The Yes
on Goodreads (198)
What’s inside...
Award-winning Satoshi Kitamura's illustrations bring vividly to life this astonishing and empowering story about self-belief and overcoming fears. In a soft comfy nest in a safe warm place there snoozed a great big orange thing called the Yes. He was snug, but the Yes had a Where to go to. So he left his nest and went trundling out. But the Where was an endless place of Nos. They teemed and seethed. They picked and nipped, and snipped and snicked. The Yes yessed in all his goodness and bigness and yesness. But was he strong enough to overcome them?
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the Yes represents in the story?
How does the Yes handle the Nos around it? What does that teach us about facing challenges?
Can you think of a time when you felt like the Yes in your own life?
Why do you think the Yes kept moving forward, despite the Nos?
How do the colors and illustrations in the book make you feel about the Yes's journey?
Tip: Role play these questions
While discussing the book, emphasize how resilience and optimism are important when facing difficulties, mirroring the journey of the Yes.
Ask your child to identify their own 'Nos' or challenges and talk about ways they can transform those into 'Yes' moments, fostering a positive and proactive mindset.
Encourage your child to draw or write about a time they persevered through a difficult situation, connecting the theme of the story to their own experiences.
Use the illustrations in the book as a starting point to engage your child’s imagination and perspectives about overcoming challenges.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The power of positivity
Explanation: In 'The Yes,' the main character, Yes, embarks on a journey, overcoming various challenges with a positive and assertive attitude. This depiction showcases the strength of a positive mindset.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to approach their own challenges and fears positively, understanding that obstacles can be overcome with the right attitude.
Example Lesson: Importance of self-confidence
Explanation: Throughout the story, Yes remains confident in its abilities, which helps it navigate through the land of Nos. This character trait highlights the importance of self-belief.
Real-World Application: Kids are encouraged to believe in themselves and their capabilities, boosting their confidence when facing new situations or learning new skills.
Example Lesson: Resilience in the face of adversity
Explanation: Yes shows resilience by persevering despite the repeated discouragements from the Nos. This resilience demonstrates to readers that persistence is key to success.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of not giving up easily in their daily activities or when learning becomes difficult, helping them to build tenacity.
Example Lesson: The importance of exploring and curiosity
Explanation: Yes's journey is driven by its curiosity and desire to explore the world around it, teaching children the value of exploring unknown paths and learning through discovery.
Real-World Application: This can motivate children to engage in exploration and inquiry in their environment, fostering a love for learning and discovery.
Example Lesson: Understanding and overcoming fear
Explanation: Yes confronts various fears along its journey, showing children that facing fears is a part of growth and can lead to positive outcomes.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand that it's natural to feel fear, but confronting and overcoming it can lead to personal growth and learning.