Ideas are All Around

Reviewed by: Patti Francis - Pownal Elementary School, Pownal, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 13, 2016

Review

An author can't think of anything to write about so he take his dog, Wednesday, for a walk through his neighborhood. As they walk he reflects on different people, animals and things that he sees. He greets Frank, the turtle; reflects on a sunflower that he planted as a seed; imagines where the passengers on a train are going, contemplates a sign, and stops to have coffee with his old friend, Barbara. When he shares his dilemma with Barbara, she brings the reader to the inescapable conclusion, “I wouldn’t worry about it.” she says “Ideas are all around.” Though the story seems like the random thoughts of the author as he is wanders through his neighborhood, Stead cleverly uses his illustrations to keep the reader focused on each object or person that he encounters as each idea sparks the beginning of a story. Stead’s unique illustrations, using monoprint techniques and collage with a font that looks like it came from a typewriter, are simple. Each illustration is laid out on a stark white background, keeping the reader's focus on each object as he sees it. A perfect mentor text for helping young writers to see the potential of finding ideas all around. Recommended for writing teachers and students in grades 3-5.

Overall Book Score: very good