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.

Pros: This is the first book I've read in the inspirational careers for kids series, and I can't wait to read more. I love the values that this book promotes as being important for a president--honesty, fairness, protecting the planet.

Cons: None that I can think of.

Thank you to NetGalley and Samantha Pillay for the opportunity to read this book.

𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗜'𝗠 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧 with it’s colourful illustrations and positive message is a cute and uplifting read. The illustrations are bright and colourful and add to your reading enjoyment. This is a book that young readers will enjoy. Highly recommend.

This is an inspiring children's book. It is short, descriptive and colourful. I love the female character and her aspirations. Thank you, Netgalley for sharing this book with me. My girls liked it

This book has a great way for showing girls that they can be anything! Full of optimism, I will definitely be reading this book to my daughter. After I read the book, I sent the title of the entire series to our Children's Librarian so she can order them for the collection. A must read!

I loved that this book featured women. I do think the illustrator could have had more of a diverse representation on the pages. I would need to talk through each page if used with younger students.

This simple aspirational book for little girls has beautiful pictures and a lovely message. A good simple message for younger readers.

This book falls into a lot of traps that I think the “If you see her, you can be her” campaigns fall into: they feel patronizing and they fail to appeal to the demographic that, as an educator, I feel would be most important (ages 10-15).
There is a purpose that I feel this book could achieve very well: starting a discussion with younger students (ages 4-8) about the responsibilities of an elected leader, what could happen if those responsibilities are not met, and what qualities make a good leader. As a teaching tool, this book could work very well, but I don’t foresee many students picking this up of their own volition.

Although I’m not a huge fan of the art style in this one, it vaguely reminds me of the covers on the “Who Was” books that I enjoyed reading as a child with my grandfather.

My thanks to NetGalley and Samantha Pillay for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.

This is a wonderful series for young girls or anyone that aspires to be someone great It encourages the reader to recognize what they can do as an adult to help others in positive ways. There is a bit of confusion with the illustrations and who is speaking ( if that makes sense).

When I’m the President is a children’s book designed to show the qualities of what embodies a good president. I liked the book and there are opportunities for a class discussion based on the premises as well as vocabulary. I can also see a group project being done with the same concept. The illustrations were beautifully done.
What I wanted to see more of is narrative as to why she would do the things she promised. Such as; out planet is fragile and we must take care of it for future generations. So, when I’m president I will write laws to protect our planet. I also would have rather seen the word law instead of rules. This way you can discuss what a law is at the child’s level. I didn’t see as much diversity in kids for inclusion. Wheelchairs, hearing aids.
Overall, it is a nice quick book that can lead to a further discussion in the classroom or at home to begin the talks about civics

This is the first I've seen of this series but it's definitely one I'm going to look into ordering for my library. A lot of kids books are written as informational, it's about the specific job that the book covers. With this book, it seemed inspirational, not only could it inspire kids to really think about themselves in this role, but it also could lead them to take personal ownership over the ideas that are discussed in the book and do what they can to enact them. I absolutely loved the full color illustrations. With such simple text you could use it as a read-aloud with younger kids, with older kids it could be used as a jumping off point for discussion and/or essay writing.

A positive and interesting children's book filled with affirmations to inspire young people. I liked that several of the illustrations contain elements or clues that could lead to a deeper conversation with an adult, like why is there the notion of honesty next to a statue of Lincoln? or what about the presence of that unnamed building next to all the flags (the UN): why is it important, where is it located, what happens there, etc.
The format is a bit tricky (no contextual info). So much remains untold that the book calls for the input of a grownup to enrich the experience, othewise, it remains a bit superficial.
I wasn't entirely sold on the style of the illustrations, but that's more of a personal preference.

I was curious about this book and how they would approach the subject of becoming president. This little girl dreams of becoming President one day and when she does she list the things that she will do when that day comes. She will listen carefully to people. Answer questions. Be honest. Make rules that are fair. Uphold our freedoms. Create opportunities. Solve difficult problems. Lead in a crisis. Give your courage. Keep people safe. Look after our country. Build world peace. Protect the planet. Make the world a better place. Bring you hope. All these things are great goals for a president to have. The illustrations were very pretty and added to the story.

Cute book. I like the message that was given. I was hoping for a little bit of factual information in the book.

This is a cute children's book that tackles what a good politician works towards during their career. I like that it provides all the ways that a president can provide for the country without making anything one-sided and political. I also enjoy the cuteness of the illustrations and I know that children will love reading this one.

Thank you to Author Samantha Pillay for reaching out and inviting me to read her latest Inspirational Careers for Kids Picture Book on NetGalley.

Published: 03/20/24

Stars: 5

My favorite of the four book series of which I've read two. I absolutely loved that everything being taught can be done whether you are President or not. The story can easily be read aloud.

The illustrations are lovely. They warrant a look by themselves. I read the book, then flipped happily through enjoying each picture. The color palette is warm and inviting.

I would gift this to a teacher, young person, nursery, and or a Sunday School class.

This is an idealist book about what a president should do. The illustrations are eye catching and the sentiments are very positive. The book would be a sold conversation starter for preschool-aged students. It will be a good addition to both preschool and home libraries. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was a great, age appropriate book about all of the positive things a woman can do as President. I love the idea of the entire series for teaching children to strive for their dreams no matter how big and to do them with integrity. Great book and great illustrations!

"When I'm the President," the fourth installment in the Inspirational Careers for Kids picture book series, is a vibrant and impactful read that transcends the boundaries of traditional children's literature. Authored by Samantha Pillay, this book serves as a powerful catalyst for change, meticulously designed to dismantle barriers and foster a belief in the limitless potential of leadership among young girls. With a clear focus on inspiring future leaders, Pillay's narrative is interwoven with affirmations that encourage readers to envision themselves in roles of significant influence, particularly in politics and public service.


One of the book's most commendable features is its beautiful and diverse illustrations, which not only capture the imagination but also reflect the world's rich tapestry of cultures and communities. These illustrations play a critical role in reinforcing the book's message of inclusivity and representation, making it evident that leadership is attainable for every girl, regardless of her background.


"When I'm the President" goes beyond simple storytelling by embedding essential leadership qualities within its pages, making it a meaningful resource for instilling resilience, empathy, and the drive to effect positive change. This book is not merely a narrative but a series of purposeful affirmations that act as a beacon for young minds, guiding them towards a future where dreams are not just dreams but achievable realities.


This book is highly recommended for parents, educators, and mentors looking to inspire young girls to break through the glass ceiling and see themselves as future leaders. It's particularly suited for readers in the middle grade category, who are at a pivotal age for forming their perceptions of themselves and their potential roles in society.


"When I'm the President" is more than a book; it's an investment in a future where every girl believes she can lead and shape the world, making it an essential addition to every young reader's library.

This book was amazing! I loved the author's writing. It was an amazing storyline that I got to follow. The characters were developed in such a natural way. I would love to read this to my students and my family members.

Would absolutely recommend to all, especially those with littles!