Growing Up loves to find children’s books that are loved and appreciated by parents, kids and teachers. Chasing Dreams: How to Add More Daring to Your Doing is one of those books, written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Charles Santoso.
On the surface, it’s a beautifully illustrated picture book about a curious raccoon who dares to imagine something bigger for himself. But beneath its heartfelt storytelling lies a message to inspire readers of any age: the world changes when people decide to pursue what they care about.
A Story About Courage
The premise of the book is deceptively simple. A small raccoon begins to wonder what might happen if he followed a dream. Page by page, the story explores the doubts, fears, and surprising joys that come from daring to pursue something meaningful.
Illustrated with the delicate, fine-art pencil drawings of Charles Santoso, Chasing Dreams follows the adventurous raccoon as it navigates the breathtaking (and sometimes intimidating) landscapes of its own aspirations.
The raccoon’s hesitant steps, moments of discovery, and growing confidence create a narrative that children can easily understand while adults recognize something deeper. It addresses things that we often struggle to explain to children: the relationship between fear and wonder.
Yamada’s prose is sparse but powerful, almost poetic, and never feels preachy, reminding us that “the most important part of realizing a dream will always be the dreamer.”
Why This Book Matters Right Now
In an era dominated by screens, noise, and endless distractions, a simple picture book might seem like a small thing. But that’s precisely its power. Chasing Dreams invites readers, young and old, to slow down, turn a few pages, and consider a simple question: what would happen if you believed in your dream enough to begin?
For a child, the answer might be an adventure. For a teenager, a reminder that failure isn’t the end. For an adult, the spark to begin something long wished for.
Dreaming Big In Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz has always been a town that encourages dreams, whether it’s a child learning to surf for the first time, a teenager starting a band in a garage, or a young artist sketching in a notebook at a café downtown, the culture of this community has long celebrated imagination and possibility.
That’s part of what makes Chasing Dreams such a natural fit for families here. Yamada’s story reminds young readers that big futures often begin with small moments of curiosity; asking a question, trying something new, daring to imagine a life beyond the familiar.
The raccoon at the center of the story could easily be any young dreamer growing up along our stretch of coast: someone wondering what might happen if they followed the spark of an idea.
The Man Behind The Message
Kobi Yamada is not just a writer—he’s also the president and CEO of Compendium, a creative publishing company devoted to uplifting stories, journals, and gift books designed to inspire people to live meaningful lives.
Over the past two decades, he has become a leading voice in what might be called “the literature of encouragement.” His books, including What Do You Do with an Idea? and What Do You Do with a Chance? have sold millions of copies and have been translated into more than thirty languages.
Yamada’s own story reminds us that every dream begins with the courage to chase it. It’s the reason Chasing Dreams feels authentic: Kobi Yamada has lived the message of his own book.
For decades he helped build Compendium, and then in 2024, a remarkable milestone arrived. Penguin Random House, one of the most time-honored publishers, acquired Compendium. Yamada remained president and continues guiding its creative direction, now with the resources and reach of a prestigious and legacy-building publishing house.
As his own journey makes clear, and as his brave raccoon learns, sometimes the most extraordinary adventures begin with the simple decision to start. Yamada reflects on the journey with words that could easily come from one of his own books: “Amazing things can happen with big dreams… and years of dedication and hard work.”
By John Louis Koenig
