Reviews

I Believe I Can by Grace Byers, Keturah A. Bobo

jlwlm12's review against another edition

5.0

So empowering! I will be buying this book for my 7th grade math classroom to kick off each semester! Students just need a boost of confidence and this book is a great lead!

danicapage's review against another edition

3.75

I liked her book "I Am Enough" better, but I am always looking for children's books with positive messages like this one. I loved the uplifting message, the diversity, and the theme. For those looking for an uplifting book for their children, this is a good one.

storielore's review against another edition

i read this with the kid i tutor

not me tearing up because of this.

chekman's review against another edition

3.0

Though I was, personally, not a big fan of the rhyme scheme used, the message of this book is great and the illustrations are beautiful and energetic. I appreciated the author and illustrator's committment to representing many different identities - racial, ethnic, abilities, size, and more; however, I felt that more could have been done to make the book more inclusive. By my count (and I could be off as some children were shown more than once) there were 54 individuals represented in the book, which I felt provides room for more representation. For example, there were only three children that seemed to potentially have physical disabilities and/or differences. There was one child in a (nonmotorized) wheelchair, one with a service dog, and one that seemed to be using sign language. There's no reason why there couldn't be more than one child who uses a wheelchair, more children shown who use other types of physical aids, a child with an insulin pump, perhaps there is a way to show a child with autism (maybe by having them wear noise-canceling headphones), etc.. I would have also loved to see more inclusion of children across the gender spectrum - most, if not all, seemed to fit on the gender binary. (Side note, in the author's bio it states that the book "celebrates both boys and girls". I don't know that the exclusion in that statement of gender non-conforming, non-binary, and gender queer kids was intentional, but it is disappointing.

Though at times this book seemed to fall - perhaps unintentionally - into tokenism (only representing particular groups or identities through one person/character), it still shows more diversity than many books out there. All in all I would recommend this book to other readers because of the positive message, wonderful illustrations, and the commitment to diversity that was included.

antlersantlers's review against another edition

4.0

Really sweet picture book that tackles big stuff but is still readable for a baby & toddler story time. The rhyme scheme definitely slants in some spots and completely falls off in others, but if you read it slow enough (emphasizing the individual statements) then it doesn't really matter. I really like the illustrations too. They remind me of [b:How Do You Dance?|43909011|How Do You Dance?|Thyra Heder|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550931159l/43909011._SX50_.jpg|68327196] but not quite as polished? That's not intended as a criticism of either book, because I think each suits the text perfectly.

locdbooktician's review against another edition

fast-paced

5.0

mrojassilva's review against another edition

4.0

So important to have diversity in illustrations for children's books! The message is beautiful and the variety of children depicted is very nice

msmecarr's review against another edition

5.0

Another empowering book by Grace Byers. I'm thrilled to share this with the students in my school. So wonderful to see diversity, a positive growth mindset message, and affirmations of "I Believe I Can"!

pagesandpurls's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

jmshirtz's review against another edition

5.0

A wonderful message coupled with beautiful illustrations.