- Picture Books
- Ages 4–9
- Fables
Maybe
Part of the Kobi Yamada universeOpen the collection
A lavish, affirming gift-style picture book about a child's potential and possibility. Best for confidence-building, milestone gifts and children who need reminding that they may have more inside them than they realise.
- Best for4–9
- FormatPicture
- Length40 pp
- Read aloud~8 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Lyrical
- Literary
- Second person
Tone
- Gentle
- Inspirational
- Warm
- Thought provoking
- Heartwarming
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Maybe speaks directly to the child reader, imagining all the things they might become, do, discover, change and offer to the world. Rather than following a conventional plot, the book unfolds as an extended encouragement: maybe you are here to do something no one else can do; maybe your dreams, talents and questions matter more than you know. Kobi Yamada's text is broad and affirmational, while Gabriella Barouch's detailed, glowing illustrations give the book a grand, magical quality. It is not as story-shaped as the What Do You Do With...? trilogy, but it has strong value as a comfort and confidence book. It sits in the inspirational gift-book lane: especially useful for children with low self-esteem, big transitions, or adults wanting a beautiful book with a heartfelt message.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 4–9
- Read aloud · 4–10
- Independent · 7–10
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Bedtime
- Reading together
- Gift-buying
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
5 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
5 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Self worth
- Potential
- Gift book
- Confidence
- Beautiful illustrations
Avoid if
- Wants plot driven story
- Wants funny story
- Prefers understated books
Particularly good for children who are…
- Low self esteem
- Anxiety and worry
- Starting school
- Moving house
In the classroom
How it works in school.
An inspiring picture book about a child's limitless potential — a lovely wellbeing read-aloud and prompt for talk about dreams and self-belief.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific feeling is being told you matter — the book speaking directly to a child, listing all the things they might become, never minimising the size of the possibility. The gift-book for a child who needs reminding their potential is real.
- Being special or chosen
- Making a difference
- Transformation
Why parents love it
The Yamada gift book — affirmational, beautifully illustrated, broad enough to land at any milestone. Useful for graduations, first days, confidence wobbles. Less story than encouragement; that's the point.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Conversation starter
- Bedtime appropriate
- Great writing
About the creators
About the creators.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where you’ll find it
On these reading lists.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
- Bookshop.org ↗
- Waterstones ↗
- Amazon UK ↗
- Hive ↗
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