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    How Will You Make a Difference? Boxed Set

    Trying; Noticing; Caring

    Author Kobi Yamada
    Illustrated by Elise Hurst
    Boxed Set (Hardcover)
    $53.85 US
    Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed | Compendium
    9.31"W x 11.31"H x 1.65"D   (23.6 x 28.7 x 4.2 cm) | 61 oz (1,718 g) | 8 per carton
    On sale Jun 02, 2026 | 144 Pages | 9781957891781
    Age 7 and up | Grade 2 & Up
    Sales rights: World
    Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies

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    Empower and inspire young readers with this illuminating collection of stories by New York Times bestselling author Kobi Yamada and artist Elise Hurst. Each of the three books—Trying, Noticing, and Caring—share a unique and powerful life lesson, from resilience, to perspective, to deep empathy and compassion.

    What if one person can make a difference? And what if that one person was you? This mentorship-themed boxed set includes three stunning and powerful children’s books—Trying, Noticing, and Caring—inviting young readers to try new things, look with their heart, and remember all the good they can put into the world.

    Each book features an older, accomplished mentor and a young person just beginning their journey of discovering their talents:
    • Trying: A kind sculptor invites an aspiring apprentice to realize that failure is an important part of the process.
    • Noticing: An accomplished painter and her young protégé explore the forest and discover the joy in slowing down to observe the world’s wonders.
    • Caring: A young boy and a devoted gardener reflect on a desolate piece of land the mentor transformed into a lush oasis.

    The detailed artwork in every book features hidden and whimsical details, a signature element of the series. From shadowy lions watching with care, to cloud horses galloping across the sky, to stone sculptures peeking through a waterfall, every page invites readers to take a closer look. As you move through each rich scene, the mentors offer their unique wisdom—and each book culminates with a forever-valuable lesson that will guide readers for years to come.
    Caring

    I wasn’t exactly sure where I was,
    but suddenly everything around me
    was lush and alive.

    “What is this place?” I wondered.

    As I wandered around, a voice called out to me.
    “Hello there. Can I help you?”

    The most fascinating person was standing in front of me.
    She had birds perched on her shoulders and fluttering
    about her head, her hands and clothes were covered in dirt.
    I thought to myself, I want to be happy like that.



    Noticing

    What if you looked for the good in
    yourself, and others—what would you see?

    This is a story about noticing the little things, the grand big things, the imaginary, and sometimes, hidden things. It is about embracing what's possible. The incredible is everywhere, and in everything-waiting to be known, discovered, recognized.

    It's not only what we look at, but how we see it. When we look with our hearts, we grow our compassion. When we use our imagination, we expand our vision. And when we take the time to truly observe the beauty and magic around us each day, we begin to understand the promise and potential that is available to us all.

    This is a story to encourage you to pay attention, to make new discoveries, and to explore the unknown. It is also an invitation to look within, to your own hopes and dreams, and perhaps to discover even more.



    Trying

    “How do you do that?”

    I didn’t realize I had said it out loud,
    but the sculptor looked over and replied,
    “You simply do it.”

    “Oh no, I could never do that.”

    “How do you know?” he asked.

    “I just know.”

    Confused, I walked away. “He must be joking,” I thought.

    But as I left, I couldn’t help wondering what it would be like
    to create something so incredible.
    Copyright © 2026 by Kobi Yamada, illustrated by Elise Hurst. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
    Kobi Yamada is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of What Do You Do with an Idea?, Finding Muchness, Because I Had a Teacher, and many other bestselling, award-winning books. In addition to being the creator of inspiring books and products, he is also the president of Compendium. He lives with his family in the Pacific Northwest. View titles by Kobi Yamada
    ELISE HURST is an illustrator and author of children's books, as well as a traditional artist. She has illustrated over fifty books over the years, including Imagine a City, and The Night Garden, which received a Children's Book Council of Australia shortlisting. She lives in Melbourne with her husband, Peter, and their twin boys. You can read more about her work at elisehurst.com or follow her on twitter at @EliseHurstArtistillustrator. View titles by Elise Hurst
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    Photos

    additional book photo

    About

    Empower and inspire young readers with this illuminating collection of stories by New York Times bestselling author Kobi Yamada and artist Elise Hurst. Each of the three books—Trying, Noticing, and Caring—share a unique and powerful life lesson, from resilience, to perspective, to deep empathy and compassion.

    What if one person can make a difference? And what if that one person was you? This mentorship-themed boxed set includes three stunning and powerful children’s books—Trying, Noticing, and Caring—inviting young readers to try new things, look with their heart, and remember all the good they can put into the world.

    Each book features an older, accomplished mentor and a young person just beginning their journey of discovering their talents:
    • Trying: A kind sculptor invites an aspiring apprentice to realize that failure is an important part of the process.
    • Noticing: An accomplished painter and her young protégé explore the forest and discover the joy in slowing down to observe the world’s wonders.
    • Caring: A young boy and a devoted gardener reflect on a desolate piece of land the mentor transformed into a lush oasis.

    The detailed artwork in every book features hidden and whimsical details, a signature element of the series. From shadowy lions watching with care, to cloud horses galloping across the sky, to stone sculptures peeking through a waterfall, every page invites readers to take a closer look. As you move through each rich scene, the mentors offer their unique wisdom—and each book culminates with a forever-valuable lesson that will guide readers for years to come.

    Excerpt

    Caring

    I wasn’t exactly sure where I was,
    but suddenly everything around me
    was lush and alive.

    “What is this place?” I wondered.

    As I wandered around, a voice called out to me.
    “Hello there. Can I help you?”

    The most fascinating person was standing in front of me.
    She had birds perched on her shoulders and fluttering
    about her head, her hands and clothes were covered in dirt.
    I thought to myself, I want to be happy like that.



    Noticing

    What if you looked for the good in
    yourself, and others—what would you see?

    This is a story about noticing the little things, the grand big things, the imaginary, and sometimes, hidden things. It is about embracing what's possible. The incredible is everywhere, and in everything-waiting to be known, discovered, recognized.

    It's not only what we look at, but how we see it. When we look with our hearts, we grow our compassion. When we use our imagination, we expand our vision. And when we take the time to truly observe the beauty and magic around us each day, we begin to understand the promise and potential that is available to us all.

    This is a story to encourage you to pay attention, to make new discoveries, and to explore the unknown. It is also an invitation to look within, to your own hopes and dreams, and perhaps to discover even more.



    Trying

    “How do you do that?”

    I didn’t realize I had said it out loud,
    but the sculptor looked over and replied,
    “You simply do it.”

    “Oh no, I could never do that.”

    “How do you know?” he asked.

    “I just know.”

    Confused, I walked away. “He must be joking,” I thought.

    But as I left, I couldn’t help wondering what it would be like
    to create something so incredible.
    Copyright © 2026 by Kobi Yamada, illustrated by Elise Hurst. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

    Author

    Kobi Yamada is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of What Do You Do with an Idea?, Finding Muchness, Because I Had a Teacher, and many other bestselling, award-winning books. In addition to being the creator of inspiring books and products, he is also the president of Compendium. He lives with his family in the Pacific Northwest. View titles by Kobi Yamada
    ELISE HURST is an illustrator and author of children's books, as well as a traditional artist. She has illustrated over fifty books over the years, including Imagine a City, and The Night Garden, which received a Children's Book Council of Australia shortlisting. She lives in Melbourne with her husband, Peter, and their twin boys. You can read more about her work at elisehurst.com or follow her on twitter at @EliseHurstArtistillustrator. View titles by Elise Hurst

    Rights

    Available for sale exclusive:
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    •     Aland Islands
    •     Albania
    •     Algeria
    •     Andorra
    •     Angola
    •     Anguilla
    •     Antarctica
    •     Antigua/Barbuda
    •     Argentina
    •     Armenia
    •     Aruba
    •     Australia
    •     Austria
    •     Azerbaijan
    •     Bahamas
    •     Bahrain
    •     Bangladesh
    •     Barbados
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    •     Bermuda
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    •     Bolivia
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    •     Brazil
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    •     Bulgaria
    •     Burkina Faso
    •     Burundi
    •     Cambodia
    •     Cameroon
    •     Canada
    •     Cape Verde
    •     Cayman Islands
    •     Centr.Afr.Rep.
    •     Chad
    •     Chile
    •     China
    •     Christmas Islnd
    •     Cocos Islands
    •     Colombia
    •     Comoro Is.
    •     Congo
    •     Cook Islands
    •     Costa Rica
    •     Croatia
    •     Cuba
    •     Curacao
    •     Cyprus
    •     Czech Republic
    •     Dem. Rep. Congo
    •     Denmark
    •     Djibouti
    •     Dominica
    •     Dominican Rep.
    •     Ecuador
    •     Egypt
    •     El Salvador
    •     Equatorial Gui.
    •     Eritrea
    •     Estonia
    •     Ethiopia
    •     Falkland Islnds
    •     Faroe Islands
    •     Fiji
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    •     Kenya
    •     Kiribati
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    •     Lebanon
    •     Lesotho
    •     Liberia
    •     Libya
    •     Liechtenstein
    •     Lithuania
    •     Luxembourg
    •     Macau
    •     Macedonia
    •     Madagascar
    •     Malawi
    •     Malaysia
    •     Maldives
    •     Mali
    •     Malta
    •     Marshall island
    •     Martinique
    •     Mauritania
    •     Mauritius
    •     Mayotte
    •     Mexico
    •     Micronesia
    •     Minor Outl.Ins.
    •     Moldavia
    •     Monaco
    •     Mongolia
    •     Montenegro
    •     Montserrat
    •     Morocco
    •     Mozambique
    •     Myanmar
    •     Namibia
    •     Nauru
    •     Nepal
    •     Netherlands
    •     New Caledonia
    •     New Zealand
    •     Nicaragua
    •     Niger
    •     Nigeria
    •     Niue
    •     Norfolk Island
    •     North Korea
    •     North Mariana
    •     Norway
    •     Oman
    •     Pakistan
    •     Palau
    •     Palestinian Ter
    •     Panama
    •     PapuaNewGuinea
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    •     Peru
    •     Philippines
    •     Pitcairn Islnds
    •     Poland
    •     Portugal
    •     Puerto Rico
    •     Qatar
    •     Reunion Island
    •     Romania
    •     Russian Fed.
    •     Rwanda
    •     S. Sandwich Ins
    •     Saint Martin
    •     Samoa,American
    •     San Marino
    •     SaoTome Princip
    •     Saudi Arabia
    •     Senegal
    •     Serbia
    •     Seychelles
    •     Sierra Leone
    •     Singapore
    •     Sint Maarten
    •     Slovakia
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    •     Solomon Islands
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    •     Spain
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