The God-inspired picture book I Am, I Can, I Will, by April Lynn Pelton and Iris Pelton-Hamlett, is intended both to build foundational reading skills and to build positive character traits. On each page there is both a simple and a complex sentence, with the latter containing the wording of the full simple sentence, color-coded for easy identification.

For example, the sentence “I am smart.” is expanded into “I am always willing to learn something new each day, and that makes me smart.” Not only does the expansion show children how to build their thoughts and extend their writing, but it also encourages them to read and identify words several times, thus building their vocabulary by means of repetition.

Sight words, which are commonly used words that children should recognize as they are reading, are given in bold (in the present instance, “to … new each day, and that makes me”), so as to help children identify them during reading. Social and emotional learning words (in this case “learn”) are underlined in the text for discussion, reviewing and the building of positive character traits. Lists of the sight and social and emotional learning words are given at the start of the book, with such lists serving to indicate the contents of the work as a whole.

I Am, I Can, I Will ends in a parent and educator resource section that includes the following: 

helpful reading tips (containing a glossary of reading terms, divided into consonants, vowels (short and long), patterns, word blends, word endings, sight words and high-frequency words, repetition, and syllables, to build phonetic skills); discussion points (guided questions to consider after reading that focus on developing character, with the focus on discussing examples from TV shows, movies, and modeled behavior); a social and emotional learning review of positive character traits that focuses on the words that are underlined throughout the book; an explanation of why good character traits, including respect, responsibility, caring, kindness and helpfulness, count; a description of how kindness matters (focusing on how being kind can keep one healthy and encouraging the reader to practice random acts of kindness daily); positive affirmations for the parent and educator to discuss daily with the child reader for the building of their confidence and character (focusing on affirming who one is and what one can do); and a kid-friendly glossary, explaining the meaning of the more difficult words contained in the text.

The combination of both basic reader and educator/parent guide in a single volume might not appeal to some readers, who would like to have the two separated, but it certainly is a more efficient way of ensuring that the adults involved actually get to read their guide and, hopefully, to apply it systematically.

Having the rationale for the work explained, and having the actual exemplification of the reading system involved provided, within the bounds of the same book is both useful and economical. I love the bright colors and the multicultural portraying of the children pictured in the central core of the book. The illustrations are clear and uncluttered, while showing clearly identifiable scenes to which all children should be able to relate. All in all, I Am, I Can, I Will is a well-conceived book that should attract a wide audience of youngsters and adults/educationalists from across the world.