“When I'm the President," is the fourth title in the Inspirational Careers for Kids picture book series,

The text is accompanied with beautiful and diverse illustrations, vividly reinforcing the book's message that leadership is attainable for every girl, regardless of her background.

The author identifies the fundamental qualities of an exceptional leader for example, resilience, and the power to effect positive change.

I would recommend this for class libraries.

There is an activity guide available as a companion to the book.

The book was beautifully written. The author made careful word choices that were very impactful. Overall, the book was well written and I did really enjoy it.

Overall cute book. The illustrations are beautiful and I love that the president is a woman. I feel that while the promises made were perfect, it doesn't explain how.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review!

The illustrations are great! Bright and vibrant.

This is an easy read for young readers. It is a quick book.

I read this to my 9 year old daughter and she wasn't into it. She said that she was annoyed with the repeating of " When I'm the president". The pages were beautiful but the book bored her. The things listed are things that a president should do but that they forget are important in running a country.

I love books like this that allow little girls to see themselves in what has stereotypically been a means world. This book shows little girls can make a difference and be something. This is so cute and allows little girls to dream big.

A great addition to a class library or home library

Thank you to Netgalley and this team for allowing me an advanced reader copy of this book.

As a mom of girls, this books is a MUST read. This brought up so many great conversations that I don't normally get to have with them. It also addressed responsibilities of a leader and "what it's like to be a leader", as I told my girls. This book talks about values and I just loved that it had a woman president to show my girls they can do anything ❤️

I liked that this book was simple, but I wish it would have given simple examples along with the message. Such as, "I'll uphold our freedoms." It's an abstract concept, and without an example to anchor it, I believe children will find it difficult to understand. I realize that not all of the concepts lend themselves to examples easily, but some examples would make the concepts more concrete for children.

When I’m President is a great book for kids with lots of positive messages about things a President should do for the people of the country.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc.

The illustrations are engaging, and as a teacher with 30 years of experience in an all-girls school, I appreciated that the illustrations feature only girls. The book aims to motivate children, particularly girls, for civic engagement, with a dedication that states, 'Dream Big. Aim High.' It encourages the reader to envision herself as President. However, it frequently uses the pronoun 'I' rather than highlighting that the President’s role primarily involves leading a group rather than acting unilaterally.

The text includes verb phrases like 'answer questions, be honest, make rules, uphold freedoms, create opportunities, solve problems, lead, give courage, keep people safe, look after the country, build world peace, protect our planet, make the world better, and bring hope.' While these are admirable goals, they suggest that the President has the power to accomplish these tasks single-handedly, which could diminish the readers' sense of personal agency. This could ironically teach children that their security and happiness depend on the President rather than on themselves.

Additionally, the book could mislead readers about the President’s actual constitutional powers, potentially overstating the office’s influence over individual lives. Another concern is that it perpetuates the stereotype of girls being driven by feelings and the desire to help, rather than being capable of substantive thought guided by principles and intellect.

Despite its potential, I would not recommend 'When I'm the President' for classroom shelves. It seems to imply that courage and hope are dependent on the occupant of the White House rather than on personal agency, which is crucial for children today.

This is a cute book with a little girl telling us what she will do when she becomes president. The words are few on each page and the illustrations are engaging and add to the context. it is very diverse. I like that it's a female who is president. My only worry is that children might not be able to really understand what being a president entails from the book. It might work best with another book about what presidents do.

‘When I’m the President’ by Samantha Pillay is a delightful children's book that inspires young readers to dream big and think about their future ambitions. Through engaging storytelling and vibrant illustrations, this book encourages children to imagine themselves in leadership roles and to consider the positive impact they can have on the world.

Plot: ★★★★☆
The plot of ‘When I’m the President’ is very cute and well-suited for children. It follows the journey of a young child who dreams of becoming the President. The narrative is simple yet powerful, capturing the essence of youthful imagination and the desire to make a difference. The story is well-paced and keeps young readers interested as they follow the protagonist's vision of a better future.

Character: ★★★★☆
The main character is relatable to many children who have big ideas and aspirations. The book does a great job of portraying the character's enthusiasm and determination, making it easy for young readers to connect with and be inspired by the protagonist. The character's journey is a reflection of the dreams and ambitions that many children harbour, making it a motivating read.

Illustrations: ★★★★☆
The illustrations in this book are colourful and clear, adding a vibrant visual element to the story. The artwork effectively complements the narrative, bringing the protagonist's dreams to life in a visually appealing way. The use of bright colours and detailed illustrations helps to engage young readers and keep their attention throughout the book.

Engagement: ★★★★☆
Engagement is solid, particularly for children who have big ideas for their future. The book encourages young readers to think about their own aspirations and the impact they can have on the world. The storyline and illustrations work together to keep children interested and motivated, making it an inspiring and thought-provoking read.

Readability: ★★★★☆
The readability of ‘When I’m the President’ is quite good. The language is simple and accessible, making it easy for young readers to understand and follow along. The book is well-written and the sentences flow smoothly, making it an enjoyable read whether it is read aloud or independently.

Enjoyment: ★★★★☆
This book is very enjoyable, especially for children who may have big ideas and dreams for their future. The inspiring storyline and engaging illustrations make it a pleasure to read. It’s a book that can spark imagination and ambition in young readers, encouraging them to think about their own potential and the possibilities that lie ahead.

‘When I’m the President’ by Samantha Pillay is a charming and inspiring children's book that encourages young readers to dream big and envision a bright future. With a cute plot, relatable character, colourful illustrations, and solid engagement, it is a wonderful read for children who have big ideas and aspirations. This book is sure to be an enjoyable and motivating addition to any child's library.

I absolutely adore this Dreaming is Believing series. Inspiring our young ones to begin thinking about how they will contribute to society one day, and providing the foundations for ideals of leadership, is such an ambitious effort. However, these books are engaging and feel lightweight, so the empowerment messages are easy to enjoy.

When I'm the President even makes me, at 60 years old, feel like I can still make a difference, can still inspire and do good. And a small part of me is so excited about the idea of a woman in the White House before I leave this earth.

Loved the illustrations and overall concept but I think the author could have approached the idea of a fair and just president a bit more creatively. There wasn't much of a story. here. It would have been okay to give the main character a bit more of an identity in the beginning.

Short and to the point it tells the story of a little girl and what she would do if she became president. From world peace to solving difficult problems she has a whole list. I did find the repeating of When I Am President an unneeded addition. The illustrations are vivid and very engaging. This book does say what we all wish a president to be. I think it is for ages 4 and 5 as younger children would not understand some of the reasons. Good for a kindergarten library.

Easy to read for young readers to aim high. Especially for young girls that may want to be president. What does it mean to be president. A very inspiring book for all readers.

A special thank you to Samantha Pillay and the Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

An uplifting and educational book that discusses the qualities of a good leader and the different concerns they might be expected to address. I really liked how it sends the message that you can be whatever you want to be but you can still be mindful of other people's needs.

This was a great introduction to government for young children. As a teacher, students often have misconceptions about what the President's job is. This book helps teach about what the President does, but in a very simple, kid-friendly way. The illustrations are colorful and detailed, which also helps drive the ideas and concepts in this book. I will be reading this book during our government unit, as I think it will be a great benefit to my students!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.
I love this picture book! It has an empowering message for young girls. It emphasizes the importance of values and what a president can do to improve the world. The bright, colorful illustrations and the text are simple yet powerful. I will purchase this for our library and recommend it to teachers to share with their students.

When I'm the President is a story for young children about a woman president of the United States of America. It highlights the important traits of a good leader, like listening carefully, being honest, believing in fairness and freedom, and more. It avoids potentially controversial matters of politics, instead sticking to broad consensus topics like working to build world peace and protecting the planet. In focusing on the traits that make a good leader it does not address questions like:
- How does one become president?
- What are the powers and responsibilities of the president?
- Why have we never had a female president in the USA?
Like the other book in this series we have read (When I'm an Astronaut), it is composed of pages with colorful and personable illustrations and a single sentence, making it easy for beginning readers to tackle.
I read the story aloud with my daughter (8.5) and son (6) who both enjoyed it.

He gave it 3 out of 5 stars and said:
- I liked the page with all the flags (in front of the UN building).
- I also liked the page with the Lincoln Memorial.
- I liked the page with people in the shape of America.

She gave it 5 out of 5 stars and had this to say about it:
- It made me wonder if it was talking about just presidents or specifically a girl president.
- I think when it says she would keep people safe, the picture isn't the best example of people being safe.
- I really liked the cute deer by Mount Rushmore.
- It made me wonder if there will ever be a girl president.
- It also made me wonder what it is like to be the president. Sure it may sound fun to be super in charge, but it is a lot of work too.

There was also a link to some free coloring pages based on illustrations from the book. The 8-year-old was particularly excited about the included word search.