I Promise

In his debut children’s book, LeBron James teams up with New York Times bestselling illustrator Nina Mata to create a powerful book showcasing his I PROMISE program and emphasizing to young students the importance of going to school and keeping commitments to oneself and others. James demonstrates a respectable knack for poetry, with strong cadence and original rhymes, as he sets forth various commitments to school children—speak kindly, try new things, stand up for what’s right, and more. The inclusion of sports ideas (“I promise to run full court / and show up each time, / to get right back up / and let my magic shine.”) hits just the right balance in acknowledging James’ status as a superstar athlete without overpowering the book and limiting its appeal only to young readers interested in sports. Mata’s illustrations are lively and diverse, adding a level of specificity to broad principles that helps children see concrete applications of each commitment. For example, as James writes, “I promise to respect my elders and peers the same. / To leave new places better than I came,” Mata’s illustrations show a child high fiving the school crossing guard while a classmate tosses a plastic bottle in a recycling bin. This is truly a book readers of all ages and walks of life can appreciate, regardless of their personal level of King James fandom.