Courage Tales series: Cam Creates a Hero by Dagmara Sitek, Beefy Goes From Bully to Buddy by Dagmara Sitek

Cam Creates a Hero by Dagmara Sitek

The message of this second instalment of the Courage Tales series is an important one, I just found it a strange and simplified way to get there. 

Cam, the main character in the series, is growing up in a foster home and has bring dreams, but a short fuse. In this story, he draws a robot for school and quickly decides, with his foster siblings, to build him into a real hero-bot. Inspired by a news broadcast about a child in the hospital from parental abuse, this young dreamer wanted to give back in a big way.

Written primarily through dialogue, we see Cam and his siblings get frustrated after a first attempt gone wrong, which lands Cam in the hospital and restless. A dream inspired him to then write a story about Giorgio, the hero bot, and build him that way, instead of physically with recyclables. 

Dreaming big and finding a way to use your skills to give back and help others is a valuable story to tell, I just found it lacking and uncharacteristic of Cam to give up so quickly after his first attempt. I wish there was more input and guidance from the foster mother as well as more plot with respect to fulfilling the time frame. I am also confused by the target audience as it’s intended for 6-12 which seems too big of a gap. While it touches on mature subjects, it doesn’t go into enough depth to hold an older reader’s attention. 

It did somewhat redeem itself with the conclusion, which I won’t spoil, and I love the graphic novel format of this book. I also enjoyed the characters overall, and the Hero Bot is adorable. 

Dagmara Sitek is a Montreal-based mother of two, who is committed to children’s education and emotional well-being. She is passionate about teaching children valuable social and emotional life lessons through her beautifully illustrated, meaningful, and relatable books about children in foster care.Her books are recommended by parents, teachers, school counselors, and social workers to help children overcome social and emotional challenges effectively! Born in Poland, and living in Canada, Dagmara Sitek wears many hats-a mom, a wife, and a digital marketer in her 9-to-5 world. She jumped into writing kids’ books about foster care and difficulties because she realized something important – not all kids get a fair shot at life. Her debut as an author merges childhood passions with a new mission – to bring hope and awareness to children’s struggles and to create deep books for kids about feelings.”Loris Opens Up His Heart” by Dagmara Sitek was inspired by the tragic story of 8-year-old Kamilek from Czestochowa, who died due to mistreatment by his stepfather. It is a testament to the power of empathy and compassion. It models positive interactions and helps kids put themselves in someone else’s shoes. More importantly, it encourages them to help one another and overcome fears.

Lau Frank is a young illustrator and author of children’s books from Aarhus, Denmark. This skilled artist is famous for creating beautiful and captivating book illustrations, much like the beloved animated stories we watch on TV. He’s been drawing forever and dropped out of high school to turn his art passion into full-time work on February 8, 2021. He’s already worked on over 30 books, including three children’s book series he wrote and illustrated for Tellerup.

Publisher: Edition Contes de Courage Dagmara Sitek (September 24, 2024)
Hardcover 10″ x 8″ | 54 pages
Ages 6-12
ISBN: 978-1738128563


Beefy Goes From Bully to Buddy by Dagmara Sitek 

For soccer fans and lovers of graphic novels or comics, Beefy Goes from Bully to Buddy is this edition of Courage Tales by Dagmara Sitek. Once again, I love the idea and the message the story line offers, the characters are relatable and situations all too common, I just want more. 

I can easily see this story line expanded into a middle grade chapter book, and while I would miss the illustrations, I feel the longer story would help the reader stay engaged. With such an important theme, and situations throughout the story, adding plot to it would help me make more sense of it.

The magic, the drama, and the kindness all work together to add suspense and relatability to the circumstances discussed primarily through dialogue, the depth of the message isn’t given justice. 

On the other hand, for the younger of the 6-12 target audience, the brief mention of the more serious topics is done well. As an adult reading this, it’s hard for me to trust when best to read it to my own child as it would be one that starts discussions if presented well. 

A great conversation piece that just deserves more length to fine tune the value.

Dagmara Sitek is a Montreal-based mother of two, who is committed to children’s education and emotional well-being. She is passionate about teaching children valuable social and emotional life lessons through her beautifully illustrated, meaningful, and relatable books about children in foster care.Her books are recommended by parents, teachers, school counselors, and social workers to help children overcome social and emotional challenges effectively! Born in Poland, and living in Canada, Dagmara Sitek wears many hats-a mom, a wife, and a digital marketer in her 9-to-5 world. She jumped into writing kids’ books about foster care and difficulties because she realized something important – not all kids get a fair shot at life. Her debut as an author merges childhood passions with a new mission – to bring hope and awareness to children’s struggles and to create deep books for kids about feelings.”Loris Opens Up His Heart” by Dagmara Sitek was inspired by the tragic story of 8-year-old Kamilek from Czestochowa, who died due to mistreatment by his stepfather. It is a testament to the power of empathy and compassion. It models positive interactions and helps kids put themselves in someone else’s shoes. More importantly, it encourages them to help one another and overcome fears.

Lau Frank is a young illustrator and author of children’s books from Aarhus, Denmark. This skilled artist is famous for creating beautiful and captivating book illustrations, much like the beloved animated stories we watch on TV. He’s been drawing forever and dropped out of high school to turn his art passion into full-time work on February 8, 2021. He’s already worked on over 30 books, including three children’s book series he wrote and illustrated for Tellerup.

Publisher: Edition Contes de Courage Dagmara Sitek (October 10, 2024)
Hardcover 10″ x 8″ | 58 pages
Ages 6-12
ISBN: 978-1738128594

I am a struggling artist, a challenging and challenged mother who always thinks she is failing, an emerging freelance writer and reporter, an author with my name on several books crossing genres and always hoping to find more readers who enjoy them.

I am also a successful artist, a wonderful and thriving mother of one, a reacher towards both people and dreams despite all of the turned backs and obstacles in my way. I am a thriving freelance writer and reporter, an author loved by enough readers to make it worthwhile and a discombobulated conundrum who loves to hear new music, tell new tales and meet new authors. And I’m doing something I always dreamed of doing – reviewing books to support others as well as myself and my family.