In a time when children’s literature is increasingly tasked with not just entertaining but also empowering, Captain Courage & The 7Cs steps into the tide.
Captain Courage is a story of resilience, navigating challenges (the “7 Cs”) and emerging stronger than you were before. In keeping with the themes inherent within the work, this book was published through the efforts of community-partner collaborations, including Pownal Street Press, The Rotary Literacy Foundation and the PEI Sexual Assault Centre. This kind of structural support is key to connecting story to social impact, something author Candace Hagen is deeply in tune with.
We are delighted to share our interview with Candace in which she discusses how this vibrant children’s book came to life through partnership with Pownal Street Press, and how a full-scale puppet show and book-tour tied to the launch helped bring the story’s message of resilience to life for young readers.
What inspired Captain Courage & The 7C’s ?
Captain Courage, which began as a Theatre for Young Audiences script, was born from a conversation with local artist Becca Griffin. We talked about the power of theatre (and art more broadly) to convey complex ideas in ways that feel accessible and relatable, and about the remarkable capacity of tiny humans to absorb and understand those ideas. Setting sail with Dr. Ginsburg’s 7Cs of Resiliency as our compass, the map of the “seven seas,” the pirates, and the sea creatures they encounter emerged naturally.
How did you come to partner with Pownal Street Press for this book, and why did you think we were a good fit?
For both Rachel and me, working with a woman-owned and woman-led business was incredibly important. We knew we had a unique concept with our motley crew, and after reviewing the PSP website and noting their focus on children’s books and telling brave stories, we knew we had found the right publisher for us.
Can you describe a significant moment during the editorial or design process, for example revising the text, choosing the format, or working with illustrators or designers?
I quickly realized that, as a writer embarking on crafting a children’s book for the first time, I was hard-pressed to “spare all my darlings”, rather than the commonly suggested and brutal alternative. Children’s authors need to be succinct and intentional as they choose their words. I found crafting each sentence excruciating—an exaggeration—but with the rad women at Pownal Street Press at the helm, we got there. (Although in the end we did make the book longer overall, to accommodate more of the darlings mentioned above, for which I’m grateful.)
What were the biggest challenges you faced in creating this picture book— whether conceptual, emotional, or logistical—and how did you overcome them?
Writing a book about resilience for children was emotionally complex. In an ideal world, children would not need to be resilient, yet globally, some are asked to carry far more than others because of systems and violence beyond their control. I held that tension by framing resilience not as toughness or endurance, but as something collective. In Captain Courage, resilience grows through connection, care, and shared responsibility, not survival in isolation.
The book has a broader social component, including a puppet show, launch events and community outreach. How did that extra layer of engagement shape your vision for the book?
Captain Courage and her comrades existed initially through theater. The book emerged as a way to extend the story’s reach and make it more accessible. The puppet show, school tours and community events shaped the book’s tone and accessibility through real relationships with children and educators. Those experiences affirmed my belief that consent-based learning and prevention are rooted in collective care.
What do you hope young readers (and their grown-ups) will take away from the story of Captain Courage?
I hope young readers come away with language for their feelings and the understanding that asking for help is part of courage. For grown-ups, I hope the book is a reminder that resilience is not something children are responsible for building alone. Through its characters and world, the story quietly challenges power, centres listening, and reflects a more expansive, inclusive vision of leadership and care. Ultimately, I hope it opens up space for meaningful conversations across generations.
Finally, for anyone interested in booking the puppet show, hosting a reading, or ordering copies, what’s the best way to connect with you?
The puppet show is currently docked and charting its return for the 2027–2028 school year. For book orders in the meantime, you can send a message in a bottle to candace@peirsac.org. We’re also hopeful Captain Courage will soon be spotted on the shelves of local booksellers.
Learn how Pownal Street Press supports author-led, mission-driven publishing projects and explore how you can publish a vibrant children’s book that combines story, social purpose and outreach at pownalstreetpress.com.