It’s been a dry month. Lots going on. Tomorrow, we’re holding a fundraiser for our school, a literary dinner featuring Lalita Tademy, author of three fabulous historical novels: Cane River, Red River, and Citizens Creek. I’ll give you a recount of the evening next week.
Now, on to Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday. I’d like to nominate:
What Do You Do With An Idea?
The story starts innocently enough:
One day, I had an idea.
“Where did it come from? Why is it here?”
I wondered, “What do you do with an idea?”
The child tries to ignore that pesky idea, thinks it seems “kind of strange and fragile.” The child goes so far as to “act like it didn’t belong to me.”
Then we get the page turn and:
But it followed me.
The child worries about what others will think, so it hides the idea away. But it keeps growing and growing, along with the child’s love for it. Until the child builds the idea a place where it is safe to dream.
The idea and the child become friends as they share secrets. The idea shows the child how to walk upside down
“Because,” it said, “it is good to have the ability to see things differently.”
The child soon becomes unable to imagine life without the beloved idea. Then one day:
the idea “spread its wings, took flight, and burst into the sky.”
The idea becomes ubiquitous. It becomes “part of everything.”
And then I realized what you do with an idea…
WAIT FOR IT
WAIT FOR IT
You change the world.
This book, similar to Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” is a worthy gift for all the young idealists, the forward-thinkers, the world-changers you know who may be graduating right now. It received a well-deserved Independent Publisher’s Gold Medal in 2013.
Jilanne Hoffmann 
I love that! What a great book, and nicely told by you 🙂
Originally, I wasn’t going to give away the ending, but I wanted all those parents/grandparents/aunts/uncles/etc to know that it’s not just for the younger set. The “youngish” ones graduating from high school and college might find it inspirational, too. 😀
I know this book and loooove it. A Perfect Picture Book indeed!
Of course! You’re an excellent example of someone who listens to their ideas. Just keep it away from the rodents, OK? Shouldn’t be giving them any ideas. There may be some sort of plague-ish uprising.
I find your anti-rodentism troubling.
This looks adorable for all rhe creative kids in my life. Thanks.
Yes! I certainly took it to heart. I even had my husband read it. His company helps the dreamers with big ideas make the world a better place. Thanks for stopping by!
That’s lovely Jilanne – it can be read as simply, or as profoundly, as the reader wants to go. Once again, you’ve done a little chokes up and goes misty eyed moment on me
I look forward to your dinner account for next week. I hope the conversation sparkles the funds get raised high and there are delicious things to eat
The simple truths make for the best stories, I like the feel good nature and the gentle reminder for us all.
Truth, yes. I know so many people with so many ideas who are working hard to make the world a better place. The only thing the book leaves out is the tireless effort that change takes. But you’ve first got to believe in the idea and your ability to make things change. That’s what this book is about. Cheers!
Sounds like a wonderful book for children and adults alike. It’s funny how an idea can start so subtly and then grow so large there’s little room for anything else in our brains. I guess those are the ones we should listen to!
Kind of like ideas about those books you need to write, the ones that won’t let you go. Listen, listen, listen. And keep writing. 😀
Exactly.
Oh, how charming! I especially love the first illustration when the idea is wearing a crown. May all our ideas be crowned!
Yes, and I love how the little idea and its crown grow larger throughout the story. At the very end, the child is shown wearing a crown, along with more little ideas lurking in the foliage. Brilliant!
How delightful!!!
What a wonderful book review. I can’t wait to read this picture book. BTW, I am a huge Lalita Tademy fan and have read all of her books!
She’s amazing, isn’t she? I’m very excited about tomorrow night (and a little bit nervous since I’m preparing food) . If the three types of stuffed mushrooms turn out well, I’ll be fine. 😀 Thanks for stopping by!
Reblogged this on Keila V. Dawson and commented:
When you have an idea and aren’t quit sure what to do with it…
Thanks for the reblog, Keila!
Interesting! I like the concept!
Yes, it’s one of those universal “big concepts” that will appeal to many. Thanks for stopping by!
Love the illustrations and the message has inspired me! Now all I need is to have an idea… ❓
I’ve always thought of you as someone with plenty of ideas. I think that question mark should be a light bulb. 😀
Your review reminded me how much I LOVE, love, LoVe this one. In fact, it gave me an idea … for a visual display in Leadership Central next year … thanks!
Yay! Ideas feed ideas! Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for introducing me to the book. What a gem. Must read it.
I think you’ll enjoy it!
One of those perfect books where I state “what a great idea–wish I’d thought of it.”
Yes, I have those moments, too. 😀
This is definitely on my list of books I must get! Thank you for sharing it.
Yay! I think you’ll love it!
I like the way you reviewed this PB. Great concept! Kids like to ask where ideas come from.
Yes, they do. And this book helps them see just how important ideas are. It also helps them trust their ideas and let them grow.
Ooh I love the sound of this. Magical!
It does seem magical when an idea shows up unbidden, doesn’t it? Just like when this book showed up in my stack from the library. 😀
Y’know, something makes me think I should read this. 🙂
Ha! Did that idea just come to you? 😀
I love the premise of this book! I must get it. I think this could be really great to use in any kind of classroom, just to reassure kids that all ideas are worthy.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Use it in the classroom. I think they will LOVE it—and learn how to nourish their ideas even when others may think them unworthy.
what a neat book. Definitely important to know how to care for and feed an idea. Otherwise they wither and then you go looking for them (I know I left an idea around here someplace) but by then they are too weak to stand on their own legs…
Yes, and then you have to cart those withered ideas out of the house with a wheel barrow and toss them onto the compost pile. 😀
You are my connection to the picture book world, my friend. If we all read more kids’ books, we’d be happier people.
I think that’s why I fell in love with them. The humor, the hope, the fresh look at the world.
I’m so loving your reviews, Jilanne! This book, I believe, might dazzle my precocious little r who said to me after stepping out of his wading pool yesterday, “Look, Gooma, I’m rain.” Now, that’s an idea!
“I’m rain.” What a poetic statement! I think your little r will love the book. I hope you can find it in AK.