What Do You Do With an Idea?

Why It's On Our Shelf

The concept of an idea as this fragile thing that follows you around is beautifully illustrated by Mae Besom. At first the child is embarrassed by the idea and tries to ignore it, but eventually embraces it and helps it grow. The visual progression from a black-and-white world that slowly fills with color as the idea develops is stunning. What makes this work is that it treats children's ideas as valuable and worth nurturing, even when others don't understand them. It's philosophical without being preachy, and the message about believing in your ideas despite doubts resonates with kids and adults alike.