- Fables
- Picture Books
- Ages 4–10
The shape of it
The shape of this universe.
Kobi Yamada is the American author and CEO of Compendium whose picture books occupy a distinctive market position: short, illustrated, philosophical-feeling reflections on big single concepts, an idea, a problem, a chance, a maybe, a try. The 'What Do You Do With' trilogy illustrated by Mae Besom (idea, problem, chance) is the best-known stretch; the more recent Maybe / Trying / Noticing books continue in the same register. Pitched as gift books as much as bedtime books; very strong giftability, often given for school transitions, birthdays and milestones. Adults often love them as much as children.
Reflective gift-and-bedtime picture books that handle big abstract concepts (ideas, problems, chances) with grace, strong adult crossover.
Primary themes
Tone palette
- Warm
- Inspirational
- Thought provoking
- Gentle
The series
One way in.
Cultural footprint
A shelf of evidence.
What Kobi Yamada has done
- Bestseller list
Cultural ubiquity
3/ 5Well-known to people who know the room.
Sensitivity
Low, and collection-wide.
Across the collection
All 6 books.
About the creator