From Pura Belpré Award-winning author-illustrator Juana Medina, I AM! helps inspire young readers to have confidence in themselves. This paper-over-board picture book, the second in the I WILL! series, grabs the eye with bold, colorful illustrations and simple text. I am strong. I am confident. I am funny. The words and pictures in this book are here to remind the reader how wonderful they are! Focusing on helping to build emotional literacy, self-esteem, and self-worth as well as improving communication skills, I AM ! is the perfect read aloud for kids and adults of any age. Juana Medina was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. She is the author and illustrator of the Pura Belpré Award-winning chapter book  Juana & Lucas . Juana's other author-illustrated books include  I WILL! ,  I AM! ,  Juana & Lucas: Big Problemas ,  1 Big Salad ,  ABC Pasta , and  Sweet Shapes . She has earned recognition from the Colombian Presidency, the National Cartoonists Society, the National Headliner Awards, the International Latino Book Awards, and the Ridgway Awards, among others — quite impressive for someone who was a less-than-stellar student and often got in trouble for drawing cartoons of her teachers. Despite all the trouble caused, Juana studied and taught at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and the Corcoran College of Art + Design (where students had plenty of chances to draw cartoons of her). She lives in the DC area, with her wife, twin sons, and their dear dog, Rosita.