I WILL!

Children make promises to ensure the happiness and well-being of others and themselves.

The short text is a series of statements on brightly colored backgrounds: “I will be kind to others”; “I will be kind to myself”; “I will help those in need / and ask for help when I need it.” Sometimes the cartoon illustrations, with strong black outlines that match the hand-lettered text, expand the meaning of the text. When a baseball player’s ball breaks a vase, the text reads: “I will tell the truth, even if it’s hard.” Sometimes they tell a whole story in a few images, as in the last three double-page spreads, when two kids say: “I will join with you / to make this a better world / for everyone.” After an illustration of two kids holding hands, the page turn reveals a busy street with many adults and children helping one another: A sighted man helps a blind person cross the street; firefighters are at work protecting people; a kid pets a cat; another kid waters some plants. The last spread highlights all the children seen throughout the book. The racially diverse cast includes one kid who wears glasses and another who uses a wheelchair. An opening page has a space for kids to sign their names and pledge to “keep this promise as best as I can.” (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Encouraging words and pictures will help kids make good choices.