When little Maria learns she is going to the hospital to have her right arm fixed, she feels small in a very big day, but she is not alone. With her bunny tucked close, a calm and loving mother by her side, a supportive father nearby, and the cheerful kindness of Nurse Chatty Cathy waiting to welcome her, Maria begins a gentle journey that helps very young children understand that bravery can be soft, quiet, and full of love. The story is designed for ages 3 to 5 and centers on courage during a first surgery in an everyday family hospital setting.

As the story moves from checking in to meeting Nurse Chatty Cathy, Maria learns how comfort can come in small, steady ways: a warm blanket, a reassuring smile, a soft voice, kind helpers, and the simple words she whispers to herself, “I am Brave.” The operating room is presented as warm, peaceful, and caring, never frightening, and Doctor Fix-it becomes another gentle guide who helps Maria feel safe as she goes through “fixing my arm.”

After surgery, Maria wakes to the loving faces of her mother and father, with Nurse Chatty Cathy smiling beside them and Doctor Fix-it praising her with words that affirm her strength and success. The emotional heart of the book is not only that Maria’s arm is fixed, but that she discovers she can do hard things when she is surrounded by tenderness, trust, and care.

The story closes at home in the safest possible way: Maria wrapped in a cozy blanket, cuddling her bunny, smiling with her family, and resting peacefully with her bright pink cast decorated by Nurse Chatty Cathy’s signature and hearts. The final feeling is relieved, happy, peaceful, and safe, leaving young readers with a comforting message that courage does not have to look loud to be real. Sometimes courage is a whisper, a bunny hug, and one brave little voice saying, “I am Brave.”