The Stellar Cafe

A 6th Grader's Journey to "Ish" -How a Book Planted a Seed

2012-01-22T18:19:00.000-08:00

I visited a school in New Jersey a few months ago and had the pleasure of meeting a 6th grade student named Sydney who had written an essay called, "Nobody’s Perfect" inspired by my book, Ish. I share this not only for her inspiring words of her own "journey to ish" -but because the inspiration was delayed. I love that a book can plant a "seed" and sprout when it is most needed.

Nobody is perfect

by Sydney Abraham

Nobody is perfect.

That is a fact.

Not a scientifically proven fact, but more like a fact that, quite frankly, most people refuse to believe. People want to be perfect. It is human nature to want to be 100,000,004% perfect.

I used to be like that. I would cry and scream and shout if I did something incorrectly. Everything had to be exactly accurate and correct. I would not settle for anything below amazing.

All that changed one day in first grade.

My first grade teacher read us a story called “Ish” by Peter H. Reynolds. This book illustrates that being a little imperfect is okay. It also suggests that older brothers are pests, but who doesn’t know that already?

In the story, a little boy draws a picture. His brother belittles his picture and says all sorts of mean things about it. The boy, Ramon, was very upset. Ramon’s sister comes and comforts him and tells him that his drawing is very good and that their brother was just trying to get on Ramon’s nerves. She said the drawing was fine- not perfect, but good enough. Ish.

When I first heard that story, it was just another story that my teacher read to us during story time.

A couple weeks later, I was trying to perfect a picture that I was drawing. It wasn’t turning out that way, and I was frustrated. I was not a happy camper. Then I remembered that book, “Ish”, that we had read in school. At that moment, and at many moments that would follow, I realized that was so important that it needed to be perfect.
Settling for “Ish” was good enough for me.

It was that day, not when we actually read the book, but when I discovered its true meaning, that really did change the way I look at life.

To this day, whenever I try to do something perfect, I remember that one picture book that changed my outlook on pretty much everything that’s important in life.

I still try to do my very best every day, but I know nothing will ever be completely perfect. I now know that if you try to be perfect in everything you do, then you will never achieve anything. You will be too busy trying to perfect everything that you’ve ever done. Of course, everyone is a perfectionist in his or her own way. I will not settle for any grade below an A- or a B+. Some people will spend an hour trying to make the finishing touches on a picture they drew for fun. Others spend endless amounts of time trying to improve in a sport they love.

For me, perfecting little things like these is okay, but I’d rather spend time improving, not perfecting, but improving, the bigger things in life. I believe that nothing in this universe is perfect, everything from the smallest molecule to the largest galaxy has its flaws.

Nothing is perfect.

It never has been, never will be.

Everything is a little imperfect, “ish”,

and that’s just fine by me."

Sydney reminds us of the true power of books -that the "aha" may not happen on that first read, or second or third. It may not happen for weeks or even years, but the seed is indeed planted -tucked deeply within - and may eventually take root, sprout and enlighten when it is most needed.

More Time To Spend Together

2011-12-11T15:07:00.000-08:00

It's never too late to evolve your life philosophy.

My twin brother, Paul and I were heading into FableVision, our trans-media studios in Boston. We zipped along the back roads of our hometown of Dedham and sailed onto the highway entrance ramp. Paul swiftly stepped on the brakes as he saw the bumper-to-bumper traffic on Route 95. He eased the car into the slow moving mass. We began crawling at a few miles per hour.

"Well, looks like we're stuck," I groaned, calculating how much of our day would be spent on the road.

Paul looked at me with a smile and simply said,

"More time to spend together."

I couldn't help but smile too. Five words had melted my frustration -- instantly!

The truth of his words sunk in during our pleasant two hour trip into Boston and have stayed with me ever since.

If I find myself waiting in long lines at the airport with colleagues, family or friends and hear anyone sigh or complain I reach for the five words.

"More time to spend together."

Works every time. Smiles. Blood pressure lowered.

This is a great example of creative thinking, or what I like to call STELLAR THINKING. It's the kind of thinking that allows us to see new possibilities and discover answers to challenges right under our noses. It allows us to see the world in a more generous way.

For example, a noisy classroom might seem as problematic as a traffic jam. I've been in a few classrooms where exasperated teachers were using lots of their precious energy to control the room.

What I could see and hear was what I call "BEAUTIFUL NOISE."

A room full of kids engaged and excited.

Lots of thinking and exchanging of ideas.

Laughter and smiles too.

Joyful noise is much more satisfying than the sound of a "controlled classroom" with the clock ticking away.

Stellar Thinking thrives on the ability to see patterns among chaos, to keep your sense of humor near at all times, to be ready to try the absolute opposite strategy to a solve a dilemma, to embrace mistakes as opportunities for creative problem solving, and to see the 30,000 foot view on a situation. Some situations might require the 60,000 foot view, but it really helps.

I'm pretty certain this kind of approach to life will allow me to live longer -which will allow me to say:

"More time to spend together."

Now THAT'S a good book!

2011-11-30T09:11:00.000-08:00

Early on in my children's book career, I was out in Greeley, Colorado attending the debut of a musical version of my book, The North Star. A local bookstore invited me to do a book-signing while I was visiting. I ventured to the shop which was located in a mall. I could tell it was a well-loved bookshop with narrow aisles packed to the gills with books. I ventured through the maze looking for someone in charge. I spotted an older woman who looked like she had been working -and perhaps living -in this shop for decades. Her eyebrow went up when she saw me.

"I'm Peter Reynolds. I'm here for the book-signing."

Her eyebrow lowered and her furrowed brow told me that she had no idea of who I was or what book I might be signing. I was fairly new at all this and quite ready to help bring her up to speed. I mentioned a new series I was illustrating called "Judy Moody." I told her about my book "The North Star" and how a local Greeley music teacher and an accomplished jazz musician, Tim Beckman, had transformed my story into a musical and how I had attended a performance of it at the Union Colony Civic Center.

I was telling her all this as she shuffled down the aisles in search of, I was guessing, copies of my books to sign. She stopped suddenly and picked up a small blue book and swung around. It was a copy of "Mr. Popper's Penguins" by Richard and Florence Atwater released in 1938.

She pushed it a few inches from my nose for me to get a real good look at it and said, "Now THAT is a good book."

After recovering from my bewildered state, I found the section with my books and signed.

Before leaving, I did one last thing.

I bought a copy of "Mr. Popper's Penguins."

On the plane ride home, I read it.

She was right. It WAS a really good book.

Lost Children

2011-10-15T12:52:00.000-07:00

We lose a lot of kids.

And I mean A LOT of kids. Try well north of a half million kids a year in the USA.

They simply drop out of public schools. (607,789 kids. (in 2008-9) according to the U.S. Dept. of Education) That number boggles my mind. That is roughly the population of Vermont.

Let's imagine what the prospects of those "lost children" might be out there in the world with no degree, few skills, and the label of "a failure"?

And let's venture a guess on who ends up helping shoulder their burden?

That's right: You and I.

Our communities have to dig deep to pay for the consequences of these "lost kids."

It's a shame that these kids, who leave school, do so without the skills to help us make things better. If they could read, write, problem solve - and feel empowered -imagine tapping them on the shoulder to help architect schools that were boredom-proof?

Ironic, no?

By the way, I'm a creative thinker, so I don't think all of these "lost kids" are doomed.
Many do actually fight their way through and make a future for themselves.
Some of these "left fielders" actually do some amazing things left to their own devices.

Speaking of devices, technology is a pretty nifty "game changer." Kids don't need to be reminded to use their mobile devices. Keyboards are irresistable to even infants. Kids expect all screens to be touch screens. Tell kids to build a robot and they light up. Ask them to make a movie or an animated film and they'll work through the night. We've just begun to see the tip of the iceberg on how these tools will revolutionize learning.

Pretty obvious to me that with new tools - cross-pollinated with new thinking about what school is, what it can be, what it should be... and then we've got a shot at plugging back in one third of our country's future.

Engaged, creative, productive, innovative.

Hey, isn't that the spirit that a participatory democracy thrives on?

Thinking for ourselves.

Making own choices.

Yet remembering that we're all in this together -- that our neighbors matter.

That's why my brother, Paul and I want to help press fast forward by launching a not-for-profit center dedicated to teaching, learning and creativity. We're interested in "out of the box" ideas that improve things- not just by a few percentage points - but by leaps and bounds. Applying slightly improved "same old same old" approaches won't move the meter for those hundreds of thousands of kids who are falling off the grid each year.

Those kids are our neighbors and our neighbors matter to us.

We can't stand by and watch them suffer and miss the dream.

We count our lucky stars that we can make a difference.
That is what drives us. We get energized when we see kids light up.

Teachers get recharged. Families get plugged in. Communities get energized.

We can't do this alone though... we need you. It's a complex challenge, but we love a good challenge. Many of the solutions to these challenges are ones that we already know work- but need room to breathe -and need to be protected and championed: conversation, listening, freedom, human connections- especially from caring mentors. Nothing beats an inspired teacher whose enthusiasm and energy inspires the same from those around them.

Explore our more at The Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning & Creativity.

Don't Miss the Clues

2011-05-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

I was behind the counter of our book and toy store The Blue Bunny a few weeks ago on a Saturday, helping out Janet and Margie. A mother was paying for her items and her daughter ran up - very excited- and interrupted her.

"Mom! Can I please get this?"

I noticed that it was one of my signed prints called "Dream Big" featuring a girl with a paintbrush admiring her creative affirmation.

Her mom was determined to pay for her gathered items and get on with the day. With a quick glance at her daughter, she said firmly,

"No. Now put it back."

My heart lurched. This girl's wide eyes - imploring her mom for this print - were not noticed by her mother.

"Pleeeeeease, Mom! PLEASE!"

"No, put it back."

I thought how profound that moment was - this young girl, who resonated with the message: "DREAM BIG," was being told to "put the it back." This wasn't a can of soda or candy - this was a reminder to a young woman to make the most of her journey. I hoped that, given the opportunity, her mother would applaud and encourage this vision for her child, but here on this busy day, the moment was going unnoticed.

The clues - as to who her daughter was becoming- were about to be missed. It wasn't that I wanted her to buy the print, rather just notice what sparked her daughter.

I took the plunge and spoke up.

"Keep it. That's a gift from me to you."

The girl's eyes grew wider. "REALLY?"

"Yes. That image spoke to you and I think it's very important for you to have it."

"THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!"

Her mom paused, trying to catch up with what was happening. She took a look at what her daughter was holding and smiled. "Thank you!"

It felt good to help get one of those clues noticed I am hoping that this little print will hang on this girl's room, and then her college dorm wall, and in her office, and perhaps someday, in a little framed propped up on her desk in the Oval Office.

Hey, I dream big!

Happy 80th Birthday, Deb!

2011-04-20T18:28:00.000-07:00

As a public service, I am sharing a wonderful e-mail from one of my my heroes: Deborah Meier who celebrates her 80th year this month. Hope it inspires you as it did me.

April 20, 2011
Dear Peter,
This month marks my 80th birthday. To every query about "what shall I give you on your 80th", I reply: "Give to FairTest."

As the billionaires pour billions--maybe trillions--into their school deform efforts on behalf of using tests to make all education decision, only one outfit is consistently out there answering them: Our David with its sling shot. Goliath will fall, eventually. But it will help if FairTest can struggle on.

Though FairTest has been around for only 25 years, its agenda is one I totally share. That's why I serve on the Board of Directors and make regular financial contributions.

If you think the work to which I have dedicated my life is important, please join me in making as generous a donation as possible to FairTest today.

To make your 80th Birthday gift honoring me, Deb Meier, please go online to https://secure.entango.com/donate/MnrXjT8MQqk; or mail your check to: FairTest, P.O. Box 300204, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.

Many thanks for your best wishes and donations!

Deb Meier

P.S. I'm enjoying 80, it feels just as good as....79.

You're invited!

2011-01-22T11:44:00.000-08:00

I love encouraging people to dive into the creativity pool. Sometimes all that is needed is the invitation. Consider yourself invited.

I carry my paper and paints everywhere I go and people get curious as to what I am doing - whether in a restaurant, a cafe, an airport, a plane. After showing them what I am working on, I will often slide a piece of paper in their direction and hand them a pen or brush. I love the look on their faces.

Well, kids of course - they light up!

Adults looks shocked and nervous.

"I can't draw." I smile at the response.

I gently invite them to give it a try - many times offering to make it a collaboration. After all, a party needs at least two people to really get going.

So, consider yourself invited. Whether it is the dusty piano that hasn't been plunked on for years, or the camera waiting to be taken on a safari through a city, or the empty sheets of watercolor paper aching to be splashed upon, or that fancy journal someone gave you that has seemed to precious to make a mark in... consider the invitation to plunk, play, sketch, write, draw, paint, and dream.

And then...

invite a friend or two.

Enjoy the pARTy. : )

Front-line Inspiration

2011-01-15T13:19:00.000-08:00

I get quite a few folks asking me how to get started writing for children - something I love to hear because I DO feel that all of us has a story or two (or perhaps a trunk-load) to share with those around us. By the way, when I say "with those around us" - that could be our children, nieces, nephews, - and "grown up children" among our friends, family, and colleagues.

I sense that many aspiring childrens' book creators want to "make it big" by being published worldwide. I like to remind them that it's not necessary to "hit it big" with the Big World.

Sharing with your Small World is a wonderful place to start.
(You can keep that vision of world-wide distribution, but just tuck it out of view for a bit.)

Some of your best "critical friends" will be children. My own Small World is exquisite "front-line inspiration." I'm very lucky to have my very own book and toy store which I opened with my family in 2004. The photo above was taken in our workshop room. I was teaching an animation class using a program I created called Animation-ish. The two kids in the photo are both amazing spirits. Both are artists- and both inspire me.

Being around kid-energy is, for me, like breathing a special kind of oxygen. Ideas spark easily and rapidly. I keep my journal handy, as I teach, to capture the ideas for later pondering.

Kids often will tell me their ideas as they share their art and animation. My jaw drops at their originality. I often joke with them that they have 10 years to develop their ideas into books, but if they forget - their idea is MINE to run with! Their eyes get HUGE as they realize they just struck gold. That feeling, that an idea is precious, that it has merit and magic, is powerful. That feeling inspires an artist and author to stay close to their idea, the way a bird stays close to the eggs in its nest, tending it, patiently, until ready to be hatched and shared with the world - the Big World - or one's very own wonderful Small World.

If All Schools Felt Like This...

2010-11-14T11:34:00.001-08:00

I was in one of local coffee shops in Dedham Square in my hometown of Dedham, Massachusetts during the middle of the week and I saw Ian, son of Cheryl (who has worked at our family-owned book & toy shop The Blue Bunny since the day we opened the doors seven years ago). It was a school day and THIS was his "school." So cool. S'cool.

Ian is home-schooled. He studies at home too, but he follows his mum into our charming downtown who works at the bookshop where he also studies. He also helps out at the cash register doing real-world math and refining his people skills while keeping up with all the latest book titles which he can then, in turn, recommend to other kids.

There are other spots in the Square that welcome Ian and his books and computer. He has become a fixture in our downtown, quietly working, drawing, animating - while the community cheers him on. We're all part of his "learning family."

As I stood waiting for my cappucino, I marveled at the cozy scene.

The fireplace.

The color.

No florescent lights - just beautiful, natural sunlight.

Music was playing.

Ian had his cranberry scone and his hot cocoa keeping him company.

What a wonderful - comfortable - inspiring way to learn.

Imagine if all schools were as cozy as this?

In my travels, I have found a few schools with some cozy touches. A rug, a sofa, holiday lights - mostly in the younger grades. I'd love to see more - across the age spectrum. Color. Music. Flowers. Gentler lighting. Pillows. Overstuffed armchairs. How about a cozy fireplace?

If you asked Ian - I am sure he'd agree.

All schools should feel this good.

Shape Goggles

2010-10-14T08:17:00.000-07:00

My mentor, Doug Kornfeld (who I dedicated my book "Ish" to) challenged me to see more creatively. To see patterns and shapes. I realized by a very gentle nudging on his part - that I had been drinking in the detail and often was lost in it. I took a few courses with him in the late eighties/early nineties - and came to realize that he was really doing "therapy" with me by asking just the right question at just the right time.

He seemed quite happy to leave me pondering - not really waiting for the answer - and certainly not interested in the final product. Not in a mean way, he just wanted us to keep going, to keep exploring, to keep finding our personal breakthroughs.

Creating a drawing (noun) was not the point. Drawing (the verb) was the point.

And really great drawing is really engaged thinking.

I realized, at that moment, that seeing shapes and patterns was something I had always liked to do growing up, but now that I had become aware of it - with my "shape goggles" on - I started looking at things around me very differently. If you have seen the film, A Beautiful Mind, John Nash could "see" numbers glowing around him- and in the same way - I was seeing shapes emerge from trees, cars, buildings, faces.

Sifting through my many tin lunch boxes filled with scraps, sketches, doodles, I came across this drawing of St. Mary's Church in Dedham, MA I created awhile back, but its a good example of looking for the big shapes in an object. I then splashed colors to reflect the "spirit" of the church, rather than "getting it right" - or "accurate" as was so often taught to me in school.

So, I raise my "shape goggles" to salute Doug Kornfeld, and all those wonderful teachers and mentors around the world - who challenge us to go beyond the details and see essence - and to get our beautiful minds doing their wonderful magic.

The Plate of String

2010-09-04T06:21:00.000-07:00

My brother, Paul joined me for a meal at a local restaurant, Aquitaine. We sat outside - perfect weather - savoring a meal together. The food was superb and the service was great - no, actually it was stellar.

The waiter checked in and asked, "Gentlemen, how is everything?"

Paul answered, "We just need a piece of string. This meal is so perfect we're floating away."

The waiter made a compliant nod and disappeared.

He returned a few minutes later with what looked like a delicate pasta dish.

It was a plate of string.

He quietly placed it between us and asked, "Is there anything else I can do for you at this moment?"

No, there was nothing else he could do. He had used his creativity to "wow" us - but in an elegant and subtle way. Simply stellar.

v. Flintstoning, to Flintstone

2010-08-18T15:05:00.000-07:00

The Flintmobile was cartoon caveman Fred Flintstone's snazzy set of wheels.

In fact, that was ALL it was - a set of wheels. It had no engine.

The car was "Fred-powered."

Fred would have to put his feet to the earth and run like mad to pick up speed... and then he could lift his legs and zoom along!

In life, to get where we want to be going, we have to "Flintstone."

YOUR vehicle is "you-powered."

All projects, ideas, dreams - require effort to "get going." Even a retreat, adventure, and fun require an investment of planning, effort and energy.

Some goals require quite the running start - and others may require a quick push. A caring nudge from a friend or a serendipitous sign that says "GO!"

Wishing you green lights, encouraging signs, and the inspiration to "Flintstone" your way to where you really want to be - on the kind of "you-powered" journey you really want to be on.

And remember, in the inspiring words of Fred Flintsone: "Yabba-dabba DO!"

Creativi-tea with Sir Ken Robinson

2010-07-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

I had the rare and wonderful opportunity
to have "breakfast creativi-tea" with Sir Ken Robinson while in New York.
He was to keynote to educators at the NYSCATE conference that morning, but he had just enough time to have breakfast with other speakers and conference organizers.
People were getting their copy of Sir Ken's inspiring book,
"The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything," autographed.

His book is "my cup of tea."

It shines the light on those who have "followed their North Stars"
- many of those who had been given an early diagnosis of being "at-risk," "in trouble," or "lost."
Creative thinking helped each of these famous - and everyday
people - overcome obstacles to discover their Element.

I waited until the breakfast was almost over and asked Sir Ken to sign my own copy of his book.

I then sprung another request on him.

"Could you please draw me a teacup?"

I handed him a piece of my favorite Italian Fabriano paper and a pen. Much to my delight, he picked up the paper and dashed out a bold little cup of tea. I smiled.

Most adults freeze when I ask them to draw for me.

Sir Ken Robinson did not disappoint.
True to the spirit of his work, he was fearless and creative!

After he was finished, I added: "Please - sign it." And he did.

I shared with him that this was to be a collaboration.
I've been doing this for years with those I have met along the journey - especially those who say they CAN'T draw. With a gentle invitation to draw a teacup, (my "informal research" in the past 25 years has proven that EVERYONE can create a teacup - or something that is teacup-ish!)
everyone has been able to "make their mark."

I took the pen, opened my watercolors and set to work. I drew around Sir Ken's teacup creating a gallery - and a cast of admirers. A final splash of color and our collaboration was complete.

Voila!

"The Element Gallery" By Sir Ken Robinson & Peter H. Reynolds, 2010

Sparks In the Universe

2010-06-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had that brilliant idea - that connection - the idea - the spark that happens in the shower or while driving - or in any other circumstance without access to recording your idea? You rush to find a pen, a pencil, a way to jot it down... but the whole process occupies the very spot that your spark sat waiting to be preserved. And then... NOTHING. Without a trace. I imagine that these sparks float skyward... out of reach... and find a place in the heavens. Billions and billions of sparks. Glowing with energy and light. Out of reach. They sparkle there in the heavens to inspire... to inspire us to keep going - to give rise to new ideas. New sparks.

The Power of One Word

2010-03-28T07:10:00.000-07:00

Ancient.

I wrote this word in 4th grade while attending South Row School in Chelmsford, MA. We had been asked to write the classic "What Does Thanksgiving Mean to Me?"

I grabbed my Ticonderoga No. 2 pencil and began jotting my thoughts on my sheet of blue-lined yellow paper.

I handed in my essay - feeling pretty good about it.

The next day, Mr. Germann called me up to his desk. I was worried.

He pointed to one word which he had underlined twice in red. I was more worried.

It was not misspelled. So why did he underline it?

"Peter, this is a GREAT word!"

I smiled.

"You could have used a simple word -like "old," but you chose a more interesting word. How did you know the word "ancient""?

I searched my brain for an answer. I was not sure HOW that word had been picked up and lodged in my head. I just smiled awkwardly.

"I'm impressed! Keep searching for those cool words!" Mr. Germann smiled one of those proud-as-a-peacock smiles.

I floated back to my seat. Ancient. Cool word. There must be others.

My teacher had started a life-long quest to find cool words.

To my surprise, my teacher approached me at the end of the day and asked me:
"How would you like to read your essay tomorrow in Principal Henson's office over the loudspeaker?"

"To the whole school?"

"Sharing your story is great way to celebrate Thanksgiving."

That was the equivalent (to a 4th grader) to winning an Emmy Award.

All thanks to that cool word.

Ancient.

As I reflect on it now, it was more than the one word, but the context of that one word in an essay about giving thanks. A meaningful collection of words from the heart of a eight year old.

My teacher also planted a seed that day - the sharing seed.
If you have a idea - share it. Broadcast it. Tell a friend. Tell the world.

Flash forward to today. Besides being an author and illustrator of over 30 books - I own a trans-media company called FableVision - dedicated to helping organizations tell "stories that matter, stories that move" like the "ZebraFish" series we made for Boston Children's Hospital Foundation to help share the big idea of empathy. We also make creativity tools for schools and home to inspire thinking, writing, and sharing.

Mr. Germann would probably would have liked our online vocabulary program "Words & Their Stories" The tag-line for the program is "The more words you know - the farther you'll go."

Thanks to my fourth grade teacher (who showed me how exciting just one word could be), I set out on a life-long journey in search of very cool words to help me share my ideas - and hopefully make a difference. In the spirit of that Thanksgiving essay, I'd like end with this:

I am so very thankful for Mr. Germann,
and for all those teachers
who helped me find my spark,
make my mark
and encouraged me to dream big.

How to Spark a Story:

2009-12-13T07:18:00.000-08:00

Start by NOT writing it.

I meet lots of folks with a story, a song, a project tucked inside them, yet they they have not written it down or shared it. I do my best to nudge it out.

I'm a big champion of the "talent within." I have a belief that there is greatness, magic, power, and wisdom tucked within each of us. The alternative is to keep it bottled up. Sometimes bottled ideas ferment, but often they are not properly corked and they evaporate. Not good.

Writing it down, getting from inside to the outside, is not always easy.

That blank page can be daunting.

Sometimes words don't always flow easily.

I love the title of the Talking Heads' album: "Stop Making Sense." Too many of us feel the pressure of "getting it right." In a journal, you have permission to stop trying to make it all make sense.

The wonderful thing about journals is that they don't come with strict rules on what you put into them. Why not try a drawing? A simple doodle. A squiggly line. If the spirit moves you, you can a draw face, or a place, a dog, or a teacup or a suitcase. Go ahead and combine things that don't "make sense." The face could be peering from the suitcase. The dog could be sipping tea.

Can you begin to feel the story sparks fly?

Let art trigger words. It can be your doodle, drawing, painting, or paste in art you find in the world. I have a friend in Paris who sends me wonderful e-mails with barely a word... she just pastes in art she has found on her online museum wanderings.

In my own journals, I'll find myself drawing a line that turns into something. I am often surprised by the odd little scenes that emerge. A huge boat resting on a house. A girl painting the petals of a flower. A dog playing piano in the rain. They are images in search of their stories.

Don't feel pressure to have to find a story for every image. Some odd little scenes may be perfectly happy to just be odd little scenes camped out in your journal forever. Months later I may go back through my story-journals (I have stacks of them) and will see one of these scenes and it doesn't necessarily trigger a story, but rather a question.

"Who will the girl give that painted flower to?"

"Why is a dog playing a piano?"

"Is that tree reaching for the stars?"

My mind starts to explain these intriguing scenes. A story may follow.

I have a version of the old expression: "The story writes itself."

"The story paints itself."

Images ARE stories.

Stories are paintings.

Every word is a color waiting to be splashed on the blank canvas of your journal. Adjectives are vivid colors. Verbs are streaks of paint that add motion to the story. Nouns are dashes of light and dark making forms emerge.

Here's a little haiku I created:

The majestic sky.
Star, hung silently, deep sigh.
Can't reach you. Too high.

Close your eyes and imagine it. Use the words to paint the image.

What color was the sky? Who was reaching for the star? What did the star look like? Were there other stars there?

Readers will add "frosting" effortlessly as the words are read and projected in the mind's cinema. How can that be? Creating images from words that are not even there? THAT is the magic about writing. Your words will not only paint the obvious images, but will also drum up the unpredicted, unique colors and shapes tucked in the minds of your readers.

Let art inspire your words.

Let words inspire art.

Go ahead. Paint yourself a story.

"The dream shall never die..."

2009-08-29T11:55:00.000-07:00

As I listened to the funeral Mass for Senator Ted Kennedy, I was inspired and moved by many of the tributes to him, but it was his own words that really resonated with me. I heard these words and picked up my pens and brushes and made this little painting. My watercolor celebration of his mission.... which is, of course, now our mission.

Tree-ish, Bird-ish, Flower-ish

2009-07-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

This is a collaboration between a young kindergarten lad, Declan, and myself. His original was a bit faint, having drawn it in light pencil, but we loved the image and wanted to print it in our creativity magazine for children called HUTCH published by FableVision/The Blue Bunny. I decided to scan the image and drop it my graphics program and then trace over using my WACOM Bamboo graphic tablet and pen. I added color, but really stayed true to Declan's fabulous line. I am amazed at the freedom and confidence of his images! This is why I chuckle when I hear adults say "I can't draw!" If they were to look at the wonderful work done by young people and see what fearlessness can produce - they would pick up a brush themselves!

From his bio reprinted from HUTCH:

About the Artist:
Declan Hooper is a Kindergartner who would sleep with his markers if his parents would let him. His “artings” are inspired by many things: Mexican Red-Kneed Bird-Eating tarantulas, Laurie Keller’s book The Scrambled States of America, dragons, outer space, US coins, and all the ‘How to Draw” books in the library. Declan is super excited to be taking art class with his first pre-school teacher and mentor, Miss Cindy.

I love his inspirations! What are you inspired by?

I know that I am inspired by Declan's ishful tree, bird and flower. : )

Simplicity

2009-06-20T12:29:00.000-07:00

I'll take a guess that the year was 1972 when my sister, Jane, shared an essay she had just read as part of a High School English class at Chelmsford High. It was by George Orwell. This essay on simplicity was, aptly, short. My eleven year old brain immediately felt a bolt of energy. I remember, to this day, where I was when I read it. I was in my bedroom, sitting at the desk which was tucked into the closet whose door was removed to make way for our "study center" in the room I shared with my twin brother, Paul.

Mr. Orwell's advice made a lot of sense to my visual-thinking brain. I didn't memorize his words or make a pledge to follow his "rules," but it did encourage me and validate my hunch that I was going in the right direction.

Less can be more.

Pictures can do a lot of heavy-lifting.

Words used in just the right measure can help simply get the point across. If you have no point to make, go into the garden and plant Morning Glory. An idea worth sharing may come.

This Orwellian-inspired thinking has traveled with me all my life and has helped my own story-crafting journey.

Simply put: Thanks, Mr. O.

Here's a nice, even simpler (ironically) recap of the essay from Pickthebrain.com. George Orwell’s 5 Rules for Effective Writing

Finding Vashti

2009-06-20T05:43:00.000-07:00

The year was 2001. I was in a coffee shop (a stellar cafe) Mocha Java, on the corner of High St. and Eastern Ave in my hometown of Dedham. I was nestled into a favorite spot right by the bookshelf and next to the big glass window – lots of light and plenty to look at and get inspired by.

I had my watercolors going – doing some art for my new book about a young girl afraid to draw – which had a title, but the main character did not yet have a name. Suddenly, a girl appeared in front of me holding a dozen green carnations. She sold me one as a fundraiser for her school.

When I asked her which of the local schools she was raising money for, she just stood there. I realized she was not from around Dedham.

I looked closer at this nine year old girl with brown hair and big brown eyes. Her skin was the color of a café latte – and she looked very much like the girl I had been drawing in my new book. The girl asked what I was doing and who the painting was for. I picked up on the hint that she wanted the painting. I told I was painting for her.

Her eyes opened wide.

“For me?”
“Yes, for you.”
I went to sign it to her and got as far as “To...”
“And how do you spell your name again?,” pretending that we were old friends.
“V-A-S-H-T-I.”
Wow, I thought to myself. This is her. This is my character!
I gave her the painting. She left smiling. I saw her get into the old brown van that appeared to have traveled many miles. She was showing her painting to her mother and her little sister who began waving to me through the window.

The van drove off.

I never saw Vashti again. I wonder if I ever will?

After The Dot was published, I shared this story while visiting studnets and staff at the McKay School in Fitchburg. The principal excitedly said, "That's OUR Vashti!"

I thought that I had finally found her.

"She was picked up by the police for selling flowers downtown during a school day. Her parents picked her up and she never came back to school."

Vashti apparently is a gyspy probably crisscrossing New England or beyond. I often wonder if she ever stumbled upon The Dot. I can imagine her "connecting the dots" and pulling out that slightly worn little watercolor made in a little coffee shop all those years ago.

Losing A Tree

2009-05-31T06:30:00.001-07:00

I am in New York City attending BEA - Book Expo America. I was here to sign two books: The North Star (Candlewick Press) and Tess's Tree (Harper Collins).

On Friday I checked my voice mail messages and heard one that that shook me... it was made from the cell phone of my friend, Gretchen who I knew as Gari ever since we met 20 years ago in California, but it was Gari's cousin. Her message explained that Gari had passed away last week. She had just celebrated her 43rd birthday. She left a number to call for more information about a service which will be held in two weeks time.

I'm glad my brother, Paul, was with me. The news struck me hard.

It occurred to me, as the weekend unfolded, that the two books I was signing were soothing signals from the universe.

"The North Star", a book about a young boy on an increasingly challenged journey who lands in a deep swamp. Gari struggled most of her adult life with alcohol. I learned last night that she died from cirrhosis to the liver. When I first met her, she was beautiful, funny, adventurous, but the swamp pulled her into a dark place. We lived on different coasts, but we often chatted, especially when things were falling a part for Gari, but I felt good to be a part of her "constellation" - cheering her along the journey. I sit here wondering what more I could have done. I know that addiction has a grip from the inside, but I also know that those around a person struggling can help shine some light on which way to go.

The other book I was signing was "Tess's Tree." A book about loss. A little girl loses her favorite tree to a storm and she grieves deeply. The way the family copes is to have a service for the tree. Family and friends gather in the yard where the tree had stood. They each share memories of the tree and what it meant to them. It eased Tess's heart to see so much love for one tree. Her tree.

I "connected the dots" - the "cosmic dots" and realized that both of these books were speaking to me... at the perfect moment. The power of story to help us understand the mysteries of life, to help us cope, to ease our hearts is a gift we can give each other and ourselves.

Make Way for the Mayor: There's a New Artist in Town

2009-05-11T12:24:00.001-07:00

This morning, my twin brother, Paul, and I had wonderful breakfast with the Mayor of Boston, Tom Menino - a stone's throw from the golden dome of the State House and City Hall.

We spent quite awhile talking about the city, about literacy, FableVision's projects and mission, and how we can infuse creativity and innovation into the city's neighborhoods, we decided to get creative at the table.

I pulled out paper and watercolors and ask the Mayor to draw with me. I loved the look on his face! He smiled and, being a good sport, he bravely picked up the pen. He paused. I suggested he draw a teacup and reminded him it only needed to be "teacup-ish." With a few confident lines, he conjured the image posted above. I splashed a bit of watercolor around it. I think it looks like a bronze statue which would be nice company with the Make Way for Ducklings statue in the Boston Gardens!

I told the Mayor that creating art reduces stress and that it allows new ideas to flow freely. The way that Mr. Menino took to drawing was like a 'duck to water".

In the coming months, the City of Boston may have one of the most relaxed and creative mayors in the country!

Stellar Proverb: Nulla dies sine linea.

2009-05-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

My friend, John Harris, sent me this Latin Proverb.

He knew that I would love it! My work is very much about "making your mark." It is a rare day that I do not make a line. Whether a drawing or words, I have made a promise to myself not to close my eyes at night before at least making one mark in my journal. I fell asleep one evening doing that and awoke to my one mark having turned into one big dot from my bleeding marker. That was, in fact, the inspiration for my book The Dot.

So, make your line! Whether your line is a word or a drawing, try to weave a few into each of your days. You can also make a dot. That counts, but please, sign it!

7 Questions: An Interview by Julie Everett: Question 1

2009-04-09T12:48:00.000-07:00

These are the rough color sketches that were my first attempt at getting my story "The Dot" out of my head and onto paper. If you know the book, you'll see I stuck pretty close to both art and text.

The following is the first question from a Q&A prompted by creative teacher extraordinaire, Julie Everett of Nebraska. I responded while in Bologna, Italy. I'll be sharing the questions and answers in my blog over the next week or so.
So... here goes:

1) Where did you
get the idea for The Dot?

Well, the answer to that one is actually in two parts.

I think the phrase “I can’t draw” - which I have heard countless times – has always surprised me – and has inspired me. My immediate response is “You just haven’t hung out with ME long enough!” I think that is what goes through any teachers or coaches mind when they hear “I can’t....” It just means we have to double up on some creative ways to get there.

So the theme had been brewing for years.

The catalyst for The Dot book was a mark I made in my journal. I make a habit of drawing and writing – as well as reading – before I go to sleep at night. Like many of us do after a long day, I can only get a few sentences read, a few words written or -- the very beginning of a drawing created before I have drifted off into sleep.

This one particular eve --back in 2001- in my 200 year old home in Dedham, MA, I set marker to paper and promptly feel to sleep. My Extra Fine Sanford Sharpie made contact with the white paper and began to drink in, ever so slowly, the ink. When I awoke perhaps an hour or so later, I was startled to see what my marker had left behind. A dot! A big black dot! I set the journal to one side and turned off the lamp.

Well, in the light of day, as the morning sun streamed through the windows falling upon my still-opened journal, I saw the dot.

It struck me that this was no ordinary dot.

It was mighty impressive.

What had started out as an unintentional “mistake” had ended up being a breathtaking dot! I quickly grabbed my marker and wrote “The Dot” above the dot and below I wrote “by Peter H. Reynolds.” I leaned it on my mantle above the fireplace and looked at it as the weeks went by and the story of a brave girl who makes an unexpected dot came in to focus.

The mission had found its story. The Dot was born!

The book was published by Candlewick Press in 2003.

Above and Below

2009-04-02T21:42:00.000-07:00

This time last week - I was sitting in a cafe in Bologna, Italy.

It was one of the cafes facing a great plaza - called Piazza Maggiore - filled with people.

I had a rare stretch of time where I just sat soaking in the scenery. Eventually, I looked up. There above me was a stunning ceiling. You'll see the photo I snapped with my iPhone. To me, it looks more like a painting than a photo! How many people pass beneath it without looking up and marveling?

I then looked down and snapped a photo of the ground. Big granite slabs polished smooth. The textured stone reflecting the sun made the stone seem alive.

I am inspired to keep looking up, looking down, - savoring the hidden treasures hiding beneath our feet and above our heads.

Another Stellar Day

2009-03-23T03:55:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Bologna! Another beautiful - yes, stellar - day here in Italy! Just a bit further up on Independenza Ave you will find my hotel, The Metropolitan. Well, not MY hotel. My home for 5 days! If you are ever looking for a place to stay - you'll be very happy here.

I had dinner last night with Marinella Barigazzi, a wonderful author here in Italy, who also translated a few of my books into Italian. She did not get a credit for her work in "Il Punto," (The Dot) but hopefully in the next edition the publisher will correct that. I noticed she gets credit though on certain sites selling the book like -- this one - IBS.IT. She showed me her newest book, in fact - gave me a signed copy - of (roughly translated) "I Wonder" - a lovely book about a boy on a train seeing wonderful things that get his mind and heart racing. I a m a big fan of stories about the "journey." We spoke about FableVision's new story media division which is ramping up and looking for great published stories to animate and distribute. Hopefully, "I Wonder" will be part of our collection. Our goal is to gather the best, most thoughful and though-provoking children's and family stories from around the world and to share that wisdom with others.

I'm off to explore the Bologna Children's Book Fair today and tomorrow. Lots of meetings with publishers from around the world. I will be meeting up with my pals at Pippin Properties (my agents in NYC) for dinner. There's a party hosted by Egmont which is on my list, but I have to reserve some energy for a few book projects on my plate! I am reserving all day Wednesday to sketch, ink and paint in the Italian sunshine!

Wishing you a stellar day!

i vostri amici,
Peter

A Stellar Cafe: Bologna

2009-03-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

I realize that I have never labeled any of my blogs "A Stellar Cafe" despite my blog being CALLED The Stellar Cafe. Well, here I sit in one of those stellar cafes.... here in Bologna, Italy. I am attending the Children's Book Fair once again. Part industry re-con trip and part "personal battery" recharge trip. It is already working. I arrived yesterday and slept from noon until midnight... and then unpacked - and slept another seven hours. I rarely sleep six a night. My body soaked it in like a dry sponge. As Shakespeare wrote:

Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleeve of care,
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast..."

I try to build in one of these recharge days into my trips so that I can begin the actual trip the next day - refreshed.

I had a great cafe session today - and savored the cappuccino... noticing that in Italy they drink small amounts and take their time with them. I think they might be flabbergasted at the "Grande Tall" cafe lattes consumed by USA coffee drinkers. (Better ask for "cafe latte" in Italy - if you ask for just a latte you will be served hot milk!)

And coffee to go? In big paper cups? I have not seen it here. I imagine they'd look at you like you're a bit crazy - which I think we are in the USA. We've gone nuts.

The greed for things we don't need - or things that don't even exist (look at the banking industry buying and trading people's money in things that did not exist!) - it feeds us, stuffs us, but I am sure it is not nourishing us.

We need to slow it down.
Do more with less. Sip slowly.
Feast on conversation.
Feast on the sight of a cup of coffee
gleaming in the sun
in a stellar cafe.

Ciao for now,

Peter
Bologna, Italy 2009

Digital Souvenirs

2009-02-28T07:07:00.000-08:00

I love our family bookshop. It seems to have special oxygen that makes hearts beat slower, blood pressure drop, people smile. This corner, at The Blue Bunny, is filled with toys and art supplies. The art supplies are invitations for everyone to become brave people who know how to express themselves - and yes, and to draw, paint, write and read. The toys are, upon closer inspection, quite often group games or projects that encourage children to make things. Part of our mission is to help balance out a world that seems to have gone sedentary and screen-centric a worl dtheat seems to be forgetting how to make things (furniture, clothing, art, poetry), although with the current economy - we are seeing a trend toward "less is more." We have a classic Blue Bunny shirt with the "less is more" mantra!

The Blue Bunny is a stellar place in my universe.

For the first time though in my many years, I have begun to wonder what the fate is of, not only independent book stores, but of books, board games, even art supplies. The pen. I read a great article on the BBC website exploring the disappearance of handwriting. Think about it. Even signing our names is becoming less and less required. Many credit cards are beginning to just require a swipe. The BBC asked readers to submit a sample of handwriting. I did - to have mine on record for the historians. I tried to add it here, but Blogger is not cooperating! Could it be part of the handwriting-purge conspiracy? I'll try again later when they're not looking!

Back to my beloved books - not just the ones I write and illustrate - but all books. I am seeing the digital publishing revolution happening. Newspapers are some of the first victims. Readership down - economy down - there go the readers - there goes advertising. The economics won't support it.m (If everyone committed to buying the daily paper again - we might save the newspaper?)

Once the big ones go - so too will the small ones. I have talked to the owner of a small independent local newspaper. He explained that they could only keep it financially viable to "stay in the game" by "riding the coat tails" of the bigger presses who pay for the machines and allow paper being bought in bulk.

Our bookshop is currently doing well. Mostly because of the valiant efforts of our amazing staff. They'll be there as long as there are customers who appreciate the printed page. The printed page. How many people are using their printers to print out webpages?

We are, in a sense, selling data that could be - and will be - are actually are beginning to be displayed digitally - but also making them available in these handy, nicely-labeled, easy-to-transport things called "books." And unlike a bookmarked webpage, the data can be colorfully displayed on a physical shelf.

Little physical "digital" souvenirs.

I had this sudden thought about the future.

The year: 2047.

The 50th Anniversary bash for The Blue Bunny Book & Toy Shop.

Paul and Peter Reynolds glide in on their HoverChairs.

Cheers from the crowd of humans, robots, robotic animals and the sea of holographic visitors blurring together.

One young boy who had pushed to the front to see why the floating old men were getting such attention, something he rather fancied himself the expert in.

"Who are they?" he queried his Cyber-Nanny.

"They're the Reynolds brothers... They're run this souvenir shop."

"What's a soo-va-near?"

"Well, its something to remember something by. According to my data files, humans once loved their internet made into paper souvenirs. They would print the pages onto the pulp made of trees and bind them into pages."

"Huh?"

"Well, there are still people who collect these souvenirs. You've seen one I am sure. Before schools disappeared, there was one in a glass case at the middle school."

The boy was suddenly interested by one of the wrinkled twins throwing candy to the crowd.

The boy reached up and grabbed one of the flying treats.

It wasn't candy. It was a miniature paint set.

"I'll explain what that is later," his CyberNanny said, intercepting his thought. "Listen up. They're speaking."

The twins began reading one of these books. The crowd hushed.

"I know this story! I heard it in the Holograph Tube. Look! They've stuck it in one of those 'sooh-va-nears!"

After the event, the boy raced to their family's horse and buggy which was waiting for them in front of the The Blue Bunny, a souvenir tucked beneath his arm. The crowd poured from the store and there was a thunderous sound of excited voices and horses whinnying as they mounted their steeds to head home.

The twins hovered out of the store on their weird craft. They rarely took it out for a spin as they wanted to preserve this antique HoverChair.

"You think they'll ever bring back the HoverChair?"

"With energy credits skyrocketing these days... well, who knows?" shared the CyberNanny who had a strange feeling that her days were numbered.

."Sometimes we remember the things shouldn't forget," she shared quietly.

The boy wasn't listening. He was lost in his book.

"And simetimes we don't." •

Sharing

2009-02-07T13:33:00.000-08:00

I recently had the honor to read some recent work by the British poet. Joanna Curtiss from an unpublished manuscript. It is very inspiring to experience work fresh from a pen. Words arranged in ways I have never seen. Ideas unleashed from a mind - and set down on paper. And to be one of the first on the planet to bear witness to it. Her words inspired me to open my journals and take a read of poems I have rarely shared. I like reading my unpolished work. Unedited. With words scribbled as fast as my mind could conjure them up!

It is my hope that my published work has this freshness and energy.

The Stellar Pause

2009-02-07T13:15:00.001-08:00

I'm back. After a blog-pause. I had a bunch of friends wondering why I had stopped. January was a month so packed with events - trip to London and to DC for the Inauguration being the big pieces. I am not traveling all of February! A pause! A wonderful pause in my journey. These "between" moments are great times to create. My book, So Few of Me, is dedicated to that thought. Hope you take some time just for yourself. To think. To rest. To dream.

My bookshop!

2008-12-06T19:16:00.000-08:00

I spent four hours in my bookshop in Dedham Square today. I love our store. I am hoping that you all get a chance to visit it at some point - especially during the holiday. There is a magic there during the holidays. The air inside The Blue Bunny is sweet and dreamy. I have a theory that this air can keep a person young - young at heart... : )

Stellar Girl

2008-11-27T06:25:00.001-08:00

I found this among my archives.
This is dated on the reverse side of this wooden shingle
(from a barn restoration in Barnstable, Cape Cod -- 1988. Strange for me to think it is over twenty years old. Feels like yesterday. It was the beginning of my connection to the star theme. I enjoy painting on wood. It is a good reminder that any surface is a possible place to create art. I like painting on eggs, cardboard, cloth, walls, floors, windows, mirrors...

I'd like to do more experimenting and
bring more of that experiementation into my books.

Stellar Friend

2008-11-15T19:48:00.000-08:00

This is my well-worn bear friend. I bought him from the 5 & 10 in Chelmsford Center in 1968. I was 7. Four decades later, he is still with me. His felt nose is long gone and his felt paws have been nibbled on. He is one of the characters who have shared the journey with me!

Stellar Eve

2008-11-04T19:50:00.000-08:00

Have I shared this yet? I think I did when I first was tapped on the shoulder by Marlo Thomas and Carol Hart to help design the 35th Anniversary edition of the classic "Free to Be You and Me." Well, here I sit staring at the finished book in my studio - proud of having helped bring this influential book back to life for the next generations. As I typed this, Barack Obama was just named president-elect! I can't help but feel that the stars are aligning. This book is about being able to dream and become who we are meant to be. On the cover, the lead boy is perhaps young Barack?

Which Way?

2008-11-03T10:12:00.000-08:00

I painted this a decade ago. It seemed very appropriate to share this on the eve of the U.S. presidential election. In the USA, we will be facing a choice tomorrow, like this boy. Making choices requires some deep, thoughtful reflection, as well visioning where a path might lead. If we keep our "stars" in view, we'll find our way out of the swamp we're in and find an easier journey ahead.

Stellar Birthday

2008-10-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

Wishing a stellar friend - a stellar birthday! Maribeth Bush is a shining star for many reasons... she has been a great friend to me, to FableVision and to The Blue Bunny. She has helped cyber-sculpt our sites for years. She also built and is caretaker of my children's book studio site. She is an amazing educator - not only caring for the children at Lunt School in Maine, but also educators and children around the world with her abilities-focused website she created and continues to build. She is also an author and artist. Her recent book, Sharing Friends, shares her wisdom of how to deal with playground dynamics.

She provides so much inspiration and wisdom to the world... I am lucky to call her a friend.

Halloween 1969

2008-10-26T23:07:00.000-07:00

I was eight when I drew this in school. Seemed like a good one to share this Halloween Week! This was created by drawing the yellow and brown with crayon and then using a big brush to cover the whole thing with black paint. The paint rolled off the waxy crayon. Cool effect!

Broadcast Your Story

2008-10-25T21:53:00.000-07:00

People write and ask me for tips on writing stories.
I often will share my strategy of telling the story -- before you even write it.

I called my brother, Paul, this week and left a "story message" on his voice-mail. I was driving along and the story began flashing in my head. In the message, I pulled the ideas from my head and crafted them into sentences "on the fly." I guess, if you can make the story idea make sense in a 4 minute message, you probably have something on your hands. This technique is handy. I was able to get Paul to bounce the message back to me.

What might have been an "idea flash" that vaoprized among all the incoming stimuli of the day, became instead - a little radio show. The only images were the ones my words attempted to conjure in Paul's head. If you're a fan of old radio shows or books-on-tape, you'll attest to the fact that good stories can survive on words alone.

Once you have a story written down, go "test-drive" it with a group. Hearing the story told aloud is very instructive. If you're aiming at the story being a picture book, resist the tempation to show images. Try it first with spoken words only. Later on, you can always exchange some or all of the words with art or photos.

Your choice.

Good luck tuning into your own internal radio station. The one that broadcasts your inner stories.

When you're ready - share them with the world.

Stories Wanted

2008-10-06T16:30:00.000-07:00

The American Red Cross is always low on blood and trying to get folks to roll up their sleeves to donate. In an effort to develop a more effective campaign, they did some research on why people don't donate. The most common response was: "No one asked me." So, they launched their "Consider Yourself Asked" campaign!

I feel the same about art, writing and other creative, constructive endeavors. I meet a lot of folks who have either "been meaning to" write that book, or pick up the brush, or write that song, or film their grandparents telling the famous family stories... or those folks who have not thought of it - or haven't done so in a very long time.

SO - consider yourself asked. Write a Post-it note and put it on your bathroom mirror. Tell a friend, "I've started a book!" (Try to avoid: "I'm thinking about writing a book." Thinking about it, in my world, IS part of the process of DOING it. Combine the two for success. Dream and do. Some people dream. Some people dream and do!)

The drawing above I made today to help me share something to help people to take action. The surprise invitation that might trigger the "next step." This image reminds me of when I was walking by a restaurant under construction in Harvard Square in the winter of 1986. There was a sign on the door: "Artist Wanted." I thought: "That's me!" I walked into the noise place, sawdust flying, sparks shooting from welding torches, and found the manager, Mike Eberly. "We're calling this place "The Border Cafe" and we want big murals of old Tabasco labels and the like. Do you paint murals?" I, of course, said yes. I had not YET painted a mural, but I could imagine it wasn't much different than painting on a sheet of paper. I had a LOT to learn! And boy, did I learn! (My mentor, Aldo Servino and I ended up painting 17 murals for the Border Cafe!)

I'll save the details of that story for another time, but the lesson from my story is that a simple sign from the universe might be your invitation in... and do not worry if you lack the experience.

The experience begins by accepting the challenge, sometimes bravely, and making it real.

Rose's Garden

2008-10-02T21:12:00.000-07:00

My FableVision Team just put the finishing touches on the animated "Telefable" version of my new story "Rose's Garden." My good friend, colleague, and children's book author/artist, John Lechner, lent his directorial and artistic direction to the project.

Rose Kennedy Greenway park grand opening is this weekend. Tonight we'll be unveiling the telefable at the kick-off gala. Senator Kennedy might be there if he is feeling up to it. Caroline Kennedy will be there - as well as 350 other guests. A high school student, Jennifer Sanchez, from Boston, will be reading the story live to the audience. The story is dedicated to Rose Kennedy. The character in my book is also named Rose, but she is really based on the spirit of the park. The mission of the Greenway is to bring diverse neighborhoods together, to provide a wondrous place to pause and reflect in the midst of a busy city, a place that took vision and patience, creativity and hard work to make real. My story weaves these together and encourages those who read it to bring more color to their own neighborhoods.

There will be a book version coming - but probably not until Spring of 2010. Such is the reality of traditional publishing. My experience though is that when you do what you love and love what you do - time flies.

Stellar Alignment

2008-09-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

Here's another peek into my hypnagogic journal.

He Was Me

2008-09-07T06:47:00.000-07:00

Here's another animation - a four minute animated film I made a few years ago. I was inspired by a boy whose voice we were recording at FableVision - a rather straightforward software demo. His voice was terrific!! I thought I'd write something to honor that voice - and quickly record it before his voice changed! I realized that my hurry to catch him before he stepped out of that warm and wonderful child voice and into the deeper, more serious adult voice - world - THAT was the story. Watch He Was Me and tell me what you think.

Ish-mation

2008-09-04T08:01:00.000-07:00

Here is a little video I made using my program Animationish!

I am trying to figure out how to loop it... but here it is!

To make your own -- go to our site to download for free.

Stellar Conference

2008-08-24T06:25:00.000-07:00

I meant to blog about this earlier in the summer, but here it is! While it was an event held in late July, it is actually part of an ongoing initiative by my colleagues and friends, Gary Stager and Sylvia Martinez.

The Constructing Modern Knowledge conference, which I was invited to come speak at, (oh yeah, and I was tapped on the shoulder to do the poster above!) is a terrific hands-on, minds-on experience that dares the participants to play, to imagine, to create. Reading a book about "experiential learning" might be enlightening, but to absorb it fully requires a JUMPING IN, splashing around, diving deep, and then a good picnic on the shore with your friends. Gary Stager, who I have known two decades, has been a passionate and provocative advocate for authentic learning. He brought together a stellar group and inspired hours of projects including animation, clay animation, film-making, Scratch and Logo programming, and more - as well as reflective dialogue about the benefits and challenges of this kind of creative learning. If every school on the planet could experience two days like this, I think we'd push fast forward on making schools the kind of places kids and teachers would find hard to leave in the afternoon!

Sylvia has been a friend on the journey for an equally long stretch. She is also a mission-driven educator - dedicated to the wonderful work at GenYes which enlists the tech talents of students worldwide to improve education! A brilliant organization.

Gary, Sylvia and I are all founding members of The Constructivist Consortium. We rounded up like-minded organizations creating technology tools to inspire creativity and innovation in schools and places of learning. Check these sites out and... "connect the dots!"

Dusty Dreams

2008-08-21T18:21:00.001-07:00

Short and sweet tonight. (remember that you can click on the image to enlarge it) This is a never-before-shared image from one of my hypnagogination Journals.

Stellar Sculptor

2008-08-19T19:02:00.001-07:00

I took a break today to savor a glorious summer afternoon with my wonderfully talented and inspirational friend, Nancy Schön. Nancy is the sculptor who created the beautiful bronze ducklings in the Boston Gardens. The installation is a tribute to Robert McCloskey's classic "Make Way for Ducklings." It has become a landmark in Boston.

Nancy and I are currently brainstorming a few collaborations!

I'll share more in the coming months. As I walked around Nancy's studio today, I marveled at all the "works in progress," all the sketches, all the inspirational photos of giraffes (she is working on a terrific giraffe leaning its long elegant neck down to sip water),

and of course, there they were - the original ducklings!

The giraffe project is a tribute to Nancy's husband, Donald Schön, whose seminal book "The Reflectective Practitioner" celebrates the idea that we are a work in progress - that we can continually improve our craft. He was a fan of jazz music - inspiring his belief that improvisation and "thinking on one's feet" was the key to growth. I'm a huge fan of this thinking. In my own work. In our studio. In the workplace, in general.

In schools.

Experiential learning should be at the core of every classroom if we are to transform them into wonderful classrooms. The most creative teachers I know are the ones willing to "wing it" (to use a duckling term!) and to dive into new projects, new ideas, new questions - without having the "road map."

Navigating WITH learners is an adventure!

What a day! Now... back to my studio. I have a book to sculpt!

Nancy in her studio!

Visit Nancy's site at
http://www.schon.com

The Creative Compost Heap

2008-08-18T10:59:00.000-07:00

I enjoy going "art diving" in my computer. I search for ".jpeg" or ".gif" files and just sift through the hundreds - thousands - of images I have accumulated over 10 years. Some images are from 30-40 years ago - things I have found in the boxes in my "museum" (in the cellar) and scanned.

Here is an idea I brainstormed while working on a project. "Frannie Williams: Audio SuperStar Supreme." Has a ring, no? A girl who starts recording books - adding music and sfx -- her books get kids reading more - she becomes a sensation -- hits the road - recording kids' stories around the world. I can almost see the book now. And the TV series!

When I help a FableVision client envision a solution for their mission, my brain switches to "high-speed" then to "puree." I will often come up with a dozen ideas (or more) before I get to the final client approved one. I try to save all my ideas, whether on notecards or on the backs of envelopes, scraps of paper or the side of a coffee cup. I hate to see an idea thrown out!

"Frannie" is one those "idea scraps" that got tossed on to my creative compost heap.

As you might know, a compost heap - once big enough - will start generating energy and heat. Up here in New England, I have seen the steam pouring off hearty heaps. It is quite a sight!

I feel the same way about all my ideas: piled high. They are not forgotten. They are part of an organic eco-system of creativity - throwing off energy - combining with new ideas - generating fertile, rich soil in which to plant the seeds of new ideas. My blog is part of that co

mpost heap. All the files on my computer. All the books I have published. All the stories in the "shoe boxes under my bed." All the conversations I have ever had. All my memories.

All my visions, hopes and dreams.

When you hear, "Go Green" - also think of your own creative compost heap. Throw a doodle on it and think of me.

Throne of Books

2008-08-15T04:21:00.000-07:00

This is some of the art I did for the upcoming 10th Anniversary Literary Lights for Children sponsored by the Boston Public Library. The event will honor some stellar creative folk: Susan Cooper (who visited us at The Blue Bunny!), Christopher Paul Curtis, Laura Amy Schlitz, Chris Van Allsburg (who I ate dinner with at his marvelous house)! I was honored at the same event last year and was tapped on the shoulder to provide the invitation art for this year! I called this piece: "The Throne of Books." I am in the process of making it a Giclee print.

My Hypnagogination Journals

2008-08-09T10:43:00.000-07:00

I have loads of journals - just blank paper - no lines - that I keep handy by my bedside. Just before I head to sleep, my brain "down-shifts" and I let my brain open up to possible words and images. This state is known as Hypnagogia: the transitional state between wakefulness and sleep. Here's a page from one of my "hypnagogination" books. Some pages feature scrawled lines and text that slowly disintegrates into unintelligible marks. One evening, I was so tired that my marker left a single mark. I fell asleep, marker still pressed against the page. When I awoke I found a huge dot. I looked at it and thought, "Wow. Looks pretty cool." I then wrote "The Dot" above it and "Peter H. Reynolds" below it. A story emerged from this page. Perhaps you've read it?

I Love My Voice!

2008-08-04T16:01:00.000-07:00

Here's an image I created on a big pad of paper during a visit to the Lunt School in Falmouth, Maine in 2006. My friend, Maribeth Bush, who is the stellar guidance counselor at Lunt, took a photo of this page from the pad I left behind. I almost had forgotten about this, so I'm happy Maribeth sent it along. She has a much better memory than I do and can probably tell us what prompted the art, but I do know that this is theme I love exploring. In "The Dot," Vashti's teacher prompts her to sign her work. I am always reminding people to be proud of their work, their name, their contributions and ideas - their voice! Reminding others helps remind myself.

I'm still learning to love my voice.

Stellar Art Friend: Betsy Lewin

2008-08-02T11:48:00.000-07:00

This past week I rolled on the rails along the beautiful seacoast from Boston to Philly, and from there I went to Simon & Schuster's warehouse to sign 2000 books! This is part of a special promotion for Toys R Us "Signature Series" - they selected 12 books to be signed by the author/illustrator. Among them: Chris Van Allsburg, Mo Willems, Alison McGhee, and ME! I spent the day signing with another artist partaking in the Mega-Signing: Betsy Lewin. Betsy is a wonderful and talented person. Her brave, bold, and splashy line is a signature of the Click, Clack, Moo series. Her husband, Ted, is also an artist - amazing watercolors! Check out his site too. Betsy and I are both represented by Pippin Properties in NYC.

By the way, the books that Alison and I signed for this promotion are "Someday" and "Little Boy." We have two more collaborations in progress. Stay tuned to the blog and I'll keep you posted.

Emily's Trials

2008-07-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

I bought a book at church fair a few years ago. I rummaged through loads of books looking for some older books that would sit on the shelves of my 200 year old home in Dedham Square. One of the books fell apart when I pulled it out of the shopping bag when I got home. Pages spilled on the table and I picked one up and read the title on the page. "Emily's Trials." The crumbling of the book seemed an apt "next chapter" in her story - and perhaps it was Emily calling out and saying: "I'm still here." I saw this image appear on the page in my mind and grabbed a China marker to sketch directly on to the yellowed page. The water-damage on the lower left gives the piece some wonderful color. Read the text (by clicking the image which will enlarge it) -- it is a eerie little conversation by two children comparing their woes.

Stellar Tree House

2008-07-26T16:59:00.000-07:00

I am still working on Tess's Tree -- a new book with my friend Jess Brallier. I was on a Google "image-inspiration hunt" for some maple trees and came across this slightly blurry - but wonderfully creative drawing. It was not properly labeled so I have no idea where this is from, but I am guessing it from the late 1800's. This image reminds me of the gentle and magical work of one of my "stellar mentors" -- Garth Williams. I'd love to find our family's copy of "The Tall Book of Make Believe." If you know that book, you'll see why this image echoes its spirit.

1969: Brotherhood

2008-07-22T18:43:00.000-07:00

While I was sifting through the archives I found this... drawn by yours truly in 1969. I was eight years old and tuning in to the world around me. We had lost Martin Luther King on April 4th, 1968 and that was a big topic in school. Teachers helped us understand what had happened and what MLK stood for. Those lessons helped inspire me to think big and believe that the best was yet to come.

Early Art

2008-07-20T21:38:00.000-07:00

Sifting through some boxes in my basement I came across this yellowed sheet of paper with a cartoon strip I created for my 7th grade school newspaper in Chelmsford, MA. Pretty sure it was 1973. I am relieved to see that my early work featured a hero doing good. The world might be ready for "SuperMoose" to return!

Stellar Pen

2008-07-12T17:10:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite pen nib. It is a dipping quill pen - a Schaeffer. I go through loads of nibs. As you can see in this image, it is crusty and thick... it has to be, for me, in order for it to hold more ink. If it is too new - the ink has a habit of sloshing out and onto my art! This particular pen nib has just been busy creating art for the upcoming book, Tess's Tree.

The Stellar Brush

2008-07-12T16:26:00.000-07:00

Finding the right art tools is liking finding the perfect dance partner. The right brush seems to be in perfect step with what your mind is constructing, your heart is feeling, your spirit is directing. I 'm a big fan of Winsor Newton No. 4. The brush above is W&N Regency Gold 520 No. 2. which is a great one too. I like natural bristles, not the synthetic. I often see plastic-icky brushes in children's paint sets that have a shock of bristles poking out in all directions - unable to actually hold any paint. A good brush is a like a closed hand - able to hold onto a dollop of color for when you need it. Now, having said all this... I have also used my fingers, match sticks, a wad of tissue fashioned into a point, - anything that would allow me to add color to my art when I am suddenly caught brush-less. The results have actually been unexpectedly surprising. When you DO find that perfect brush, buy a few and keep them near. Remember Clark Kent's closet with all those Superman outfits?

Dots and Dreamtime

2008-07-06T07:31:00.000-07:00

As you probably know, I love dots. So do the Aboriginal peoples of Australia. Dots are a common element in their work. Aborigines call the beginning of the world the "Dreaming," or "Dreamtime." In the "Dreamtime," aboriginal "Ancestors" rose from below the earth to form various parts of nature including animals, bodies of water, and the sky.

Stellar Mentor

2008-06-23T21:19:00.000-07:00

Derek was a wonderful man.

His spirit will be with me on my journey – he and I had some marvelous conversations –

one especially that sticks with me — he said...

“Tell your story to the whole world. Be sure you’re speaking their language.” He went on to say that we often muddle up our storytelling with details, stereotypes, and narrow thinking that shrinks our audience. He posed this to me: if someone was to ask you to draw a classroom - what would you immediately begin to draw? A room full of desks? A teacher, lights, maybe an American Flag, some writing on the board? But think more deeply, a classroom might be a room with nothing in it.... just a safe place to gather.... or it could be a field with a wise friend sharing a story. Thinking globally is very challenging, but the feeling of having your brain stretch is wonderful!

I feel blessed to have some “Derek spirit” tucked inside me.

Explore Derek's work including the film "Every Child" celebrating UNICEF's Declaration of Children's Rights.

Derek Lamb

(1936 - 2005)

Born in Bromley, Kent, England, Derek Lamb started his animation career with the National Film Board of Canada in the 1960s. He worked extensively as a writer, director and producer in Canada, the US and Europe, both in commercial and experimental film. Lamb was also a teacher of animation and writing, most notably at Carpenter Center for Visual Arts, Harvard University and McGill University, Montréal. For six years, during the 1970s and 1980s, he served as Director of the English Animation studio at the National Film Board of Canada, and he produced over 50 films for the NFB. His work was honored with numerous international awards, including Academy awards from Hollywood and Great Britain, for films he produced.

The Boys of Summer

2008-06-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

This is a fun pic of me and my twin brother, Paul, in Chelmsford, MA - taken about 1968. The pitcher is our stellar brother, Andrew. Paul and I were on the Belvadere Dodgers that year. I got hit with a ball the first time up at bat and I think that experience urged me to find a safer past time. I picked up a pencil and started drawing and writing!

Bruno Munari: Drawing A Tree

2008-06-19T08:35:00.000-07:00

I discovered this lovely book and wonderful man while at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. I highly recommend any of his books. Anyone interested in creativity, art, teaching and learning - and in becoming better at really seeing the world around us - these books will be an inspiration.

Accidental Discoveries

2008-06-15T06:17:00.000-07:00

I was searching for "umbrella" on Google images when I saw their list of suggestions on what I might be searching for , after typing "umbrel..." and I saw the word "Umbrello" and I thought "What a great word!" I was curious and found this. It's a whimsical and wonderful structure in England. As it turns out, it is being choked with weeds, forgotten on a huge estate, and falling victim to vandals who stole its leaded domed roof. It is as if Umbrello is reaching out to the cosmos to be noticed - to be saved.

Tess's Tree

2008-06-15T05:47:00.000-07:00

I am working on the art for a new collaboration with my stellar friend, Jess Brallier. What started out as a gift for Jess's neighbor who had gone through the loss of a favorite tree became a book deal with Harper Collins. They read about it the New York Times when Jess was interviewed about digital publishing. He talked about this little story "Tess's Tree" and how he and I made a TeleFable (FableVision's siganture on-line book format) and how we posted it on Pearson's FunBrain site (which Jess is in charge of) and how the story began getting a 100,000 hits a day. Brenda Bowen is the editor at Harper Collins who spotted this gem about dealing with grief and in these eco-aware times, the theme packs a two-fer.

Stellar Little Houses

2008-06-08T08:31:00.000-07:00

I have always been captivated my miniatures. Model train sets have magical little cities and towns with roads and rails that seem ready to spring to life. I fully expect to see little people wandering the train set landscapes. Techno-folk will probably figure this one out! I love small "micro-cars" - not toys, but real cars you can drive. I love small houses too. Here's a nifty one. This was built by a carpenter who wanted to show off his skills. I found this on tinyhouses.net. This building looks as if it sprung from one of my sketchbooks. I'd like to eventually try my hand at architecture to create never-before-seen spaces to live, play, think, and create.

Chris Greene

2008-06-04T11:09:00.001-07:00

Some human beings are born with scoops of extra talent and energy. My good friend, Wade Whitehead, "connected the dots" to Chris Greene's fantastic work! I loved these birds! Quintessentially bird-ish!

Explore the rest of his work at:

http://chrisgreenkinetics.com/

A Stellar Friend

2008-06-04T08:55:00.000-07:00

David Smith's Mapping the World by Heart and If the World Were a Village are brilliant works both of which should be on every shelf in every home and school. David is an old friend and a passionate educator. Please check out his site - www.mapping.com and drop David a line and say, "Pete sent me!" : )

SURTEX in NYC

2008-05-17T21:31:00.000-07:00

Here in NYC for the SURTEX show and Stationery Show.
I made a few new pieces to hang in the booth. Here is one...

Thanks, Linda

2008-05-17T21:27:00.000-07:00

Connecting the dots.... super-creative Linda Ragsdale made a nice mention of my books, The Dot and Ish! It is wonderful when like-minded folk resonate with the mission of the books and use the stories in creative ways. Check out the mention below - but also explore her site, her own books and terrific ideas designed to inspire!

http://www.lindaragsdale.com/teachers-pet.aspx

Farewell, Robert

2008-05-14T21:11:00.000-07:00

Robert Rauschenberg has left for the Great Gallery in the Sky this week. He was daring and bold. I love this quote from him... "I feel as though the world is a friendly boy walking along in the sun."

Governor Deval Patrick signs our poster

2008-05-08T21:54:00.000-07:00

Gov. Patrick asked me to wave the design wand over his civic engagement poster for children. We signed copies of the poster for the children at Greenlodge School in Dedham.

Done

2008-05-08T21:45:00.000-07:00

I am over the finish line with the Free to Be You and Me project. I worked through the night and tumbled into bed exhausted. When I woke up it was the morning after a storm. Quiet. Calm.

Idioglossia

2008-05-06T22:03:00.000-07:00

My twin brother, Paul, and I were the hosts of our hometown spelling bee in Chelmsford, MA. Also known locally as "Chemzfid." It was a joy to be back in our hometown. We grew up there - from 1st grade to 12th. Old Skip's Ice cream and Lounge which crouches on Route 110, we learned tonight, was slated to be demolished to make way for a strip mall. Sigh.

ANYWAY.... the night was a grand success - raising much-needed funds for school kids in Chelmsford. (What a world it would be if public schools funded the "investment" in our future properly and saved us all from school fundraisers!)

ANYWAY..... We rattled off a bunch of words for the teams at the Bee. One of the words caught my ear. Fun to say and the meaning, as it turns out, quite ishfully resonates with me.

From Wikipedia:

"Idioglossia refers to an idiosyncratic language, one invented and spoken by only one or a very few people. Most often, idioglossia refers to the private languages of young children, especially twins. It is also known as cryptophasia, and commonly referred to as twin talk or twin speech.

Children who are exposed to multiple languages from birth are also inclined to create idioglossias, but these languages usually disappear at a relatively early age, giving way to use of one or both of the languages introduced."

Cool. Twin speech. Language-ish.

I can not help but see the parallel between the loss of "private language" and the "drying up" of "artifidence." Art confidence. The abandonment of original marks, original song and dance, original expression.

What if we allowed children to keep developing "private languages?"

Would they perhaps better understand the mysteries of the universe? Would they know a vocabulary into a better future. A future which demands delicate nuance and sensitive prose?

We have, as a society, managed to do one thing QUITE well - to trample on the originality.

I'll end for tonight with that word: Idioglossia. It is fun to say, and I like the general notion of it, but it worries me that it sounds like "idiot" as if to say that freedom of thought and expression might result in the diagnose of brain mis-function.

My new animation program for kids (and grown up kids!)

2008-05-05T23:47:00.000-07:00

Well, my dream has come true! For years I have been teaching animation, but the tools were a bit daunting to those I tempted to give it a whirl. My pals at ToonBoom in Montreal teamed up with my company FableVision to create Animation-ish. If you have read my book, "ish"(Candlewick Press), you'll understand why we dubbed it ishfully. Check out http://www.animationish.com for the full scoop. I am hoping that schools will see that animation is a way for kids to express what they know across the curriculum. Animation and art do not belong in a "box." They should not be relegated to an hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Creative tools belong at the fingertips of teachers and educators all day long.

Little Boy

2008-05-05T23:39:00.000-07:00

The "companion book" to our NY Times Best Selling "Someday" is now on the shelves. Alison McGhee wrote it and I inked and watercolored it. These images are some of the ideas for the cover of the book. The one on the lower left was the direction we went. I like all these images. Especially the "wild and crazy boy" image!

Free to Be You and Me

2008-05-05T23:30:00.000-07:00

I'm busy working with Marlo Thomas and Carole Hart on the 35th anniversary edition of Free to Be! Quite an honor. The book is a classic with messages as important and powerful as the day it was published. My team at FableVision is helping me craft the book - building on the work done by Running Press. Samantha Oliver is our new art director. She is incredibly talented and a delight to work with - as is Erika Welch, our FV producer on the project. Here is the cover I inked and watercolored.

Thanks, Maribeth Bush

2008-05-05T23:26:00.000-07:00

A salute to one of my best friends - the talented, tireless Maribeth Bush. She constructed my site about my children's books - - http://www.peterhreynolds.com. She has her hands full with her own work, but she manages to keep my site alive and well.

My Journal on My Creative Output

2008-05-05T22:58:00.000-07:00

I've started jotting a few notes before I drift off to sleep to get me reviewing how much progress I made on my creative projects. I have several book contracts currently - yet another Judy Moody book, a book about a goat named Huck, my collaboration with Jess Brallier called "Tess's Tree." But I also have loads of stories in progress... and loads of ideas that have come to me as I go through my days. I have roughly estimated that I have 300 stories in my "vault." I realized that if I don't start speeding up the process that I'll never finish before I go to that Great Creativity Camp in the Sky.

The Cafe is now open

2008-05-05T22:53:00.000-07:00

Another late night... the cafe is open.