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Books by Kobi Yamada

Kobi Yamada is a New York Times best-selling author and the creator of many empowering books. We invite you to explore his award-winning collection of books and discover the timeless inspiration waiting just for you.

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"My forever goal is to spark conversations and discussions that will lead to more insight and understanding—conversations on compassion, perception, potential, and mentorship."

Kobi Yamada
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Meet Author & Compendium president, Kobi Yamada

The stories of Kobi Yamada are ones you’ll carry with you long after the final page. His critically acclaimed books have been translated into more than 30 languages, inviting readers of all ages to catch glimpses of their own endless possibilities. Filled with lessons on believing in big ideas, taking chances, confronting fears, embracing failure, and experiencing wonder, his collection offers life lessons you can return to again and again.

A Pacific Northwest native, Yamada’s love for nature often finds its way into his books. When he’s not writing, he enjoys traveling, cooking, cuddling cats, and playing with the dog. Yamada feels lucky to share his life with his wife and two children.

Follow Kobi Yamada on Instagram at @livethegoodstuff.

With whimsical illustrations and uplifting words, Yamada's books offer opportunities to slow down and take notice of the magic around and within you. Discover the joy of these imaginative books today.

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A look into Kobi Yamada's newest illustrated book

Caring

Written by Kobi Yamada
Illustrated by Elise Hurst

This is a tale about the power we each have to create change when we decide the difference we want to make. Alluring illustrations capture the relationship between a young boy and a devoted gardener who has transformed a desolate piece of land into a lush, natural oasis. Each page of this picture book is a reminder of the joy in the doing, the giving, and the connecting. Because when you care about something, we owe it to ourselves to give it our best. After all, the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches.

Be sure to discover the companion books in The Mentor Series, Trying and Noticing.

Explore the Mentor Series

Bestseller

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The cover imge of the children's illustrated book, Caring, the third book in the Mentor series, written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Elise Hurst. The cover features a tree stump with animals and greenery starting to grow from the stump with a young child planting a seedling.
A lifestyle image featuring, Caring, the third book from the Mentor series, written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Elise Hurst. The image shows an illustration from the book featuring a lush forest and plants, plus the book cover and the book is open to a page that features the child walking through a green forest with their mentor gardener.

Caring

$17.95

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The front cover of the children's book "Noticing", written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Elise Hurst. The jacket cover features an illustration of an old gnarly tree, and a girl and fox sitting beside the tree, with the title printed in gold foil.
Lifestyle photo of the childrens book, Noticing, written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Elise Hurst. The book is open to a page that shows a girl and her artist mentor walking across a bridge, surrounded by birds and lovely trees along the riverbed. The copy on the page reads, "One of the best things you can be is interested," the painter shared. "When you are interested, you are curious, and when you are curious, you discover things-amazing things, about yourself, and about the world."

Noticing

$17.95

Bestseller

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Front cover of the children's book "Trying" featuring two lions watching over a young boy, and a gray background.
Lifestyle photo of the children's illustrated book "Trying" written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Elise Hurst. Book is open to a page that shows a child working on a sculpture with an audience of cats.

Trying

$17.95

Behind the Scenes with Kobi Yamada

Watch this message from author Kobi Yamada about inspiration behind Caring.

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Watch Video
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Add More Goodness: A whimsical series about approaching the world with wide eyes and wonder.

Discover the Add More Goodness Series

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Front view of the cuddly bear plush, an adorable stuffed animal companion to the all ages picture book Feeling Grateful, written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Charles Santoso.
Lifestyle photo featuring the all-ages picture book, Feeling Grateful, written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Charles Santoso, and the companion cuddly bear stuffy.

Bear Plush

A companion to the book Feeling Grateful

$16.95

Bestseller

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Front view of a cuddly duckling plush, an adorable stuffed animal companion to the all ages picture book Finding Muchness, written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Charles Santoso.
Front view of cuddly duckling plush with companion gift books "Finding Muchness" and "Feeling Grateful", written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Charles Santoso.

Duckling Plush

A companion to the book Finding Muchness

$16.95

Bestseller

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Front cover of "Feeling Grateful" written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Charles Santoso featuring the title in the center, and an illustration of the main character, a cuddly bear.
Lifestyle photo the gift book "Feeling Grateful: How to Add More Goodness to Your Gladness" written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Charles Santoso. Book is open to a page with a sweet illustration of the main character, a cuddly bear looking at a pair of bushes that also looks like two friends holding hands. The copy on the page reads "None of us make it through life alone. Take time to pause and reflect on those who have helped you along the way."

Feeling Grateful

How to Add More Goodness to Your Gladness

$14.95

Bestseller

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Front cover of the inspiring gift book, Finding Muchness: How to add more life to life, written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Charles Santoso. The jacket cover is white with a burst of yellow rays and a joyful, jumping duckling is at the center.
Lifestyle photo of a plush duckling with the companion gift book "Finding Muchness: How to Add More Life to Life" written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Charles Santoso. Book is open to a page with a sweet illustration of the main character, an adorable duckling laying in a pile of heart shaped leaves, making a leaf angel. The copy on the page reads "If in doubt, love more. The heart is much like a balloon; the fuller it becomes, the more it wants to fly."

Finding Muchness

How to Add More Life to Life

Gift Book

$14.95

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Front view of the cuddly adorable grey raccoon plush. This stuffed plushy is the companion to the gift book Chasing Dreams, written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Charles Santoso.
This lifestyle photo includes a front view of the cuddly raccoon plush with companion gift book "Chasing Dreams", written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Charles Santoso. The pair are sitting on a wooden table with succulent plants, a streamer with cutout clouds, and a paper airplane surrounding them.

Raccoon Plush

A companion to the book Chasing Dreams

$16.95

Bestseller

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So Much Gratitude

12 Note Cards for Appreciation & Friendship

$14.95

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This empowering illustrated book series is sure to help readers of all ages connect to the endless possibilities within them—and discover just how incredible life can be.

Explore Children's Books by Kobi Yamada

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Side, angle front view of a stuffed "Idea" plush, companion toy to the childrens illustrated book, What Do You Do with an Idea, written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Mae Besom. The Idea plush is creamy white with orange legs and feet and is wearing a gold-yellow crown.
Lifestyle photo featuring the all-ages picture book, What Do You Do With an Idea, written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Mae Besom, and the companion idea plush stuffy.

Idea Plush

Companion to the New York Times best-selling What Do You Do With an Idea?

$10.95

Bestseller

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Front cover of the children's book "Maybe", and the companion flying pig plush, featuring a pink pig wearing aviator goggles on its head. "Maybe: A Story about the Endless Potential in All of Us", is written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Gabriella Barouch. The illustration on the jacket cover features a child and a pig looking up to the vibrant blue night sky and golden twinkling stars. "Maybe" and the "Natilus Book Award Winner" medallion are gold foiled on the jacket cover.
This features the front cover of the book, "Maybe" and beside it an open copy of the book turned to one of the pages. Above the opened book are stars and twinkle lights, to the right of the book is a stuffed pig, and below is an assortment of butterflies, and stars.

Maybe Gift Set

Illustrated Book and Flying Pig Plush

SALE $34.10 $35.9

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Front cover of the children's book "The Candy Dish", written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Adelina Lirius. The cover jacket has an illustration of a slightly opened candy dish and has candy and flowers flowing from it. The title is gold foiled across the center.
Lifestyle photo of the children's illustrated book "The Candy Dish" written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Adelina Lirius. The book is sitting on a table in a child's room.

The Candy Dish

SALE $8.98 $17.95

Bestseller

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Front cover of the children's book "What Do You Do With A Chance?" featuring boy and a fox walking towards the sun.
Lifestyle photo of the children's illustrated book "What Do You Do with a Chance" written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Mae Besom.

What Do You Do With a Chance?

$17.95

Bestseller

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Front cover of the children's book "What Do You Do With A Problem" featuring a boy walking against rain, and a gray background.
Lifestyle photo of the children's illustrated book "What Do You Do With a Problem" written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Mae Besom.

What Do You Do With a Problem?

$17.95

Bestseller

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Front cover of What Do You Do With an Idea? children's book, featuring a white background and the image of a child looking down at an egg.
Photo of child reading "What Do You Do With an Idea" in a blanket tent.

What Do You Do With an Idea?

$17.95

Bestseller

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Front of What You Do Matters boxed set and 3 books showing.
Image shows the 3 books included in the boxed set, What Do You Do With an Idea?, What Do You Do With a Problem?, What Do You Do With a Chance?

What You Do Matters

Boxed Set

$49.95

Bestseller

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Front cover of the children's book Why Not, and the companion arctic fox plush with green scarf.
This image features the children's book Why Not, and the companion arctic fox plush with green scarf. The two items are set in a arctic winter scene with the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) in the background.

Why Not? Gift Set

Illustrated Book and Arctic Fox Plush

SALE $34.10 $35.9