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Buddy Brax is a new kids’ books series written and illustrated by Caldron Pool founder Ben R. Davis.

In Book 1, Brax and the Somewhat Old Treehouse, kids learn the adage: pride comes before a fall.

Tired of living in the same old sturdy treehouse built by his granddad, Brax convinces himself to tear it down.

Telling himself he can build back better, Brax’s enthusiasm for throwing out the old takes over.

“What Gramps built was fine, when it was new,” he exclaims, “But times have changed, and this house should too!”

After hacking away at Gramps’ tried-and-true structure, Brax is left with a ruin, instead of a grand design.

His alternative to what Granddad had built to be strong, safe, and sure, is revealed by the rain to be weak, dangerous, and insecure.

Brax’s rushed rebuild then comes crashing down.

Life Lessons

He then looks at the rubble, and laments,

“The windows were too BIG, the entrance too WIDE, There was no shelter from the storm inside.”

“Gramps was right after all – everything had a purpose, no matter how small.”

Reflecting on the destruction, he remarks,

“Every beam, every post, every pillar that stood high, was put there for a reason, though I didn’t know why.”

Brax’s journey translates into an enjoyable, easy-to-understand, multifaceted lesson for kids about respect, gratitude, humility, contentment, and conservation.

What I like most about this promising new series is Brax’s readability.

Like Easter Eggs in the virtual world, there are hidden lessons on almost every page.

For example, alongside pride comes before a fall, there’s the important adage, new doesn’t always mean better.

Here, Ben helps kids see the importance of recognising the sacrifice of others and the responsibility we all have as caretakers of what others have lovingly built.

Additional depth is added by Psalm 127:1’s hidden metaphor illustrating the biblical warning against leaping before we look.

Deeper Meaning

As seen in his work for The Spectator Australia’s print magazine, Buddy Brax’s key features include Ben’s unique use of colour coordination, framing, and illustrations.

Other qualities this book delivers are the use of clever rhyme and a discernible clear narrative arch.

Notably, like much of its bonus hidden content, at the end of the book is a lesson in how to draw Brax.

Adding to these selling points is how mums and dads can benefit, too.

Ben’s story is about how discontent can quickly become contempt.

Adults are reminded to cherish healthy traditions and preserve the foundations for freedoms that previous generations fought hard to conserve.

Like an onion, Brax’s layers make this book much more than a kid’s reader.

This is a theological critique of the entire socio-political hubris, which, like Brax, is hacking away at the foundations of Christian civilisation.

These hidden layers of quiet criticism lift Ben’s first kids’ reader into an entirely different category.

Buddy Brax is completely original.

Having served up many a bedtime story to my five kids over the years, I can state without a doubt that this is a conversation starter that won’t knock dad or granddad into an instant nap.

This is fun, quality kids’ entertainment with an exciting educational edge.

Book 2: Buddy Brax and the Boxed Bike, is set for release in the coming few months.