I Believe I Can

Children of every race, creed, and gender have great potential to become whatever they want to be. They will discover their potential through imagination and play, through trying and believing. This book will open children up to the idea of exploring their ideas and stretching their virtual wings. They will see themselves in the charming, vibrant illustrations and hear their voices in the simple rhyming couplets that express the imaginative thoughts of youngsters: “I am like the lion’s roar. I am like a dragon’s flames. / I’m worthy because I’m me, and there is value to my name.” Each couplet is designed to remind children of their valuable contribution to society and their worth as part of the human story. The illustrations capture the tapestry of humankind and represent the true diversity of our country. There are several instances of near rhymes and sometimes the meter is a little off, but the messages are all good for kids to hear and will build confidence and encourage youngsters to try new things. This will be a good read-aloud in kindergarten and early elementary classrooms as well as at home.