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Books by Theme » Life Skills » What Do You Do With A Chance book, a Story About New Beginnings

What Do You Do With A Chance book, a Story About New Beginnings

By Lauren Bercuson ·  Published: Jan 2, 2018 ·  Modified: Jun 30, 2022 ·  This post may contain affiliate links

What Do You Do With a Chance book is one of my forever favorite stories. It is one I love reading with my kids, especially at the start of new beginnings!

Cover of What do you do with a chance book
Table of Contents:
  1. What Do You Do With a Chance book is a perfect story to read at the start of a new beginning!
  2. What will you do with a new chance?

What Do You Do With a Chance book is a perfect story to read at the start of a new beginning!

I’ve always loved the newness that arrives on the first of January, the way the year opens up overflowing with wonder and promise, pure as a cloudless sky. It’s a blank canvas, right?

Maybe your surroundings look the same – you’re waking up under the same comforter, brewing that first cup of coffee in your chipped but cherished mug, making your kids their favorite Mickey waffles – but the day ahead is filled with an almost tangible feeling of hope.

And as each year slides – whether whisper soft or with a deafening bang – into the next, we are given a fresh start.  A clean slate.  A new chance.

Enter WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A CHANCE?, by Kobi Yamada, featuring gorgeous illustrations by Mae Besom.

Want the book? Get it here!

This team can do no wrong. Each book in this trilogy (it began with What Do You Do With An Idea, followed by What Do You Do With a Problem) has moved me deeply, with words and illustrations that came into my life at exactly the perfect time. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A CHANCE? possesses that remarkable combination that is most beloved by our family here at Happily Ever Elephants, that combo of magic and great, great meaning. We simply adore it.

What will you do with a new chance?

In WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A CHANCE?, a child gets just that – a chance – that appears out of nowhere.  But the boy doesn’t embrace it; he is uncertain, too scared, and thus pulls away.

interior spread of What do you do with a chance book

When the next chance comes around, he reaches for it and falls.  He is overcome with fear, never wanting to feel so foolish again. The chances keep appearing, though, but because he keeps ignoring them, they eventually cease.

Only then, with his emotions in turmoil of course, does the boy realize that as scared as he is, he does want to take a chance. Will he find the courage to seize a new opportunity?

interior spread of What do you do with a chance book

“If only I had a chance to [insert the myriad of things you or your kids or your students desire but never actually do HERE].” How many times have you heard this? How many times have you said it yourself? WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A CHANCE? is the perfect book to challenge this way of thinking – to change our perspective from “I wish I could” or “I’m too scared to do that” to “of course I can.” It is a beautiful book to promote the all-important growth mindset.

We all have it in us to take chances, to embrace new opportunities.  And we have to remember that though we may fall, or even fail, the beauty of seizing a chance lies in embracing the intertwined feelings of fear and excitement that come with trying again.

interior spread of What do you Do With a Chance book

Here’s to this brilliant conversation starter, a stunning conclusion to a breathtaking and inspiring trilogy.  And, of course, here’s to seizing chances, whenever they find you, as daunting as they may be. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A CHANCE? is a classic, thought-provoking beauty, one that has a home on every child’s bookshelf. We hope you love it as much as our family does!

Want the book? Get it here!

DISCLOSURE: Happily Ever Elephants participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Bookshop.org affiliate program. As affiliates, I earn a tiny percentage from qualifying purchases which helps me keep this blog alive!  Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.

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Welcome to Happily Ever Elephants!

Lauren

Hi! I’m Lauren. I’m a boy mom, former attorney, current elementary school librarian, and moderator of book clubs for kids around the country. My goal is to make storytime with your children both magical and meaningful. Welcome! LEARN MORE 

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