I Knew You Could!: A Book for All the Stops in Your Life (By CRAIG DORFMAN) (Illustrated by CRISTINA ONG) (The Little Engine That Could)

Great gift for graduation!

A soft cover copy of this book “I knew you could” was given to me at my high school graduation by a dear family friend and inside the cover she had written the most loving meaningful letter to me about how far I had come in life and how far I was going to go and that she was excited to be there along the way and watch me on the journey! That simple gift means so much to me! Now that I have my own children I want to give them each something that will bring that feeling of love and acceptance for them that I feel when I read this book. I decided to replicate the graduation gift idea but with a little spin! I purchased this hardcover book so that each year my sons teachers can write him a special note inside and at his high school graduation I will present it to him. I think this book it is a much more "man friendly" gift option that can be easily saved throughout the years for me to take to each grade and afterwards for my son to take with him to college and off into life. So far we have 2 years of preschool teachers, kindergarten and he just started 1st grade. I have a while but I am so glad that I have this book to have loving words added to along the way.The book itself is hardcover with a protective sleeve. Great quality and the book I remember and love so much!

I bought these as a gift for my children when they graduated high school. The book speaks of the "different roads you'll take in life" and it seems perfect as a graduation gift. There is plenty of space in the front and back to have their teachers throughout the years to sign a small message for them as we pass each grade. The books itself was a medium/large size. No damage to the book. Arrived with a plastic cover on it. The book is a good read. Id recommend to check it out at your local library before you purchase to see if it is what you are looking for.

Love this book! Great insights for adults as well as children.

Great book!

I originally bought this book for my oldest son, who was obsessed with trains when he was three. Although he liked the book's pictures and rhymes, he did not really understand the "story" and grew bored with it. Now that he is seven, I reread this to him and he really enjoyed it for its message. We stopped at the end of each page and discussed what he thought it meant, which was pretty much spot on for the most part. I saw online that a dad had all of his daughter's teachers sign a copy of "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" throughout the years and presented it to her at her graduation party. I am going to steal that idea with this book.I also read this at the end of the year to my 6th graders to kind of remind them of all they accomplished during their first year of middle school and to help them make smart choices in the future. As a language arts teacher, I also appreciate the metaphors and deeper level of thinking needed to engage in a meaningful conversation with my students.

I absolutely love this book! This is the greatest children's story for children who need a little reminder that they can get through even the darkest of times. This book is very well written, in a symbolic manner, so it makes a great graduation gift for high school and college graduates as well. Whoever reads this story will appreciate it's narrative manner, as well as the message hiding behind it. A must have book for early childhood teachers, and for those who enjoy quality children's literature!

My mama loved the story of the "Little Engine that Could". Whenever I was losing confidence as I grew up, she would remind me of the story and start repeating, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can......" until I would laugh and agree to keep trying. I thought this book was going to be "children's book", too. It's really more than that. It's almost like my mama whispered the idea into the author's ear, because what he writes sounds just like something she would still be saying to me....starting with the title.Craig Dorfman managed to take a "beloved story" from childhood, and write both to the adults who remember the story and their children. I'm going to get a hardback copy of the original story, and keep both books safe until I can read them to my grandchildren (which I still have to wait for.) AND I might just send a copy of this one to each of my sons...I read the original to them too. :)