and thanks for the nod to MLK Jr. – a true patriot of liberty and justice for all. Ext. Thank you Ruth for your inspiring post. Great morning exercise with my coffee. My list is NOT growing this year (but I’ve gotten two manuscripts somehow????) Ruth is giving away 2 signed copies of MAXINE AND THE GREATEST GARDEN EVER and one of BABY LOVES POLITICAL SCIENCE: DEMOCRACY. Thank you so much for sharing. You share such good tips here! I am ready and inspired for today. Thank you for these tips, Ruth! You are a woman after my own heart – or wandering mind. For those who haven’t read the first Maxine book, she’s a girl who loves to make things, but not in the crafty sense. Thank you for the questions to ask. Great tips to ponder -very inspiring! What a great post, Ruth. There’s a big idea in there. Thank you for sharing your idea generating process. 2270-9311. Time to get dirty. Kudos! Thanks for the inspiration! How awesome! Thank you for sharing your process. Nothing could be more child-like than a stream of questions! Thanks! Ruth, I’ve watched your talent bloom and grow. Dean's Honour Lists 2019-2020 2018-2019 2017-2018 2016-2017 2019-2020 Deans' Honour List Narayanamoorthy Niveditha . Thank you for this great idea! Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), List of 500+ Fun, Cool and Interesting Words, BATTLE OF THE BUTTS Cover Reveal with Debut Author Jocelyn Rish, Picture Book Dummy, Picture Book Construction: Know Your Layout, Every Picture Book Author Should Make a Storyboard (plus a giveaway! Thanks for sharing your process, Ruth! , Dayne Sislen, Children's Book Illustrator. And lucky you for front row for Rep. John Lewis! Maybe I am trying too hard. Maybe I’ll glean some ideas to use in my own garden . Ahhhh! Pages 27 - 35 Ruth M. Lebet, Natalie R. Hasbani, Martha T. Sisko, Michael S. D. Agus, Vinay M. Nadkarni, David Wypij, and Martha A. Q. Curley Evidence … I had the pleasure of attending a 2020 NYSCBWI presentation by Yolanda Scott of Charlesbridge and Heidi Y. Stemple. . Love your post so much and Maxine is awesome, so excited to see what she does in your new book. Ruth, I heard you speak at the Marvelous Midwest SCBWI conference in 2019 and reading this blog took me back to your presentation. Hope College Registrar’s Office considers this a significant achievement. A challenge I experienced in my own garden. Thank you for sharing these words of wisdom! A construction company once demolished a very old home and older trees. Increible to create books for small kids about such complex topics! Thanks for the inspiration and brainstorming ideas. I love seeing how other authors develop their ideas. I would love to see how Maxine finds a solution to the garden critters problem! politicians? Thank you for the great suggestion, Ruth. Looking forward to reading your stories! Close to a homerun for today.. Thanks for the technique! Can’t wait to read Maxine’s garden adventure. thank you, Another fun and inspirational post. Ask questions + connect the dots = Big Idea. I love the idea of asking a series of questions. What does that make me think of? Thank you for sharing your very STEM based approach to the “writing problem”/opportunity. Thanks! What a great post! What a great post with helpful tips. Welcome to Cesar Chavez High School, “Home of the Champions.” Cesar Chavez High School is a special community, comprised of over 200 adults that are committed to caring for your child and ensuring they are prepared for life after high school. November 2021, "PRIVATE I" SERIES #3 Ruth, your tips worked for my next StoryStorm idea! Thank you. That photo of the squirrel and the pumpkin has me wondering! Thanks ever so much for this. Thanks for showing how you follow your curiosity. I wish I had your books when I was teaching! Sometimes I have to remind myself to do that . Asking questions until you find a relatable problem to solve is a great way to develop a plot. The ideas are already flowing! Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Thank you for sharing! Effective questions for brainstorming. Really intrigued by this process of asking ourselves questions about our ideas. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. So thanks so much. Thank you for this informative post! Ruth, thanks for this! Find a way to get in the way. I’d also really like to know how Maxine solved the problem of critters nibbling in her garden! (much better than the twitter rabbit holes I’ve been falling down of late.). Thank you, Ruth! What a wonderful post, Ruth! Thanks for your post Ruth! Love this…Find a way to get in the way! Your books look wonderful, congrats! Thanks for reminding me to ask questions. I had a rush of an idea that was based on the memory (something that happened when my kids were babies). Please order one of my books! Ruth Spiro is the author of the Baby Loves Science board book series, published by Charlesbridge. Thanks, Ruth. Your character Maxine reminds me of one of my students. Kind of like going down a rabbit hole, which is what I occasionally do. I’m looking forward to trying these great suggestions! You are an inspiration with the Baby Loves Science series and Maxine! I love the tip on asking questions over and over! This was a fun and inspirational read. Cancel anytime. BLOOP and the ever popular – What’s in your mouth? Thank you for sharing! Youngest grandchild is a huge fan of the first. Best wishes . congratulations on your latest book and thanks for the tips! Thanks for the post. What wonderful ideas for stories! At Cesar Chavez, your child is our child. What a great inspirational post! Thanks for showing us how to craft an orderly path from open mind to potential story. You’re so sweet, thank you! I love the strategy of asking questions to dig deeper into a story. The questions lead to more ideas and more discovery. Thank you for the inspiration! Thanks for giving me some great questions to think about!! Connecting the dots to get to the Big Idea. Great post. Thanks again and congrats on your success. until you find your story. Asking questions is a great method to take our Storystorm ideas to the next level! Now to find a home for mine. Best of Luck with your new Maxine book! It’s such a great concept, I wish I had thought of it first – LOL. Definitely motivational! How did other writers solve that? I bought it for my daughter Stella (who reminds me a lot of Maxine!). What a great reminder to keep questioning, keep wondering, and keep expanding ideas! Congrats on the new Maxine book! My crafty, “junk” obsessed daughter will love your books about Maxine – I can’t wait to read them with her! Loved hearing about your process, Ruth! John Lewis! Interesting process and inspiring writing post, with such kind acknowledgements on a Martin Luther King Day! It allows everything, every thought, every experience into a practical resource for a potential story. Thanks for sharing your process. Thanks for sharing this. Dig deeper. The Registrar’s Office is pleased to announce Dean’s List recipients for the fall semester. I love the working girl reference! Visit Ruth online at Penguin Classroom, ruthspiro.com, Facebook, Twitter @RuthSpiro, and Instagram @ruthspiro. Thanks for new ideas and inspiration for another day.