The book begins with the author remembering her own childhood, her curiosity and how she used to always be daydreaming. Not unlike the kids she meets on school visits now that she's a grown-up! She runs through a list of the questions she's often asked: Do you write from morning to night? Can you draw a horse? Do you like watermelons? Where do your ideas come from? And, perhaps the most important: Where does a story start?
The answer it seems, is with a white page. Because 'if you stare long enough at a blank piece of paper, anything can happen …'
From then on, this delightful book is hijacked by the kids' questions. These are turned into story ideas which Marie-Louise Gay then illustrates. The white page is a snowstorm, then it's a polar bear in a snowstorm, then a penguin appears. From there, the kids questions jump to dinosaurs, and lo and behold, we're off flying with pterodactyls.
But not all ideas are good ideas. So a few get thrown out and the book/story starts again, this time in a dark, green, mossy forest. But who lives there? An elephant? A wolf? A princess? A wizard? As the author shows, any of those options might lead to a good story, but for this particular tale, it's a giant who lives in the forest. And on the story goes …
This is a truly unique book. It's a fabulous exploration of creativity and how ideas can become stories. While younger kids will love the interactive aspect, older kids will hopefully also see how writing can be so much fun. Anything goes when you're creating; there's no right or wrong. It's all about discovering where ideas can take you and then slowly letting a story emerge.
Perfect for teachers, librarians and anyone anywhere who's ever wondered 'What comes next?'
Title: Any Questions?
Author/Illustrator: Marie-Louise Gay
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $17.99 RRP
Publication Date: April 2015
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760113179
For ages: 6+
Type: Picture Book
