I Like Me

“I Like Me!” was written by Topeka Rotarian Vern Wheeler in an effort to develop self-concept and a joy of reading in kindergartners. He had read to young students who were disinterested in the reading materials because they couldn't relate to the people in the stories, so he wrote a book that featured the student as the main character.

 

The story of each hard-cover, full color "I Like Me!” book contains multiple mentions of the name of the kindergartner plus their two best friends, teacher, school and city.

 

In studies conducted over a three year period by Dr. Don DeMoulin, University of Tennessee-Martin, the use of "I Like Me!” improved comprehension and recall in kindergartners by an average of 46.8% over children using non-personalized readers. The books also have a positive impact on students’ self-concept. As Susan Goren, Executive Director of the National Association of School Psychologists, says, the book is read over and over by students because they themselves are the subject of the material. 
 

In Dallas, The Rotary Club of Dallas supplies over 1,000 of these books to Dallas Independent School District kindergartens and members take a day each April to visit several participating schools to deliver the books and read to the children.  The moment when the child realizes the book is about them is a true gift to experience.