Meet Our Heroes!
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. They can be parents and grandparents, teachers and neighbors, friends and relatives, even people we don’t know. Here you’ll meet the heroes of our stories and how they’ve helped others. Sometimes, we learn that even the smallest acts of kindness can be heroic.
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A HERO
Anyone can be a hero, any day. Sometimes heroism is a physical act like helping someone who needs a hand or sharing resources. Sometimes it is problem-solving, demonstrating courage, or showing strength in a difficult situation. You can even be heroic by just showing up for someone who needs support or responding to someone else’s needs with love and concern. More often, the most heroic acts are simply kindness, listening, and showing respect.
MEET SOME OF OUR HEROES!
HERO THE HERON
Known to the locals as Henry, and as Heronymus to others, Hero the Heron lives on a barrier island in Florida. He is an accomplished fisherman, a popular attraction for beach goers, and a persistent sidekick of the local fisher people. In a children’s story of self-discovery, Heronymus became a dancer and a hero.
CLICK ON HERO TO SEE MORE PHOTOS
PIPER THE PELICAN
Piper is a very sociable one-year-old brown pelican. She was born in a nest in the mangrove trees near the ocean. She spends her days fishing close to shore and hanging out at the fishing docks with dozens of other pelicans and shorebirds. When faced with a challenge, she musters her courage to ask for help from her friends and brings out the best in everyone as she discovers her own skills.
CLICK ON PIPER TO SEE MORE PHOTOS
MORE HEROES FROM OUR STORIES
ROSIE THE ROYAL TERN
Rosie the Royal Tern is a wise and often talkative shorebird identified by her ragged stand-up head feathers and her tangerine-colored bill. Rosie introduces Heronymus to his shadow which begins their friendship and his self-discovery as a dancing bird.
LARRY THE LAUGHING GULL
Larry Laugh Gull is the silliest and the loudest character in Piper’s story. Laughing Gulls live along the shore and are known to be friendly scavengers, so it is not surprising that Larry is eager to protect his friend by crafting a protector pail for her head. What a crazy idea! But Piper knows, Larry is one of her heroes.
PIPER’S PARENTS
Piper’s parents are always there for her when she needs them the most. They raised her from a chick and do their best to keep her healthy and happy. Whether it’s encouraging her to catch fish, make new friends, or just be herself, they play the most important role in her life, which is truly heroic.
Share Your Hero Story!
Do you have a special hero in your life who you’d like to tell us about? Maybe it’s a teacher, or a neighbor, or a relative who helped you with advice or even just by being there to listen. We’d like to hear about YOUR heroes and might just feature them on Heroes Imagined. Just fill out the form below and tell us your story. We’ll then contact you about it.
SUBMIT YOUR PERSONAL HERO STORY
WE RESPECT YOUR PRIVACY
When you submit a personal hero story to Heroes Imagined, we will never print your full name. We will also do our best to honor any special requests to further protect your identity or the identity of others. We will never add the names of minors to our mailing list.
For more information, please read our PRIVACY POLICY.
VISIT THE SANCTUARY
“Hero the Heron here. Stop by for a visit and enjoy your stay!” Our sanctuary is where you’ll learn fun facts about shorebirds, read everyday hero stories, pick up some helpful tips, and find links to other fun and informative websites.
BUY THE BOOKS!
Piper Pelican Discovers Her Courage (and a Whole Lot More)
A determined and likable young brown pelican shows us how asking for help leads to valuable lessons and self-discovery in this creative and engaging children’s book.
This is a beautifully illustrated and fun children’s story about courage, differences, and the possibilities of being a hero any day through kindness, friendship, and being yourself. Read how Piper overcomes the challenges of learning something new with the help and encouragement of her hero friends.
Heronymus Heron Discovers His Shadow (and a Whole Lot More)
An unusual children’s book about Heronymus, a clever great blue heron, who felt different and alone — that is, until his shadow and friends convinced him otherwise.
Heronymus Heron’s story is one of self-discovery. The likable heron’s journey encourages children to celebrate what makes them unique, treasure their relationships, and value our differences. Beautifully illustrated with original photographs, Hero’s tale invites children to find the hero in themselves and others.