Review - What Do You Do With an Idea?

What Do You Do With an Idea? (What Do You Do With...)
by Kobi Yamada
illustrated by Mae Besom
Date: 2014
Publisher: Compendium Inc
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 36
Format: hardcover
Source: library

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.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

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.

Premise: 5/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.5 out of 5