Ideas can be stubborn, too

Things I am a sucker for: Perfectly illustrated, gigantic concept encompassing, not-too-preachy, ‘I see what you did there’ picture books. Author’s notes that include the words “luckiest person on the planet.” Books you can give as gifts to both adults and children (so long as you have the right kind of friends). Well, What Do You Do With An Idea? by Kobi Yamada fits all three categories and manages to be sweet enough and powerful enough that I may have bought three additional copies the day I bought my own, because there will definitely be gift giving opportunities for this book and I’d like to have it on hand. (My stash of books for gift giving opportunities has been a point of contention between me and other people before, but I’m telling you right now: It comes in handy A LOT.)

Anyways, back to the book, with its beautiful pencil sketch-esque illustrations by Mae Besom and its simple, strong storyline, which attempts to answer the titular question – what exactly should you do with an idea? Of course, there’s no one answer, but Yamada manages to take his main character (who, with his choppy haircut and flowing robes is – to me –  very reminiscent of de Saint-Exupery’s Little Prince) through all the ups and downs of having an idea, and winds up somewhere quite wonderful. Some of my favorite details are the illustration of the idea itself – a little egg, wearing a crown, golden in a world of black and white; the realistic reactions of the main character to his new idea – acting like it didn’t belong to him, being afraid of what other people would think, realizing he was happier when he gave it his time and attention; and the idea that there’s no shame in those reactions – Yamada doesn’t embarrass or otherwise ridicule the main character for fearing what other people would think, in fact he says that fear is justified, because some people truly don’t get the idea – “”They said it was a wast of time and that it would never become anything”.  What’s even better is his response though – “And, at first, I believed them. I actually thought about giving up on my idea. I almost listened to them.” We see the character trudge away from his faithful egg, surrounded by a flurry of leaves, head down, despondent, almost. Then – turn the page and Voila! “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.”

I’m sure you can guess that the outcome of his turnaround is positive, but the ending was still somewhat unexpected. – I mean I knew it was going to end well, but the perspective the author takes about what actually does happen if you nurture an idea is unique, and valuable, and one worth showing kids, for sure. (I know a few grown-ups who could use the message as well.) So, this book makes it into my stash, and if you’ve got somebody in your life who’s plotting something big, or making a huge change in their life and feeling a little bit overwhelmed, maybe you’ve got something you can send them to give them a little boost. (Include cookies. I am telling you: Cookies and a picture book are the beginnings of an absolutely perfect care package – I have sent this kind of care package to a Marine, and his squad was jealous, so I know what I’m talking about.)