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List Price: $16.99 | | Publisher: Joanna Cotler
Salesrank: 3441
Released: September 17, 2002 |
| Our Price: $6.27 |
| Used Price: $2.49 |
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| Media: Hardcover |
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Editorial Review:
Celebrate liking yourself! Through alternating points of view, a girl's and a boy's, Jamie Lee Curtis's triumphant text and Laura Cornell's lively artwork show kids that the key to feeling good is liking yourself because you are you. Like the duo's first New York Times best-seller, Today I Feel Silly and Other Moods That Make My Day, this is an inspired book to rejoice in and share. I'm Gonna Like Me will have kids letting off some self-esteem in no time!
Description of I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem:
Actor Jamie Lee Curtis and winsome illustrator Laura Cornell continue their successful collaboration (Today I Feel Silly, When I Was Little, et al.) with this paean to poise and self-assurance, I'm Gonna Like Me.
The duo sets out to "let off a little self-esteem" by following a seriously self-actualized (and gratifyingly quirky) boy and girl throughout their day on alternating pages. The kids take turns carrying the lines, often switching off midsentence, to describe exactly how and why "I'm gonna like me." (Girl: "I'm gonna like me / when I'm called on to stand. / I know all my letters / like the back of my hand." Boy: "I'm gonna like me / when my answer is wrong, / like thinking my ruler / was ten inches long.") The call and response continues through the action-packed day, as the kids get up, go to school, have lunch, go to a birthday party, etc., until they finally get tucked in--so no opportunity for building self-esteem gets overlooked.
Young readers will like Curtis's words and the rhythmic repetition, but it's Cornell's scribbling, reminiscent of the New Yorker's Roz Chast, that makes the book stand out. From an imagined fashion-show runway walk (love that snooty fashion press) to a hilarious lunch table spread (got to get some of that "Cup o' Lettuce" and "Pork by the Foot" for your Doris Day lunch box), Cornell fills the book with funny faces and lots of laughs (the best of which might be the girl's pet turtle working out in a cage with a treadmill, next to a book titled "Exercising Your Illegal Turtle"). (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes
I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem Reviews:
Inoculating Children Against Peer Comparisons and Set Backs 
2008-11-04 - At bottom, people are inclined to like and approve of themselves. Psychological tests show that: Most people rate themselves in the top quartile of any human capability or activity. In addition, most people marry others who look a lot like them. Even peoples' dogs look a lot like the owners.
But there can be some painful years when we notice that some people are taller, run faster, have different hair and eyes, and can do things we can't so well when it seems like . . . well, maybe somebody made a mistake putting us together.
A parent's love can help inoculate a child's emotions from those assaults, especially when they begin as taunts from other children. As supportive as you might like to be as a parent, I doubt if you will be able to top what Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell have put together in this book for Celebrating a Child's Uniqueness!
Like the best children's books, the text and illustrations pay equal attention to the perspectives of both sexes. Although there is some sex-typing here, if your youngster relates more to rough-and-tumble and is a girl or nice-and-neat and is a boy . . . there's room to see oneself in this book.
As always, I have to praise the details in the illustrations for their extraordinary wit. The boy's bottom bunk contains a box for turning any pet into a Dalmatian-like creature by adding spots. Naturally, this boy is into being a fire fighter. He even uses "Cavity Xtinguisher" toothpaste in a package that looks like a fire extinguisher.
Many children are cowed into wearing whatever the crowd wears. I loved the double-page spread that showed the little girl walking down a runway to applause wearing a nurse's cap, plaid, and lots of flowers while saying, "I'm gonna like me wearing flowers and plaid. I have my own style. I don't follow some fad." As you can tell, she's into nursing.
A lot of children also find giving the wrong answers in school to be humiliating. This book addresses that by having the boy say, "I'm gonna like me when my answer is wrong, like thinking my ruler is ten inches long."
Another terrible experience can come on the playground, picking teams. In this book, here's the advice: "I'm gonna like me when I don't run so fast. Then they pick teams and I'm chosen last."
There's also encouragement for doing good things like returning a lost ring, making a get-well card for a friend, doing chores, running errand, and thanking people for gifts that don't please.
The book ends with this conversation starter:
"I'm gonna like me. I already do! But enough about me--How about YOU?"
Here's where you get to be the encouraging parent for an attentive child who has been warmed up to receive your love and kind thoughts. What could be nicer?
Love This One
2008-07-28 - I love this creative book that I first purchased for my daughter. She was going through some growing pains and this book prompted a lot of conversations. The pictures are great and any age can relate to this wonderful words.
ALL WINNERS, EVERYONE OF THEM
2008-07-21 - My almost 3 year old granddaughter and I just love reading all Jamie's books since they really pertain to those little ones. A pure enjoyment every time.
They're Gonna Like This Book 
2008-03-07 - I read this book to my six year old son. It holds his attention with its detailed illustrations of children who are obviously asserting their individuality and self esteem.
So far, we have several of Jamie Lee Curtis' books and each of them has been wonderful.
I'd recommend it to anyone whose child needs a bit of encouragement in the confidence department.
Good Choice
2007-01-07 - This was purchased for our grandson. He enjoys having it read to him and once again, when he can read it on his own, hopefully will continue to appreciate the intended message.
