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, Clint, their twins Blake and Brooklyn, and their Shih Tzu, Guinny. She enjoys family time, walks on local trails, watching movies, and spending time with friends by the pool.Courtney is also deeply involved in her community. She serves with Warrick Trails, a nonprofit dedicated to building trails throughout Warrick County, and sits on the boards of the Warrick Parks Foundation, Vice President of the Warrick County Economic Development and President of the Warrick County Redevelopment Committee. She is passionate about continuing to improve the community her family calls home.The books are dedicated to the incredible people who have been by Courtney's side through every challenge, surgery, and triumph. Without them, none of this would be possible.
