- Picture Books
- Ages 5–10
- Art & Creativity
Noticing
Part of the Kobi Yamada universeOpen the collection
A thoughtful, beautifully illustrated picture book about slowing down, observing deeply and seeing possibility in ordinary things. A strong pick for artistic, reflective and curious children.
- Best for5–10
- FormatPicture
- Length48 pp
- Read aloud~10 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Lyrical
- Literary
- Conversational
Tone
- Gentle
- Thought provoking
- Inspirational
- Warm
- Whimsical
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Noticing follows an accomplished painter and a young protégé as they explore what it means to observe with care. The book encourages readers to notice small things, huge things, hidden things and imaginary things, suggesting that attention is a kind of creative power. Kobi Yamada's text is reflective and open-ended, while Elise Hurst's detailed illustrations invite exactly the kind of close looking the story celebrates. This makes the book especially useful for children who enjoy drawing, collecting, spotting details, nature walks or quiet observation. It is less plot-driven than some picture books, but that is the point: it teaches children to see the world as a place full of clues, patterns, textures and possibilities. It belongs in the artful, parent-valued picture-book lane.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 5–10
- Read aloud · 5–10
- Independent · 7–11
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
- Artistic children
- Mindfulness
- Visual observation
- Slow reading
- Beautiful illustrations
Avoid if
- Wants fast plot
- Wants laugh out loud funny
- Prefers simple preschool books
Particularly good for children who are…
- Interested in art and creativity
- Low self esteem
- Anxiety and worry
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A gentle, inspiring picture book about really noticing the world — a lovely prompt for mindfulness, wonder and observational writing.
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 delight is the slowed-down looking — a painter and a young protégé learning to notice small things and huge things and hidden things, attention treated as a kind of creative power. The Yamada / Elise Hurst picture book for the drawing or collecting or detail-loving child.
- Secret world
- Making a difference
- Adventure and freedom
Why parents love it
The Kobi Yamada / Elise Hurst reflective picture book — mindfulness-adjacent without being twee, detailed illustration inviting the close looking the text celebrates. Strong for artistic and observation-loving children; sits in the artful parent-valued lane.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Conversation starter
- Bedtime appropriate
- Educational for adult too
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 to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
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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