I Am a Promise

Assisted by fellow Jamaicans Rousseau and Moss in her picture book debut, sprinter Fraser Pryce, a six-time Olympic medalist, relays her life from childhood until age 21, when she won her first Olympic gold medal. Throughout the narrative, Fraser Pryce questions what people mean when they say she is “a promise,” realizing before the 100-meter race at the 2008 Beijing Olympics that the promise, to herself and her supporters, is “to always be the best I can be.” Part of the refrain (“I ran like a rocket”) alludes to the world champion’s nickname, Pocket Rocket. While Moss’s cartoon illustrations sometimes skew sparse, the tale nonetheless succeeds in conveying Fraser Pryce’s autobiography in a compelling, conversational manner. Back matter includes a selection of facts about Fraser Pryce, as well as a brief overview of her athletic achievements. Ages 4–8. [em](Feb.) [/em]