This is a lovely story that helps children see that they can do whatever they can as long as they believe in themselves. It's a book that should be on every classroom shelf and read to every class group. It can be use for whole class and individual discussions too. My boys at home really enjoyed it and I'll be referring to it in my class room too. It has a lot to give to any classroom.

This was a fun picture book to read. I liked the illustrations and overall message of possibility and Riley being able to do whatever he wanted! Still, I didn't find this one particularly engaging or creative. Still it may appeal to kids age 5 and over.

Riley Knows He Can is an adorable story about a young boy named Riley(obviously) who is nervous about starring in his first school play. Luckily, he has many friends and family members who are very encouraging and supportive that help him to conquer his fears and doubts.

I found this book to be pretty awesome and relatable. It has a great message and some really beautiful illustration. I enjoyed reading it and I look forward to sharing this book with my son this week. This is one I’d say will make a great gift to a child. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Riley Knows He Can is the second book featuring adorable youngster Riley (his freckles slay me <3 ). Published 25th April 2018 by the Ella Riley Group, it's 38 pages and available in ebook and paperback formats. Author Davina Hamilton and illustrator Elena Reinoso also teamed up on the first book, Riley Can Be Anything.

This book talks about something almost everyone deals with - stage fright, nervousness, and performance anxiety. It's written in rhyming prose which will add to the reading enjoyment for kids. The quirky artwork illustrates the text very well.

These are really positive, non judgemental, useful books for all kids.They show diversity in a positive non-threatening, non-strident manner. The mum and dad are normal, supportive, wholesome. I really liked this book and hope that Riley (and family) have lots more adventures in store.

This would make a superlative reading circle or bedtime read for the youngest and a good selection for primary school libraries.

Just really nice!

Five stars

This story was excellent. I loved the mantra that he was taught by his sister and how he though of it whenever doubt crept in to his mind. Well written with some lovely images - 5 stars!

Good book about self confidence in kids. It is rhyming. Illustrations are wonderful.

Thanks netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC

Adults often forget how scary it can be to do something for the first time. “Riley Knows He Can” helps children learn how to handle doing something new. While not every child will have to worry about starring in the school play, every child will have to face going to a new school or having to do a class presentation. The platitudes and self-reassurance strategies Riley uses in this book will help teach kids how to face new experiences.

Riley has a school play in which he plays the king. He is very nervous but his sister Ella tells him he can do anything. Riley keeps repeating what his sister said and the story goes from there. Illustrations are cute and storyline is excellent. I love books that encourage children. This book also rhymes which I thought was very clever on the authors part.
I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

An excellent book for children, teaching them that they can do anything they set their mind to it. Positive encouragement flows throughout the book, and the illustrations are so cute! I love the book so much and heartily recommend it to any parent out there, especially if they have children struggling with self-confidence.

Every early education classroom should have this book! It's difficult to find diverse stories that portray POC in everyday situations, rather than only in historically negative roles. This book is fantastic on multiple levels.

I LOVE books that rhyme, my kids stay so engaged. I really loved this story, overcoming fear and support from siblings gave us a lot to talk about as a family.

This sweet story about Riley, nervous about his first school play, features beautiful illustrations that bring depth to an inspirational tale of facing fears with the help of family. A follow-up to 2017’s Riley Can Be Anything, one hopes this becomes a long happy series children and parents can enjoy together again and again! 5/5

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

#RileyKnowsHeCan #NetGalley

This is a great children's story by Davina Hamilton told in poetry, and remarkably illustrated by Elena Reinoso in an almost 3D effect. It was really nice to see a good mix of children - not all white folks - for a change. Riley is acting in the school play. He plays a benevolent king, but the real life Riley has nerves. Fortunately, his supportive family are there, and his big sister tells him that whenever he has doubts he should remind himself that he can do it. He takes her advice, and it works!

This was a nice, breezy, upbeat and supportive story that moved fast, made its mark, and was a pleasure to read. I recommend it.

A beautifully illustrated and told tale of triumph against adversity. One that I shan't forget soon.

Riley Knows He Can is a sweet little book about doing something you've never done before, but trusting in your abilities with the help of others and your inner strength.

"But what if I freeze? Or what if I walk onstage and I sneeze?" These are the kind of questions even adults ask themselves, and it's good to let children explore the concept of doubt early on. The rhyme scheme is a good way to introduce kids to some basic phonological skills.

I enjoy multi-medium artstyles a lot, and "Riley" pulls it off quite well. This story can also bolster and encourage positive sibling interactions, as Riley's sister is very supportive.

This is a also a good book for kids interested in drama, as well as children who are shy but curious at heart.

I also enjoyed that the play that Riley takes part in is in itself a lesson - this is the part of the picture book that boosted my rating to four stars.

Conclusion
I received this picture book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This is a fantastic little book for so many reasons, and is even better for including black characters for more relatable books - it would certainly help my black kids in therapy to feel more included.

Love this book! First, the illustrations are amazing and show diversity. That said, the text is amazing as well. As a speech language pathologist, I am always looking for rhyming text to help with literacy skills. This book has that, with the theme of typical performance anxiety. The little boy in the story is going to be in a school play and is a bit nervous, but his big sister gives him advice that he can do it. Overcoming stage fright for small children is a real thing, and I can see teachers reading this book prior to those performances all over the United States and Canada. It's a wonderful story of overcoming fears and coming out feeling great about oneself.
A solid five stars for this one. Every elementary teacher will need this book in their classroom library.

Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for a pre-publication ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book to my 4 year old and he enjoyed the artwork and colors in the story. He's in pre-k so he can read a few words here and there. This was a perfect bedtime and morning story to read.

* I received this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.* This is a lovely children's book about overcoming our fears! The main protagonist, Riley is starring in his first school play and to help him along his way, his older sister imparts some words of wisdom: I know I can, I can. Through her encouragement, and the encouragement of their parents Riley's first play went off without a hitch. In the end, he not only displays the mark of a great leader by being confident but also but continuing on in his pursuits despite his fears. Also, I love the illustrations and the diversity of the cast including seeing black women with their natural hair in braids.

This charming book is written in rhyme and has a positive message for all to adhere to.

Riley is very excited that he obtained the star role in his school play. He will be projecting himself as a King and his older devoted sister Ella helps him learn all of his lines to perfection and gives her anxious and nervous little brother a wonderful piece of advice to carry him through his performance.

"Relax," Ella told him. "Let's get one thing straight:
I know you can do this, you're going to be great:
You're clever and smart, you can be anything.
You're going to be the most wonderful king!"

... If you start feeling nervous, this is the plan:
Say in your head, 'I can do this, I can!'

Riley knows the auditorium will be packed to capacity and his queazy tummy signals his apprehension but he overcomes his fears and charges forth to transform into the best King ever.


"Riley felt good as he ran into school.
He felt like a king who was ready to rule!"

He dons his costume, a kingly robe and sparkly crown, and practises his mantra. " I can do this, I can!" A wonderful calm overtakes him, his self-confidence rises up even more and he is ready to own that stage. Riley is now feeling like a real King!

This book is a follow-up to 2017's "Riley Can Be Anything". It delivers an empowering message about how to overcome your fears and how to believe in yourself and dispel your niggly self-doubts! Recommended by Storywraps.

Riley Knows He Can is the sweetest story about a little boy who is afraid he's going to forget the lines for his school play. Of course, he has practiced and practiced, but every kid gets stage fright, right? Of course, with some encouragement from his big sister, Riley realizes that he can, in fact, do this! He is going to be the best king ever!

Lady Quinn and I had so much fun reading this book together. She was a fan of the pictures, of course, but also seemed to enjoy the story. She pointed out brother and sister, and we talked about how fun it would be to play pretend and be a king or a queen. I think this is a great book for many ages, as proved by my 2-year-old's enjoyment of it. This is one we will be reading again and again. It's perfect for any kid who might need a little bit of encouragement when something makes them nervous :)