I Can Be Anything! Don't Tell Me I Can't

Like most girls and boys, Zoe enthusiastically embraces the wonders of our world and its infinite possibilities. "I can be anything I want to be!" she tells us, presenting herself in a range of careers. "But what if you fail?" asks a voice of doubt that attempts to undermine her confidence.

Bold and sassy, Zoe swats the voice away at every turn, declaring her certainty with a charisma that will encourage us all to silence the fears projected onto us by our world. Why can't a girl grow up to be President? Zoe can! When the voice of doubt continues, Zoe knows exactly what to say: "Go away, voice... I can be anything... but first, I have to learn to read. And don't tell me I can't!"

Award-winner Diane Dillon has created a winning character who defies anything to hold her back from achieving her goals. And the key to Zoe's future success begins when Zoe defiantly opens her book, making it clear that both confidence and reading are tools we all need to make our dreams come true.

Diane Dillon is known throughout the world as one of the greatest children's talents of our time. For 58 years she collaborated with her husband, artist Leo Dillon, until his death in 2012. They are known for their multicultural books, including a significant body of African American books, which earned them a list of awards, including two Caldecott Medals, the NAACP Image Award, numerous Coretta Scott King Awards, several Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards, and honorary doctorates.