What Do You Do With a Chance?

Written by Kobi Yamada
Illustrated by Mae Besom
Published in 2018

Why we chose this book:
This was a new acquisition at our library, and I had heard great things about this team's other book, What Do You Do With an Idea?, though I had not read it.

Mom's Review

A child discovers that taking a chance can be rewarding.

Chances in this book are tangible flying beings. They swoop around for the taking. When the main character first encounters one, he wants to catch it, but holds back. At his next opportunity, he tries to take the chance, but fails. He is laughed at and decides to never try to take a chance again. This leads to his unhappiness, and he ultimately determines that he must take a chance. He is rewarded with a large beautiful chance that lifts him up and allows him to fly.

The message is wonderful and honest: It can be hard to take a chance, you might fail at first, but it can be rewarding too. The delivery was a bit confusing for T, though. He knows that a chance is an opportunity, a time to do something, so when he saw the chance as a glowing flying object, he needed an explanation. Children who are older can appreciate the message and delivery, and will likely enjoy the illustrations of the boy and his animal companions as well as the golden fluttering chances. I like that the colors in the illustrations are muted in contrast to the glowing chances. I like the message. And I think that this will be a good fit for T when he is older.

Son's Review
(age 3)
While reading:
Son: Why is he afraid?...I don't like falling.

Mom: Let's read and find out why he's afraid... And do you think he liked falling?

Son: Noooo.

Mom: Who else was afraid to try something, but then got excited about it? And how did it turn out?

Son: Jabari! Good!

Son, pointing to the big chance: That makes you fly! I want to get it! I want to fly!

After reading:
Mom: I like this one. I like that he finally took a chance, even though he was still a little scared.

Son: Why was he scared?

Mom: Sometimes people feel scared and excited when they do something new. But he decided that he would focus on being excited. Do you feel excited about doing new things?

Son: Go to that toy store [Toys-R-Us]. Cuz I like toy stores and I like toys.

Mom: you were balancing recently. Did you feel scared? Excited? What did you feel more?

Son: Yeah. Yeah. Excited!

Mom: What should we learn from this little boy?

Son: That it's good to take chances!

Mom: And should other people read this book?

Son: No because he falls. That made me sad.

Mom: Were you sad during the whole book?

Son: No. That big yellow thing is a chance. I felt happy about it.