Zebra Can Cope - A book about resilience - Author Sue Graves

How do we help children keep going when things get tough?

Zebra Can Cope is a gentle and engaging picture book that introduces the concept of resilience to young children. Zebra tends to worry—especially when things don’t go according to plan. But when a canoeing adventure presents real challenges, she must learn to stay calm, manage her feelings, and keep trying. Can Zebra find a way to cope?

This reassuring story helps children understand that feeling overwhelmed is okay and that with support and problem-solving, they can face difficult situations with confidence. The book also includes practical discussion prompts and activity ideas to extend the conversation beyond the story.

Recommended age: 3–7+ years
Perfect for: home libraries, early years classrooms, PSHE sessions and emotional well-being programs.

Why we—and schools—love it:

• Builds emotional vocabulary: Helps children identify and express their worries and responses.
• Promotes resilience: Offers practical strategies to keep going in the face of setbacks.
• Classroom-ready: Aligned with Early Years and KS1 learning outcomes on emotional development and positive behaviour.

Explore more Behaviour Matters books:

• Lemur Feels Let Down – A Book About Disappointment
• Lion’s in a Flap – A Book About Feeling Worried
• Monkey Needs to Listen – A Book About Paying Attention

Add them to your basket for a complete emotional literacy toolkit!