After the Applause: A Free Printable Picture Book About Sportsmanship and Humility

Bennett wins his game. Then he walks across the field to the opponent who tried to rattle him, holds out his paw, and means it.

A quiet football bear, Bennett arrives early and checks that everyone in the locker room has what they need. He plays hard and follows the rules when no one is looking. He claps for the teammate who scores. He holds his ground against an opponent who tries to make himself bigger, without shrinking and without puffing up. And when the game is won and the crowd goes home, Bennett stops to help a smaller bear gather his dropped papers, hands over his own cleats, then goes home to dinner and a silly joke and stays exactly the bear he was that morning. Gentle and kind.

A child who ties who they are to the scoreboard is on unstable ground whether they win or lose. This book is for the one learning the harder, steadier thing: that character is not what you show the crowd, it is what is left of you after the crowd goes home.

This is an instant digital download to print at home or read on any device. Nothing ships.

It is free. Give a child a bear worth growing toward.