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Bravery Starts in the Heart

Step into the world of
Sterling the Knight

Where each tale is a journey with a heartfelt lesson. We crafted our award-winning children’s social emotional learning books to inspire kindness, bravery, empathy, fairness, and understanding through creative storytelling and magical encounters—designed for children ages four to eight.

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Book of the year

2023 “Creative Child’s Magazine” Book of the Year Winner

Catch up on the latest escapades of Sterling and his friends, the RatPack.

Sterling and the Slonefall Tournament | New Release

In the second book of the Sterling The Knight series, three friends learn that bravery starts in the heart. As Sterling and his best friend Maxton begin their training at Wiseamor School of Knights and Chivalry, everyone is talking about the renowned Slonefall Tournament. There’s just one problem: only boys can compete! With Maxton and their new friend Jada, Sterling hatches a plan to stand up for what’s right. But will the plan work?

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Adventure In
Sterling’s World

Explore an interactive map of the Connection Kingdom and meet all the enchanting characters and learn the castles they come from.

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For Parents

Empower your child to understand and express their emotions through the adventurous tales of Sterling the Knight. Teach your children to explore their values, communicate feelings, and practice empathy and fairness. These stories are an opportunity for connection and to engage your kids in conversations about life’s essential lessons.

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Educators and Therapists

Educators & Therapists

Use the Sterling The Knight series of social emotional learning books to enrich your educational curriculum or therapy setting. Our books are perfect tools for teaching children about bravery, empathy, fairness, and justice through stories that resonate with the experiences and imaginations of children ages four to eight.

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Testimonials

Testimonials

Enjoy a few of our featured testimonials from Bravehearts like you!

“I read this book to my kindergartener. In his words “it’s a book about helping others”. This book is well written and easy to understand. I definitely want to get a copy of this book for my child’s kindergarten’s classroom.”

-Nancy A.

“A book well written. I am a pre-K teacher (4-5 years old) at Lightbridge Academy, NJ. The #1 rule in my classroom is KINDNESS and never to judge anyone by the way they look. I can’t wait to read this to my children. They are going to love it!!!!!”

-Lisa B.

“I recommend reading this book at schools and in school skills groups because of the great message of empathy. I also liked the addition of the main character doing research at the library, The illustrations have great depictions of a variety of facial expressions that can be discussed with the group as an extension activity. ”

-Stephie

“Adults and children alike can take a message of empathy from Sterling and Nugget the Dragon! A wonderful read with my niece and nephew – we all looked at things differently after reading. Beautiful illustrations – well done!”

-AO

“I highly recommend the Sterling The Knight book series for children’s emotional and social development. These engaging adventures encourage curiosity and self-discovery, emphasizing the significance of authentic connections. As a result, children feel safe, seen, and valued.”

-Dr. Susan Penning, PhD., LCSW

“A wonderful picture book with adventure and friendship! Sterling has heard a lot about dragons but that doesn’t stop him from making an unlikely friendship with Nugget The illustrations were great and drew my youngest reader right in. The length and pace of the story was perfect to keep a young reader’s attention!”

-Elizabeth J.

Featured Sterling stories

Dominic D.

Dominic was all smiles while reading Sterling The Knight. Sterling The Knight was a beautiful story that teaches kids about kindness.

Alexis T.

We love this children’s picture book series! Each story introduces important social and emotional skills, like empathy and fairness, in a way kids truly connect with. My son especially loved the dragon and Sterling’s journey as a hero. He even joked about trading his Spider-Man costume to be a knight with a sword! These books spark his imagination while teaching valuable lessons, and we’re so grateful for them.

Kendra S.

Sterling the Knight and friends inspire our family’s bedtime with tales of kindness, empathy, and bravery. Nugget the dragon is a beacon of connection and fuzziness that has us all giggling by the end of storytime.

Samantha A.

Couldn’t recommend this book enough! The storyline is so cute and really brings kids along for a fun adventure. The characters all have their own special touch and really come to life. It teaches children the importance of being their true selves. My son’s favorite go to book to read before bed!

Brianna A.

Loved reading this book to my daughter! It’s a great story that teaches children the important values in life, especially kindness. The illustrations are so mesmerizing and beautiful. My daughter’s favorite part is pointing at all the characters, especially Pip the Dalmatian or as she says “puppy.” Couldn’t recommend this series enough and can’t wait to keep reading it for years to come!

Laurencia D.

Salvatore and I had a fantastic time reading Sterling and Nugget the Dragon. The story captivated his imagination, especially with the exciting adventures of Sterling and his dragon friend, Nugget. We both enjoyed discussing the characters and their bravery, and it became a cherished part of our reading time together. We can’t wait for the next adventure!

Chris and Jody D.

Our grandson Niko loved both books and is in constant rotation for our nightly reads. It is the kind of book kids love to hear, and adults enjoy reading.

Natalia S.

My son was so moved by the story that when the dragon was hurt, he kissed the dragon to show empathy. It was a beautiful moment of mirroring in action, and the book truly sparked his sense of kindness and compassion.

Shauna P.

We absolutely love the Sterling the Knight children’s book series! Each adventure sparks joy and curiosity, making reading time a favorite in our home. These stories teach valuable lessons and the illustrations are incredible! Highly recommended for any young reader!

Marissa P.

Highly recommend Sterling the Knight to add to your reading rotation! It’s a really cute story with captivating illustrations and a great message- teaching kids about kindness and empathy. My son is 2 and while he doesn’t quite grasp it fully yet, he has started to recognize the characters and is so excited to hear me read the story; he even flips through the pages on his own. It’s one of the books I really enjoy reading as a mom and I can’t recommend it enough.

Share your story

Sterling and his RatPack bring the magic of connection and lessons about empathy to families and classrooms. Together, we’re creating a ripple effect of kindness, authenticity, and connection—a community of brave hearts. Share your story to be featured and inspire readers, big and small.

“The bravest thing you can do is tell someone how you’re feeling.”

-Judd Shaw

Judd Shaw

Judd Shaw

is on a quest to sprinkle positivity—through authentic connections—across the globe. Learn how our various initiatives align with your educational, therapeutic, or parenting goals.

ABOUT JUDD