I'm Terrific

by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Jason Bear thinks he's terrific and even awards himself gold stars for superior performance in his chores. His friends don't like to be around him.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Marjorie Weinman Sharmat was an American children's writer. She wrote more than 130 books for children and teens and her books have been translated into several languages. They have won awards including Book of the Year by the Library of Congress or have become selections by the Literary Guild.
Perhaps Sharmat's most popular work features the child detective Nate the Great. He was inspired by and named after her father, who lived to see the first Nate book published. One story, Nate the Great Goes Undercover, was adapted as a made-for-TV movie that won the Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival Award. Sharmat's husband Mitchell Sharmat expanded Nate's storyline by creating Olivia Sharp, his cousin and fellow detective. Husband and wife wrote four Olivia Sharp books published 1989 to 1991. During the 1990s, their son Craig Sharmat (then in his thirties) wrote three Nate books with his mother. In the late 2010s, their other son Andrew Sharmat co-wrote the last two Nate books written while Marjorie Weinman Sharmat was alive. With Marjorie Weinman Sharmat's passing in 2019 Andrew has continued writing the series with Nate the Great and the Earth Day Robot (2021).
In the mid-1980s Sharmat wrote three books published in 1984 and 1985 under the pseudonym Wendy Andrews.
Sharmat also wrote the Sorority Sisters series, eight short novels published in 1986 and 1987. They are romantic fiction with a sense of humor. They are set in a California public high school (day school for ages 14 to 18, approximately).

Reviews

[Carlos Montijo · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book about children learning their identity. Jason Bear “experiments” with being narcissistic to then being a jerk. But since no one likes him in either case, he realizes he just needs to be “himself.”

The book may be useful, but only as an object lesson on identity that requires parental guidance because it promotes a secular worldview with no acknowledgment of God our creator who made us and identifies us. I don’t recommend for children to read this on their own.

[MelMon Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book about making friends and figuring out who you want to be.

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and unique approach to teaching children about self-esteem. Jason Everett Bear likes himself. A lot. He lets everybody know it and that's why they don't like him. So he decides to become a stinky, slovenly, bully and tell everyone that he's changed. Only they still don't like him. So, with the help of his mother, he realizes he's fine as he is, but maybe there's a better way to make friends other than to tell them he's great...so he tries to convince them through kindness and unselfishness. And that works. A good lesson and an amusing way of going about it. But, as a teacher, I cringed a bit at his mother's placid acceptance of her kid becoming a bully (even if it is on the journey to self-discovery), especially when she agrees that another kid "deserves" to be beaten up.

[Zoraya Brown]

I love how this story starts out with the bear thinking so highly of himself, then loses that self-appreciation, only to realize in the end that being one's self is the very best way to be. I would use the book to teach self-love and appreciation and treating others well. I would also share how boasting is not polite, especially when others may not have as much or have the same opportunities as others. Our activities would focus on saying and writing letters to our friends about what we like about them. Being kind to and treating others well is something that is lacking in every classroom of which I have been a part, and I would like to see children who understand the concept of genuinely caring for one another, and our activities extending from this book will reflect that.

[Kell* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very fun book about a bear who believes that he is terrific. Though it is good to have a high self esteem this little bear quickly learns that being prideful or bossy doesn't get very far. But he discovers that he gains more by recognizing others who are also terrific and encourages individual recognition though golden stars. This is a very cute book that could be used in the classroom to demonstrate rewards systems or classroom management.

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of the first I remember reading with my grandma. It's all about a young bear and how he's terrific at being good. But no one likes someone who is perfect so he decides to change his way and become bad. And I'll leave it at that. I love the illustrations and I hope more kids realize how terrific they are.

[Angelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember this book not only from my childhood but my own bookshelf. My grandma bought it for me. It is really funny that the bear would b named Jason, as my husband name is now. So this book has a special place in my heart and for all the gold stars that I received as a kid.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

gold stars are the best!!!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

gold stars = fun?

[Cws]

JE-Sha

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jason Bear tries to be different until he realizes he's fine the way he is.

[Lea Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute book reminiscent of the Little Bear books. Nice read aloud and teaches a lesson about showing off and egotism.