Living Brave: How to Add More Confidence to Your Courage

From New York Times bestselling author Kobi Yamada and artist Charles Santoso, this adorable all-ages picture book is filled with bite-sized pieces of wisdom to help you practice courage as a skill, embrace your fears, and bravely live a life you love.

As part of the beloved Add More Goodness series, this little book will empower you to step into a courageous life, one small act of bravery at a time. Filled with uplifting messages that frame courage as a life skill, each page is both a gentle challenge and an encouragement. Kobi Yamada's words push readers to step beyond their comfort zones--and to keep moving forward, even if we're still a little afraid:

• "Get started. The first step to any adventure is to take the first step."

• "Be open to new things. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Do something you're a little not ready to do."

• "Be brave in your pursuits. Limits and fears can often be confused with one another."

These simple yet powerful pieces of wisdom are paired with Charles Santoso's intricate illustrations, which follow the adventures of an adorable hedgehog. A naturally timid creature, the main character is seen unfurling from its defensive ball and engaging in various acts of bravery, reinforcing the book's theme in an endearing way. Living Brave also features fun cameos of the duckling, bear, raccoon, and sloth characters from the previous books in the series.

This book reminds you that the more you practice courage, the greater its power becomes. Living Brave makes an empowering gift for children or adults and is perfect for graduation, new ventures, life transitions, or retirement. Read through the whole book in a quick sitting for a big dose of motivation, or flip through the pages to find a single mantra to hold onto for the day. You'll find that the way to living brave is simpler than you may think.

Author: Kobi Yamada
Publisher: Compendium Publishing & Communications
Published: 07/28/2026
Pages: 48
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.55lbs
Size: 8.10h x 6.40w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9781957891644


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 06/01/2026

About the Author
Kobi Yamada is a New York Times bestselling author. His critically acclaimed books have been translated into more than thirty languages, inviting readers of all ages to catch glimpses of their own endless possibilities. Filled with lessons on believing in big ideas, taking chances, confronting fears, embracing failure, and experiencing wonder, his collection offers life lessons you can return to again and again.

Charles Santoso loves drawing little things in his little journal and dreams about funny, wondrous stories. He is the creator of Happy Hippo and has illustrated several books, including Ida, Always and the New York Times bestseller Wishtree. He moves around between different countries to live and work.