I Like Me!

By Katie Rhoades

“Sing and snap along to the words in this rhyming picture book as one child shares her excitement, learning to be positive about all of her unique attributes.”

A fun and interactive children’s book, I Like Me! shares the story of a child who understands the importance of self-love. It helps kids of all ages find their special features and appreciate themselves for who they are. The coordinating song can be found free on YouTube.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Jan 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9781480886568

Katie Rhoades

Katie is married and has two delightful children, and together they reside in Sunny St. George, Utah. Katie loves to dance, sing, be in nature, be silly, and try new things! Most of all she loves her family and God! This book is one of her new adventures and she hopes to continue spreading truth and joy to others!

Book preview

Reviews for I Like Me!

[zfrid-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book for a few reasons. First, I love the illustrations and how they come to life throughout the whole story. I also liked that the book showed children it is okay to like yourself and be your own best friend. This book shows children that it is okay to do things by yourself. I also really like that the book ended by saying "I'll always be me, and I like that!!!" It is important for children to know that there is nothing wrong with being yourself and loving who you are.

[shane54-3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very easy read, but great for young children & self-esteem issues. The book briefly discusses how to take care of oneself: brushing teeth, eating good food, keeping clean, etc. The book also talks about trying again after making mistakes. The book ends with the importance of being yourself:)

[kelsey_barrell-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was one of my all time favorite books growing up. I love the message the book offers and the way it makes me feel when I read it. The overall message of this book is self-acceptance and the main character of the book is a pig which makes it cute and funny for the kids. On each page, the pig tells the reader each reason for why she likes herself. I believe it is important to feel good about yourself and this book helps you think about that.

[the_airtwit · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Hey, everyone, meet Nancy Carlson’s pig.

This pig does not have a name or proper hands (because she’s a pig!), but that can’t stop her–nothing can. She bakes cakes! And when she makes a mistake, she tries and tries again. (Meaning: more cake!) She is her own best friend, she likes her round tummy, and best of all: she reads good books by herself (like me). This little pig was my childhood idol. This book is the very same book I clutched every night before seizing my mother’s arm, demanding, “Read to me, now.”

I’m taking a class that requires us to create a children’s self-esteem book, which naturally transports me back to the “Hi, good-looking!” days.

This may have been the only children’s self-esteem book I have read (and remember), but I paid attention to messages past classes have declared in their books. What I notice is this: “I have lots of friends, because I’m a great listener!” or “I love playing on the basketball team, because I am good at it!” The latter is then followed by a picture of a kid surrounded by a cheering crowd, of course, but other people aren’t always around to help give someone a confidence boost. Not everyone wants to boost someone’s confidence. Having sharp ears and the ability to pay attention to words hopping out of mouths is a particular trait one can feel proud about, sure. Athletically gifted? Well, I envy you. It’s great to have pride in your good traits, but what if you don’t have friends? Who’s going to care about your listening skills then? What about accepting yourself as a whole?

Carlson’s I Like Me shows that esteem and inner-strength comes from you and you alone. I was a shy, quiet girl who enjoyed solitary activities. (“What, Mrs. Foster? Why must I play Sorry with those kids? This drawing requires my full attention, and mine alone.”) Hence, that is why I was so damned smitten with this book. It’s not that I was incapable of socializing, and I had friends, but I preferred to be alone. As a loner child and Power Rangers enthusiast, The Pig spoke to me. The Pig said, “It’s okay that you wanted to role-play the black Power Ranger and not the yellow or pink. Those girls are snots, and the blue school bus you drew earlier is just fine. Oh, no, no–don’t listen to your mother! You made a mistake on that last cake. Of course you need to bake another!”

So you see, Nancy Carlson created my hero. Her fearless pig taught me that oral hygiene and bath time are essential, that it’s all right if I’m a nightmare-chef, mistakes don’t make me a failure, and if I had a curly tail, I should like it, too. But most of all, The Pig said, “You can do all these solo activities and still feel great!” This book acknowledged my introverted self, and I clung to every word The Pig had to say. This book was, in every sense, my gospel. Some have bibles, others have cookbooks or Jenny Craig pamphlets, and I have I Like Me.

“When I feel bad, I cheer myself up. When I fall down, I pick myself up. When I make mistakes, I try and try again! No matter where I go, or what I do, I’ll always be me, and I like that!”

To have someone who can cheer you up is fine, but it’s not healthy to solely depend on another’s praise or expect it. Sometimes, the only person you need is yourself. Sometimes, the only person you will have is yourself.

(My sincerest apologies to the three kids I rejected over a round of Sorry, but I had a blue school bus to draw.)


From the archive! This (old) review can be read at Midnight Coffee Monster (with pictures!)