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What Do You Do With...
What Do You Do With an Idea?
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Picture Books (2014)This is the story of one brilliant idea and the child who helps to bring it into the world. As the child's confidence grows, so does the idea itself. And then, one day, something amazing happens. This is a story for anyone, at any age, who's ever had an idea that seemed a little too big, too odd, too difficult. It's a story to inspire you to welcome that idea, to give it some space to grow, and to see what happens next. Because your idea isn't going anywhere. In fact, it's just getting started.
36 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,579 reviews
April 29, 2015
I was not a fan of this preachy book.
For one thing, the 'idea' in this book seems to be a walking egg that wears a crown. For no discernible reason that I can see. Annoying.
The 'idea' is in color, but the boy and the boy's world is not. The egg/idea follows him around, adding color to whatever it touches. Eventually the egg/idea... explodes? Um, is set free? I have no idea, because it still exists, waddling around like a weirdo, but apparently it has transferred color to the little boy's whole world. o.O
Here's some of the book. Which I found awful:
I showed it to other people even though I was afraid of what they would say. I was afraid that if people saw it, they would laugh at it. I was afraid they would think it was silly.
And many of them did. They said it was no good. They said it was too weird. They said it was a waste of time and that it would never become anything.
And, at first, I believed them. I actually thought about giving up on my idea. I almost listened to them.
But then I realized, what do they really know? This is MY idea, I thought. No one knows it like I do. And it's okay if it's different, and weird, and maybe a little crazy.
I decided to protect it, to care for it. I fed it good food. I worked with it, I played with it. But most of all, I gave it my attention.
Blergh. As my best friend would say, "Gag me with a spoon."
It's not a good book. And I am sick and tired of authors inserting themselves and their egos and fantasies into fiction. SICK OF IT. This is children's literature, for crying out loud. What the heck are you thinking? Jeez. Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, Lori Foster, Sherrilyn Kenyon, etc. and now this Kobi Yamada guy. I mean, I get it: you're an author, your work is delicate and precious, blah blah blah shut up now. Okay, thanks, bye.
P.S. The art is nice.
For one thing, the 'idea' in this book seems to be a walking egg that wears a crown. For no discernible reason that I can see. Annoying.
The 'idea' is in color, but the boy and the boy's world is not. The egg/idea follows him around, adding color to whatever it touches. Eventually the egg/idea... explodes? Um, is set free? I have no idea, because it still exists, waddling around like a weirdo, but apparently it has transferred color to the little boy's whole world. o.O
Here's some of the book. Which I found awful:
I showed it to other people even though I was afraid of what they would say. I was afraid that if people saw it, they would laugh at it. I was afraid they would think it was silly.
And many of them did. They said it was no good. They said it was too weird. They said it was a waste of time and that it would never become anything.
And, at first, I believed them. I actually thought about giving up on my idea. I almost listened to them.
But then I realized, what do they really know? This is MY idea, I thought. No one knows it like I do. And it's okay if it's different, and weird, and maybe a little crazy.
I decided to protect it, to care for it. I fed it good food. I worked with it, I played with it. But most of all, I gave it my attention.
Blergh. As my best friend would say, "Gag me with a spoon."
It's not a good book. And I am sick and tired of authors inserting themselves and their egos and fantasies into fiction. SICK OF IT. This is children's literature, for crying out loud. What the heck are you thinking? Jeez. Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, Lori Foster, Sherrilyn Kenyon, etc. and now this Kobi Yamada guy. I mean, I get it: you're an author, your work is delicate and precious, blah blah blah shut up now. Okay, thanks, bye.
P.S. The art is nice.
January 11, 2017
Take me back before the days of motherhood, and I would look at a book like What Do You Do with an Idea? and think Oh, that's cute. Now however, I have developed an appreciation for children's book through the discerning eyes of a mother. Kobi Yamada captures the heart of a child, while Mae Besom's illustrations capture their imagination. It's visually stunning with a heart-expanding plot.
March 22, 2015
This is a highly reviewed book, one of the highly nominated Goodreads 2014 Picture book nominees, and I think it is just okay. It's too long for the point it makes, and the point it makes is not original or discussed that interestingly. It's not really a kid book; it's a parent book for how to preach to your kid about how to be creative, but it is no Quest or Harold and the Purple Crayon that show you what imagination is. This does show you an egg-as-idea that the artist creates and nurtures, but Yamada talks about it way too much! She tells us what to think and feel rather than inviting us in to experience imagination.
March 14, 2014
Absolutely love this book on so many levels.
I want to read this book again and again. I want to savor the meaning and fall into the illustrations.
Wow.
I want to read this book again and again. I want to savor the meaning and fall into the illustrations.
Wow.
May 7, 2018
What would you do with an idea? Pack it away? Save it for later? How about setting it free? Use your ideas because they change the world... Everything around you was once an idea... You were an idea... Yes i am talking to you... My friend Eddy was an idea... Yes Eddy you know who you are.... Hi by the way.... Look at me i'm typeing a review!!!! Anyways enough about Eddy lets get back to our ideas... Maybe you have a dream to build a house... Become a vet... Finish college.... Those are all your ideas, your plans, and your dreams and you want to make them happen... Right?
What Do You Do With An Idea by Kobi Yamada was a inspirational books for children and the lesson learned was not to give up on your ideas and not to let them go to waste because the world needs them. The story was about a little boy that had an idea that followed him everywhere and he ignored it but it did not go away... He tried to give up on it but it did not go away so he fed it and it grew bigger and bigger until finally.... He made his idea real! Is it not amazing what some kids want to achieve whenever they get older? My brother had an idea whenever he was really little about building my parents a house one day and today he still has not given up on that idea and he is now fifteen years old and five whenever he wanted to build that house...... I honestly think its going to happen and can we all just take Clay... Who is my brother..... As an example and give him a round of applause because he has stuck with this one idea for ten years....... Clay is going to make my parents life change..... You are going to make the world change or maybe your going to make your parents life change... And you Eddy.... Well... Hahaha i'm just kidding you have already changed my life just by being a friend.... See she had an idea to be someone friend and that idea was achieved.... I love you Eddy.... Ideas are made everyday by millions of people and they are achieved everyday by millions of people. Ths story gets a five star rateing for sure becausof its inspiration and its "I can" message.
The pictures were also very much impressive because they matched the story... They were most definatly not five star impressive but the illustrator deserves three stars for the tremendous effort. This bok made me smile and as you all know i like to smile so i have got to throw in an extra star... I would reccomend this book to everyone out there who has an idea and needs a little push.
My Rateing
9/5
What Do You Do With An Idea by Kobi Yamada was a inspirational books for children and the lesson learned was not to give up on your ideas and not to let them go to waste because the world needs them. The story was about a little boy that had an idea that followed him everywhere and he ignored it but it did not go away... He tried to give up on it but it did not go away so he fed it and it grew bigger and bigger until finally.... He made his idea real! Is it not amazing what some kids want to achieve whenever they get older? My brother had an idea whenever he was really little about building my parents a house one day and today he still has not given up on that idea and he is now fifteen years old and five whenever he wanted to build that house...... I honestly think its going to happen and can we all just take Clay... Who is my brother..... As an example and give him a round of applause because he has stuck with this one idea for ten years....... Clay is going to make my parents life change..... You are going to make the world change or maybe your going to make your parents life change... And you Eddy.... Well... Hahaha i'm just kidding you have already changed my life just by being a friend.... See she had an idea to be someone friend and that idea was achieved.... I love you Eddy.... Ideas are made everyday by millions of people and they are achieved everyday by millions of people. Ths story gets a five star rateing for sure becausof its inspiration and its "I can" message.
The pictures were also very much impressive because they matched the story... They were most definatly not five star impressive but the illustrator deserves three stars for the tremendous effort. This bok made me smile and as you all know i like to smile so i have got to throw in an extra star... I would reccomend this book to everyone out there who has an idea and needs a little push.
My Rateing
9/5
January 31, 2021
In this weird book, an idea is a sort of a tumor that shows up and keeps growing until you can't hide it anymore and then it bursts and gets all over everything.
This is inspiring how exactly? Why is the kid so passive? Why does he/she have no role in generating or evaluating the idea? What if the idea is something terrible like .....?
By all means, fight for a good idea, whether it's yours or not, but don't fight for your idea whether it's bad or good. That's madness. Not every idea is brilliant just because it's yours. Sorry.
What we desperately need to be teaching people now is discernment: between truth/lies, good/evil, honest/corrupt, competent/incompetent, useful/worthless, etc. Narcissistic overconfidence doesn't seem to be the thing in short supply.
This is inspiring how exactly? Why is the kid so passive? Why does he/she have no role in generating or evaluating the idea? What if the idea is something terrible like .....?
By all means, fight for a good idea, whether it's yours or not, but don't fight for your idea whether it's bad or good. That's madness. Not every idea is brilliant just because it's yours. Sorry.
What we desperately need to be teaching people now is discernment: between truth/lies, good/evil, honest/corrupt, competent/incompetent, useful/worthless, etc. Narcissistic overconfidence doesn't seem to be the thing in short supply.
May 2, 2020
چهقدر خوب بود این کتاب! احتمالا بارها و بارها بخونمش.
+ اینستاگرام توسط کیت وینسلت خیلی جذاب خونده شده. توصیهش میکنم.
+ اینستاگرام توسط کیت وینسلت خیلی جذاب خونده شده. توصیهش میکنم.
September 10, 2016
What do you do with an idea? That's a very good question. One day you have an idea. You don't know exactly where it came from. At first you act as if it didn't exist, but if follows you. You worry about what other would think of it, and even give up on it. But then you realize you feel happy when you spend time with your idea, so you decide to feed it, and it grows, and grows, until it is part of everything. This is one of the best picture books I have read recently. Highly recommended for every one.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Find more children's book reviews in Reviews in Chalk
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Find more children's book reviews in Reviews in Chalk
August 23, 2014
This is a positively brilliant book. This book is not just for children but, it is for anyone that has had an idea. This is a great book for motivating anyone that has an idea that needs to be nurtured and protected.
In this fast paced world so many forget about the small ideas that have had an impact on others lives. This book is a refreshing reminder of the importance of ideas and why we should strive to keep them going.
Wonderful book!
In this fast paced world so many forget about the small ideas that have had an impact on others lives. This book is a refreshing reminder of the importance of ideas and why we should strive to keep them going.
Wonderful book!
June 11, 2015
It was short & sweet. An amazing children's book with a great message! :)
April 27, 2019
The subject matter here might seem a little esoteric for a picture book, but it actually works really well.
The story is told in the first person by a small child who has an idea. The idea is drawn as an egg with legs wearing a crown. It's always surrounded by a bit of colour, as if anywhere it steps it brings new life with it. The other illustrations are black and white... but as the book progresses, the idea's colour starts to rub off on everything around it. The idea grows, too, becoming larger and larger until it can no longer be contained. And what happens when an idea can't be contained? I won't spoil it for you.
This was actually a really pleasant surprise. It's a relaxing sort of book, almost meditative. Mae Besom's illustrations are really special; they're cute, creative, and perfectly capture the magic of ideas (both big and small).
I see that there are two other books in this series, What Do You Do With a Problem? and What Do You Do With a Chance? I'm definitely going to be seeking those out.
What Do You Do With an Idea? is a book I'll be thinking about for a while to come.
The story is told in the first person by a small child who has an idea. The idea is drawn as an egg with legs wearing a crown. It's always surrounded by a bit of colour, as if anywhere it steps it brings new life with it. The other illustrations are black and white... but as the book progresses, the idea's colour starts to rub off on everything around it. The idea grows, too, becoming larger and larger until it can no longer be contained. And what happens when an idea can't be contained? I won't spoil it for you.
This was actually a really pleasant surprise. It's a relaxing sort of book, almost meditative. Mae Besom's illustrations are really special; they're cute, creative, and perfectly capture the magic of ideas (both big and small).
I see that there are two other books in this series, What Do You Do With a Problem? and What Do You Do With a Chance? I'm definitely going to be seeking those out.
What Do You Do With an Idea? is a book I'll be thinking about for a while to come.
September 13, 2023
I picked this book up for the artwork, and it did not disappoint! The art is beautiful, a mix of pencil and watercolors. And I was surprised with a fantastic story to go with it. This story is versatile for any age, even my grown-up self enjoyed it. It creatively asks what becomes of an idea, following a child who nurtures it until something glorious happens.
Review from a grown-up: ideas make me feel alive; let's adventure and grow together!
Review from a grown-up: ideas make me feel alive; let's adventure and grow together!
April 27, 2023
I’m so thankful for friends who take the time to read me stories. Thank you, Erin, for brightening my day over FaceTime by reading to me about Eggbert.
This is such a lovely story about the power ideas have, and it’s definitely encouraging to all creatives.
This is such a lovely story about the power ideas have, and it’s definitely encouraging to all creatives.
November 13, 2014
Cute illustrations, amazing message. This is a book I'd throw at any adult who needed to feel like they could change the world. Giving a child this book could only be magical.
August 27, 2023
One of the very many recent books that is far more appealing to "teacherly" adults than the target audience of children for whom it is apparently intended.
April 13, 2024
What a strange book. It's like a children's book but written for adults - none of the language feels like it's aimed at a young audience. It's message feels a bit trite. The art is really beautiful, so I guess that's something children will be able to latch on to..?
(Picked up a review copy through Edelweiss)
March 19, 2024
فکر هم مثل یه تخم مرغه
April 27, 2016
I love this story. A great metaphor for brainstorming and shaping ideas.
August 4, 2018
Libretto illustrato, molto belle alcune tavole, indicato per bambini, ma come mi dico sempre, anche, anzi molto indicato per tutti, anche gli adulti.
E mi sono reso conto che quando nasce un'idea... puoi cambiare il mondo.
E mi sono reso conto che quando nasce un'idea... puoi cambiare il mondo.
April 4, 2020
The narrator of this inspirational picture-book about nurturing one's ideas and allowing them the space to grow unfolds the tale of his own idea, which he initially doubted, but eventually came to treasure. After attempts to abandon and then hide his idea, the boy decides to keep it with him, discovering that it enriches his life and eventually leads to wonderful things...
Told in general terms - the nature of the idea remains deliberately unclear in the text, and it is depicted in the artwork as a golden egg with crown - the story here offers children an opportunity to project themselves into the story, to imagine that it is their idea (whatever that may be) that is being discussed. The accompanying illustrations by Chinese artist Mae Besom are lovely, showing the transformative potential of the idea through a gradual change from mostly black and white spreads to vibrantly colorful ones at the end. Recommended to anyone looking for inspirational stories that affirm and encourage creativity.
Told in general terms - the nature of the idea remains deliberately unclear in the text, and it is depicted in the artwork as a golden egg with crown - the story here offers children an opportunity to project themselves into the story, to imagine that it is their idea (whatever that may be) that is being discussed. The accompanying illustrations by Chinese artist Mae Besom are lovely, showing the transformative potential of the idea through a gradual change from mostly black and white spreads to vibrantly colorful ones at the end. Recommended to anyone looking for inspirational stories that affirm and encourage creativity.
July 17, 2015
"What do you do with an idea. Where did it come from? Why is it here?" I wondered, " What do you do with an idea?"
One small boy sets out on the black and white pages of this story to ask some very important questions about idea's. As the story, or idea grows, (shaped like an egg with feet, and a small gold crown on top). Color slowly grows out from the idea until the pictures are all color at the end. This book is creative treasure. Grandmother approved.
I have a soft spot for really good children's stories. I believe the right story in a young persons life can add all kinds of good things to enrich their experiences. I'm a believer in idea's
This book won the Independent Publisher's Book Award
One small boy sets out on the black and white pages of this story to ask some very important questions about idea's. As the story, or idea grows, (shaped like an egg with feet, and a small gold crown on top). Color slowly grows out from the idea until the pictures are all color at the end. This book is creative treasure. Grandmother approved.
I have a soft spot for really good children's stories. I believe the right story in a young persons life can add all kinds of good things to enrich their experiences. I'm a believer in idea's
This book won the Independent Publisher's Book Award
December 7, 2018
Read this gorgeously illustrated book to my classes yesterday to get them thinking about the Invention Fair the science department is putting on in February. We’ll be writing an expository essay in Language Arts to explain how they came up with their inventions and/or how to use their inventions.
I love the visual symbolism and the discussions the story prompted.
And now, I’m officially on Christmas break. Today I ignore all my chores and read. It’s a tradition. 😉
I love the visual symbolism and the discussions the story prompted.
And now, I’m officially on Christmas break. Today I ignore all my chores and read. It’s a tradition. 😉
December 24, 2015
Lo máximo!
May 16, 2016
This book has an inspiring message for students to show confidence, dream big, and let the heart be the guide. Thanks, Joyce. It is a great lead-in for TED Talks.
May 9, 2017
Just magical. A book to hug.
February 21, 2022
Me ha gustado la idea de este libro, nunca mejor dicho, porque puede hacer pensar a los lectores más jovenes (y no tanto) casi sin darse cuenta.
Las ilustraciones también me han gustado bastante. Me ha llamado la atención y al ojearlo me lo he leído entero del tirón, lo que no es raro en un libro ilustrado de este tipo.
Me parece un libro muy apropiado para que los peques lo lean en clase y lo comenten en casa.
Las ilustraciones también me han gustado bastante. Me ha llamado la atención y al ojearlo me lo he leído entero del tirón, lo que no es raro en un libro ilustrado de este tipo.
Me parece un libro muy apropiado para que los peques lo lean en clase y lo comenten en casa.
April 19, 2024
The sink-or-swim smile of my Junior year, with its tired lips and anxious breath, has hindered me from nurturing my writing ideas. I’ve shelved three poems and a short story this Spring, largely for busywork and a subject that I don’t love. My mom gave this book to me today, saying that it reminded her of myself.
Thank you, mom.
Thank you, mom.
October 19, 2020
Kobi Yamadan ja Mae Besomin "Olipa kerran idea" (Kumma, 2020) kertoo pojasta, joka eräänä päivänä saa idean, joka on kuvattu kruunupäisenä munana. Vaikka sitä pidetään omituisena ja hassuna, päättää poika pitää sen omanaan - ja eräänä päivänä se nousee siivilleen ja muuttaa maailmaa.
Hieno ja inspiroiva (niin paljon kuin inhoankin sanaa) kuvakirja! Ja Kumma on näemmä semmoinen kustantamo, jossa on enemmänkin ideaa. Laittakaas nimi mieleen.
Hieno ja inspiroiva (niin paljon kuin inhoankin sanaa) kuvakirja! Ja Kumma on näemmä semmoinen kustantamo, jossa on enemmänkin ideaa. Laittakaas nimi mieleen.
April 21, 2024
It's okay if it's different, and weird, and maybe a little crazy.
A delightful, art-fully told story about the value of different thinking. Whimsy & wonder abound in this tale about our personal legacy. Of the three books in this series I've read, this first one is still my favorite.
Favorite Passages:
They said it was no good. They said it was too weird. They said it was a waste of time and that it would never become anything.
_______
This is MY idea, I thought. No one knows it like I do. And it's okay if it's different, and weird, and maybe a little crazy.
_______
". . . it is good to have the ability to see things differently."
_______
Then, one day, something amazing happened. My idea changed right before my very eyes. It spread its wings, took flight, and burst into the sky.
_______
And then, I realized what you do with an idea . . .
You change the world.
A delightful, art-fully told story about the value of different thinking. Whimsy & wonder abound in this tale about our personal legacy. Of the three books in this series I've read, this first one is still my favorite.
Favorite Passages:
They said it was no good. They said it was too weird. They said it was a waste of time and that it would never become anything.
_______
This is MY idea, I thought. No one knows it like I do. And it's okay if it's different, and weird, and maybe a little crazy.
_______
". . . it is good to have the ability to see things differently."
_______
Then, one day, something amazing happened. My idea changed right before my very eyes. It spread its wings, took flight, and burst into the sky.
_______
And then, I realized what you do with an idea . . .
You change the world.
December 15, 2014
With a bit of guidance from an inspired parent or teacher, this book could be a gem. On its own it gets a little stuck, remaining undefined and perhaps confusing.
Ideas don't generally take over the world by themselves, they require work. Neither do they always work for good - as implied by the beautiful colour illustrations brought to life by this unknown 'idea'. Some ideas have been quite harmful, and many ideas—thankfully—haven't gone anywhere.
But with some context and further discussion this book could get children excited about nurturing good ideas; it is certainly beautifully told and illustrated.
www.GoodReadingGuide.com
Ideas don't generally take over the world by themselves, they require work. Neither do they always work for good - as implied by the beautiful colour illustrations brought to life by this unknown 'idea'. Some ideas have been quite harmful, and many ideas—thankfully—haven't gone anywhere.
But with some context and further discussion this book could get children excited about nurturing good ideas; it is certainly beautifully told and illustrated.
www.GoodReadingGuide.com
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,579 reviews