Spring is on its way! At least that's what the calendar says. You can't tell by the weather here in Northwest Indiana with the high in the 20's today! But if you happen to take a walk in the park, look around for teeny-tiny toads hopping around your feet!
The toad that we saw that day was as only big as the tip of my thumb. Inspiration can come in very small packages! And may just lead to an award-winning picture book about A HIPPY-HOPPY TOAD.
Where does your inspiration come from? It might be…
…from your family! Another inspiration that came in a 'small package' was a new baby in our family and the slightly older siblings who were so excited. I couldn't find that kind of 'new baby' book to read to them, so I wrote my own story. It turned into ONE OF THE FAMILY, a Little Golden Book. Another picture book inspired by the little ones in my family was FROM DAWN TO DREAMS, POESM ABOUT BUSY BABIES.
…from your pets! Whenever I read from or look at my picture book, NAME THAT DOG! PUPPY POEMS FROM A TO Z, I think of my dog, Snickers. All of the fun things that she did and the mischief that she got into! And you have to smile. If you have a pet, write about them! And they'll always be there with you.
Ideas sometimes come from the strangest places. A book about animal teeth might come from something that you read in a newspaper. A Thanksgiving book like TURKEY SURPRISE might come from the smallest thing that you hear on the radio and have to research because you've never seen a turkey fly!
Keep your eyes and ears, and even your nose open to new sights, sounds and smells. Feel the rough bark of a tree, or taste the buttery pancakes that your grandma makes. Read. And Listen.
Then pick up a pencil and write!
A HIPPY-HOPPY TOAD, Schwartz & Wade / Random House 3/18/2018
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
2019 Crystal Kite Award
2019 Indiana Early Literacy Firefly finalist
Happy Spring!