by Bonnie Adamson (from 2010)
Those of us you who were children once upon a time will surely remember how frustrating it was suddenly to have been plunked down in a world where everyone knew more than you did—about everything. Children spend a great deal of time trying to figure things out: where does snow come from? Why can’t dogs talk? What happens next? Or, as we say in our family: “Who ordered the veal cutlet?”*
Kids develop their own little GPS-like subroutines, constantly recalculating to keep themselves on track—but sometimes, inevitably, they get it wrong. Misperceptions and missed information lead to misunderstandings . . . and—I won’t sugar-coat this—little misunderstandings often lead to:
Major Disappointment!
Total Humiliation!
Nightmares!
(Yeah, I was grown before I figured that one out.)
Thank goodness for picture books!
In a picture book, you can check out your own real-live dinosaur any time from the Storybook Lending Zoo.
You can have the queen invite the golfer with the highest score to the palace for tea, and meet the prince, who is even worse at Goony Golf than you are.
You can become a super-hero in training, and rid the world of evil, baby-eating furniture.
How cool is that? As children’s book writers and illustrators, we get to do this all the time. So, having aired three of my own neuroses . . . er, picture book ideas . . . here is a tip for today: think back to those times in your childhood when things were not quite what you expected them to be—and imagine what it would take to discover a new, old friend . . . or have the last laugh . . . or fly to the rescue.
And then, for the love of heaven, explain to the little person in your life that dinosaurs are really extinct; that, as silly as it sounds, low score wins at Goony Golf; and that, yes, if necessary, a very tiny baby can sleep safely in a dresser drawer . . . but only if you take the drawer OUT of the dresser first!
*A line from Mel Brooks’ Silent Movie . . . um, maybe you had to be there.
Bonnie is the illustrator of Rutabaga Boo! by Sudipta Bardhan-Qualllen, Bedtime Monster by Heather Ayris Brunell, and the “I Wish I Was” series from Raven Tree Press. She is represented by Marietta Zacker of the Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency.
Visit her at bonnieadamson.com or follow her on Twitter @BonnieAdamson.
—> Bonnie then, practicing her skeptical glare; and now—an older and wiser children’s book illustrator.
At the conclusion of Storystorm, prize packs will be given away (books, swag, writing tools). Comment once on this blog post to enter into the prize pack drawing.
You’re eligible to win if you’re a registered Storystorm participant and you have commented once below.
Good luck!
592 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 8, 2019 at 8:08 am
Stacey Corrigan
Great read that made me smile and got me thinking. Love the dresser drawer example–that was me as a kid. 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 8:10 am
Jennifer G Prevost
So much truth here! My kids are the most literal kids in the world, (wonder where they got it from?) those misunderstandings are a wealth of inspiration.
January 8, 2019 at 8:14 am
Andrea Mack
Thank you for the reminder to look at the world from a child’s point of view. I’ll be keeping my ears open in my kindergarten classroom today!
January 8, 2019 at 8:15 am
Julie Mondi
Great ideas! Thanks!!!
January 8, 2019 at 8:17 am
Linda Mitchell
Oh, my goodness what a funny post. And, did you purposely post this one today when I just read the article from The Atlantic on “Freddish” the way Mr. Rogers spoke to children and scripted his show? You’ve ticked all the boxes for his high standards.
January 8, 2019 at 9:48 pm
Bonnie Adamson
Wow, that’s a very high compliment–thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 8:17 am
Margaret Flint Suter
Looking at the world through a child’s eyes is something we all need to do far more often than we do…thanks for the reminder!
January 8, 2019 at 8:20 am
Martha
That’s funny. I also had a similar goony golf experience. It was tough wrapping my brain around that one. Thank you for your insight.
January 8, 2019 at 8:24 am
Jane Dippold
Thanks for your post about remembering being a child and how confusing the world can be! 😊
January 8, 2019 at 8:25 am
Cynthia Hawthorne
Thanks Bonnie. Yes, misunderstandings can lead to some of the best stories. Your illustrations started my day off on a good note.
January 8, 2019 at 8:26 am
DaNeil Olson
Wonderful reminder about POV. Thank you.
January 8, 2019 at 8:27 am
Alice Carty Fulgione
Seeing the world around us through the eyes of a child should really lead to some great picture book ideas. Thanks for the post!
January 8, 2019 at 8:28 am
Kellie
It’s kind of a shame that we lose the wonder of childhood and become jaded adults. (Although some things are good to let go of, like the irrational fear … mine was that the escalators in the shopping malls would suck me right into their bowels if I didn’t jump clear – I was petrified of riding them.)
January 8, 2019 at 8:30 am
jennysarawrites
These illustrations are so sweet, thank you for sharing!
January 8, 2019 at 8:30 am
Suzanne LaLiberte Lewis
Yay! Another Disneyland E Ticket ride through the crazy adventure land that is my imagination! Thanks for a fun post, Bonnie!
January 8, 2019 at 8:35 am
Nadine Gamble
Irrational fear of cats my whole life. Now I’m allergic! Thanks for bringing THAT back to my mind!
January 8, 2019 at 8:41 am
Loralee Petersen
Thank you Bonnie. We do need to remember what it was like to be a kid, even though that experience is getting farther away from us all the time!
January 8, 2019 at 8:41 am
Tania Russ Hebert
You gave me something to think about. Ah,the sweet days of childhood or not with a brother who fed you God knows what 🙂 . Love your illustrations.
January 8, 2019 at 8:43 am
Johnell DeWitt
Wow, the ideas that you found from that were really unexpected, and I loved that. A thoughtful approach. Thank you.
January 8, 2019 at 8:46 am
Kay lalone
thanks for the reminder to look at the world through a child’s POV
January 8, 2019 at 8:47 am
Tina Cho
Love the golf one. Thanks for the tip!
January 8, 2019 at 8:47 am
Ashley Congdon
It may take me some time to think and look back. My memory is not so great. I could definitely come up with some ideas from my son. Thanks for the idea!
January 8, 2019 at 8:48 am
Ryan Roberts
Great brainstorming exercise. Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 8:50 am
Krista Maxwell
Great tip! Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 8:54 am
Beth Gallagher
This one was definitely thought provoking! Thanks for a great post!
January 8, 2019 at 8:55 am
thecrowsmap
Thank you, thank you, thank you! It’s wonderful to think of the worlds that auther’s can create to soothe the woes of childhood.
Gail Hartman
January 8, 2019 at 8:58 am
Susie Sawyer
Oh yes – misunderstandings are the fodder for most sitcoms, after all! Great idea to consider them for picture books. Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 9:01 am
MD Knabb
Thanks for reminding us how confusing the world can be for young readers, Bonnie.
January 8, 2019 at 9:06 am
Amy Houts
You have a special understanding about how young children think, which is so important when writing for them. Thank you for sharing.
January 8, 2019 at 9:07 am
Kathy Halsey
Children see things in a magical way. Ty, Bonnie, for reminding us to see with a child’s eyes.
January 8, 2019 at 9:07 am
Katie B
Thank you for sharing!
January 8, 2019 at 9:07 am
authoryvonafast
Thanks for taking us back to the wonder of childhood. I love “Children spend a great deal of time trying to figure things out: where does snow come from? Why can’t dogs talk? What happens next?”
January 8, 2019 at 9:08 am
Manju B. Howard (@ManjuBeth)
Your post is so true. Thanks for illustrating your point. I can remember my boys in shock over misunderstandings.
January 8, 2019 at 9:11 am
Rachel Anderson
Thanks, Bonnie. Now you have me thinking of several things we said to our girls that made no sense without explanation. Yikes! I’ll start explaining them to my grandson. 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 9:11 am
ptnozell
I remember misunderstanding things as a kid, and even as an adult! Some great ideas here!
January 8, 2019 at 9:12 am
Mark Bentz
Thank you Bonnie for posting. I always wished that i, as a child, could fly away to the local candy store. Now that I’m am adult, and afraid to fly. . . I drive.
January 8, 2019 at 9:14 am
Elizabeth Metz
Ooh, I like this tactic. This one will stick with me.
January 8, 2019 at 9:17 am
mhklump
This is a good reminder of where to look for story ideas. Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 9:18 am
Melanie Ellsworth
I get to mine my daughter’s life for inspiration all the time, but today I’ll make an effort to dig back into my own past misunderstandings and see what I can dig up!
January 8, 2019 at 9:20 am
indalus3
Great advice, Bonnie. Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 9:20 am
stiefelchana
Love this post and your illustrations! Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 9:22 am
Sarah Tobias
In our house, the joke was about the first time I ordered for myself in a restaurant. Didn’t quite get it right. Hahahahahaha.🤨 I’m not still sensitive about that. No not at all.
January 8, 2019 at 9:24 am
Lenora Biemans
I love this! I remember not getting the joke: The cat got his tail caught in the screen door. It won’t be lonnng now!
I kept asking: It won’t be long Until WHAT?
January 8, 2019 at 9:26 am
polly renner
HaHa! Thanks for your post, Bonnie:>
January 8, 2019 at 9:27 am
kcareywrites
I love the visuals! Thanks for getting us back to our kid brains!
January 8, 2019 at 9:29 am
pathaap
Great post, Bonnie! Picture books are a wonderful way to show children misunderstandings can happen to anyone.
January 8, 2019 at 9:31 am
Jennifer Phillips
This sounds very cathartic for the author/illustrator and a great way to make sure we’re in the minds of our child readers. Great advice!
January 8, 2019 at 9:34 am
mlflannigan
Great things to think about! Thank you.
January 8, 2019 at 9:34 am
storyfairy
This is probably my favorite post so far this StoryStorm. I can’t wait to look back on my own misunderstandings from childhood. Thank you for posting. 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 9:35 am
rimna
Great post and great visuals – thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 9:35 am
beckylevine
Thanks, Bonnie… interesting way to look back for ideas!
January 8, 2019 at 9:36 am
Natalie Lynn Tanner
BONNIE: THANK YOU for the inspiration to look back at our own childhood to remember misunderstandings, miscommunications–to remember what it was like to walk in a little person’s shoes. SO IMPORTANT!!! And I LOVE the illustrations! THANK YOU!!!
January 8, 2019 at 9:37 am
Kim Pfennigwerth
Ha! Love the prince being worst at goony golf – great way to look at where the twist in a misunderstanding can be. Thanks for the inspiration!
January 8, 2019 at 9:37 am
susan
Great perspective. Love the illustrations.
January 8, 2019 at 9:39 am
mbhmaine
What a great post and a delightful read to start the day! I love the idea of looking back on some of my childhood misunderstandings (borderline traumas) and revisiting them to transform them into fodder for writing. Now that’s a super power! Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 9:40 am
Poppy P
Misunderstandings… good read, no misunderstanding there.
January 8, 2019 at 9:40 am
Joan Longstaff
Ooo, what a rich vein of ideas to tap into – or am I revealing too much about my childhood misunderstandings? Thanks for the post!
January 8, 2019 at 9:42 am
Deb Sullivan
Ahh…this one took me down memory lane! Plenty of thoughts to share – thanks for the helpful tip!
January 8, 2019 at 9:43 am
Nicole M
Thank you for the great tips. Loved the illustrations!
January 8, 2019 at 9:44 am
M Lapointe Malchik (@imartytweet)
HI Bonnie, I love seeing your sketches of a child’s misunderstandings. We forget how much there is to navigate and how much picture books play a role in sorting out all the ways the world works. Looking forward to seeing more of your books. Thank you for participating in Storystorm’s idea month with us!
January 8, 2019 at 9:48 am
andreesantini
Love your illustrations and thanks for the inspiration, I’ll be remembering back for some old misunderstandings.
January 8, 2019 at 9:48 am
Juliana Lee
Hi Bonnie! Love your cartoon examples! Misconceptions can be tricky. You’ve done a great job of bringing out the humor in them. Time to talk to the preschoolers again!
January 8, 2019 at 9:48 am
Shelly Wilson
And suddenly, 3 ideas popped into my head. Thank you, Bonnie!
January 8, 2019 at 9:53 pm
Bonnie Adamson
That’s awesome, Shelly! I confess I suddenly saw a fresh way of looking at one of the examples–so, thanks to Tara for re-posting!
January 8, 2019 at 9:49 am
Katie Engen
My older sister was a dresser-drawer baby… I never realized that could stick with you (this could explain a few things 😉 )
January 8, 2019 at 9:50 am
Megan Whitaker
That putt putt golf really happened to me! Try, try again doesn’t really apply as much to golf as writing picture books I think! Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 9:50 am
alisongoldberg
Thank you for this great prompt!
January 8, 2019 at 9:53 am
Sherri Jones Rivers
This post reminds me of a time when my five year old daughter asked what a sign said. I answered, “It says Big Tree Cleaners.” (The shopping center was Big Tree Shopping Center) She thought a minute and said, “Do they really clean big trees?” HAHA! Great post, Bonnie, from the past.
January 8, 2019 at 9:54 pm
Bonnie Adamson
Love it!!
January 8, 2019 at 9:53 am
Laura
A continued reminder of a kid’s very unique perspective of the world
January 8, 2019 at 9:56 am
Writer on the run
This post reminded me of the time I thought “rest period” at the swimming pool meant I got the pool all to myself- pretty humiliating to be yelled at by the lifeguard in front of 100s of people. I know there are more instances- have to start digging!
January 8, 2019 at 9:56 am
Celeste Bocchicchio-Chaudhri
I would read all three of those books! I spend a lot of time following my two children around and writing down the goofy things they say.
January 8, 2019 at 9:57 am
Mardi Edwards
When my son was a 3 week old, we celebrated Christmas out of our home and he got to sleep in a laundry basket. Thanks for the reminder.
January 8, 2019 at 10:00 am
Lisa Robinson
Wonderful to revisit this one, thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 10:18 am
Sandra Ekstrom
Thanks for the idea
January 8, 2019 at 10:01 am
joyceschr
I always wondered whether there was a better way to help kids see the difference between reality and fantasy other than telling them The Truth. Enter PICTURE BOOKS! 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 10:05 am
hallee2012
Bonnie, your post left me with such a sweet feeling. I love your thought about re-envisioning a childhood memory with a different, child-dreamy ending. So great. Thanks!!!! And ps loved your illustrations for rutabaga boo!
January 8, 2019 at 9:54 pm
Bonnie Adamson
Awww–thanks, Hallee!
January 8, 2019 at 10:06 am
Lori Ann
Loved this post, Bonnie!! I used to think Veterans’ Day was a day that all the animal hospitals were closed. And Rehearsal Diinners always confused me—why would anyone need to practice eating dinner??
January 8, 2019 at 10:09 am
vijikc
Thank you for this wonderful idea!
January 8, 2019 at 10:09 am
Carolyn Lucas
OOO – definitely will think back to my youth days or use my son. Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 10:09 am
Robin Brett Wechsler
Great reminder to think like how children think when writing/illustrating our stories. It’s important we keep a sense of wonder and appreciate the funny misunderstandings that can result (which can be an inspiration for story ideas, as you noted). Thanks, Bonnie!
January 8, 2019 at 10:09 am
Amy Harding
Writing about childhood misunderstandings! What a ingenious, yet simple topic for ideas!
January 8, 2019 at 10:10 am
Aimee
I love this perspective of disappointment and misunderstanding. What a great reminder and great dose of humor in the post:)
January 8, 2019 at 10:11 am
Mary Worley
The dinosaur bones made me laugh. Definitely an area rich for tapping. Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 10:11 am
Sarah Hetu-Radny
I kept a list of all the funny things my son and daughter said While little-they’re still little- it is so much fun to live the world through their eyes. Sometimes it’s s sad setting them right!
January 8, 2019 at 10:11 am
marlainawrites
Thank you for the funny ideas and great illustrations!
January 8, 2019 at 10:11 am
Joyce Schriebman
I’ve often wondered how to talk to children about the difference between reality and fantasy without making it about The Truth. Sometimes a good misunderstanding is better than facts…and often more fun! Cue Amelia Bedelia. 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 10:12 am
authorlaurablog
As a teacher, I talked about this all the time. Kids try to make sense of their world, often following the wrong information and believing that’s the true part. Love this!!
January 8, 2019 at 10:13 am
Nancy Ramsey
Thanks so much for this thoughtful post!
January 8, 2019 at 10:13 am
thelmakat
Terrific post and visuals!! Ideas are taking over my brain!!
January 8, 2019 at 10:14 am
Cindy Faughnan
Excellent idea!
January 8, 2019 at 10:15 am
Lucretia
Thanks for a great post, Bonnie! Love the idea of mining our own
childhood–and those of our kids–for inspiration! It brought back the memory of my then four-year-old son’s hysterical misinterpretation of a No Parking sign on Newbury St….
January 8, 2019 at 10:15 am
Joan Swanson
You have a great sense of humor! It has been a long time since my childhood, those memories seem to be fading with the forgetfulness. Maybe taking out those out of date picture albums will jog the old memories;)
January 8, 2019 at 10:19 am
Joanna Rowland
Interesting. : )
January 8, 2019 at 10:20 am
Sally Lotz Spratt - Badass 2019🦋 (@SallyLotzSpratt)
Once while traveling with a 2-month-old, I actually had to use a drawer for him to sleep in. 🙂 And, when he was older and I told him, he had the same reaction as the child in your illustration. He thought I’d closed him up in a dresser. Thanks for this. I’m going to dig deep back into the memory banks.
January 8, 2019 at 10:21 am
Jane Serpa
Thank you for sharing.
January 8, 2019 at 10:22 am
Louann Brown
My 2 year old great-grandson calls coffee cozies “cup scarves”. I guess cups wearing scarves seems pretty logical to him….I guess I need to invite him over for a more few picture book ideas. Ha! Thanks for your post.
January 8, 2019 at 10:22 am
marty bellis
Excellent advice. Remembering back to all the misconceptions and misunderstandings that we’ve all experienced, as kids, and even as young adults. 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 10:22 am
lindaschueler
These are great examples of seeing things through a child’s eyes.
January 8, 2019 at 10:25 am
bookfish1
It is always good to be reminded to see the world through the eyes of a child. Thanks
January 8, 2019 at 10:26 am
teresa.mi.schaefer
Going to check out my dresser drawers now! Maybe there’s a baby dinosaur there.
January 8, 2019 at 9:56 pm
Bonnie Adamson
I like the way you think!
January 8, 2019 at 10:26 am
Sherry Howard
Wonderful reminder to use a child’s lens! Adorable sketches!
January 8, 2019 at 10:27 am
Angie
Neat idea – thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 10:27 am
rachel
Loved the return to my childhood remembering how things did not go. Many ideas.
January 8, 2019 at 10:27 am
Debbie Huard
Great tip. This happens often with my toddlers.
January 8, 2019 at 10:29 am
rachel
Loved the way this returned me to my childhood. Many ideas.☺
January 8, 2019 at 10:32 am
gayleckrause
A great reminder of literative vs, figurative language. Great examples. 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 10:32 am
Charlotte Offsay
What a fun approach!
January 8, 2019 at 10:33 am
Robin Jordan
I still have those moments! Thank you, Bonnie, for sharing your grand idea!
January 8, 2019 at 10:37 am
Jodi Mckay
Love those illustrations! I kinda wish the highest score in golf wins😬Thanks for the great ideas.
January 8, 2019 at 10:37 am
Sylvia Grech
Thanks for the post Bonnie! I got a new idea from reading it! 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 10:39 am
loiedunn
That is such a great exercise idea for some past memories. I love it 🙂 Thanks for sharing
January 8, 2019 at 10:39 am
Cortney Benvenuto
Thanks for the reminder and inspiration Bonnie! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 10:40 am
karammitchell
Bonnie, this is great! Love your sketches and your willingness to let us see your quirks. Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 10:41 am
C.L. Murphy
Thanks for reminding us of what “literal thinkers” kids can be, Bonnie.
January 8, 2019 at 10:43 am
Anna Brooks
Those are great suggestions! I just need to get past my adult embarrassments and think further back. 😉 Wonderful drawings!
January 8, 2019 at 10:44 am
Janice Woods
Ahhh, perspective! Thanks for the ideas!
January 8, 2019 at 10:45 am
writersideup
Bonnie, you are SO right about the “misunderstandings” of childhood!
And even adulthood! lol Misperceptions can be incredibly creative and perfect fodder for stories 😀
January 8, 2019 at 10:46 am
Monica Harris
Haha! Recently, I told my granddaughter that Papa had a ‘head cold’. She replied “Oh no! Brrrrr” while holding her head. Kids…they say the cutest things ❤
January 8, 2019 at 10:47 am
maryshorgan
Great info – love the illustrations! Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 10:47 am
Darcee Freier
Thanks for the reminder that misunderstandings are great fodder for the picture book idea machine!
January 8, 2019 at 10:50 am
June Sengpiehl
A marvelous post to help us remember our childhood problems and come up with good suggestions for picture books.
January 8, 2019 at 10:50 am
Garnett Natasha
“Those of us who were children once . . .” got me thinking. What if MC’s Dad was never a child- but something else??
January 8, 2019 at 10:52 am
saralakron
What if I don’t have any neuroses? Wait I like? Maybe there’s a story in that. Great prompt.
January 8, 2019 at 10:53 am
lizricewrites
Thanks Bonnie! Now I’m going research Richard Stands and find out why he is in the Pledge of Allegiance. 😎
January 8, 2019 at 10:54 am
Anne Bielby
An oldie but a goodie! Love the visuals!
January 8, 2019 at 10:55 am
Katie L. Carroll (@KatieLCarroll)
I’m thinking of not only mining my own childhood but also thinking about the misunderstandings that have come up with my children. Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 10:57 am
wingedtrish
That one about the golf really got me. I remember that happening to me and feeling so embarrassed!
January 8, 2019 at 11:01 am
Debra K Shumaker
Ooh, I like this idea. . . now to try to remember my childhood, LOL.
January 8, 2019 at 11:02 am
Nancy Ferguson
Thank you, this will trigger some bits of humor for me. I tend to be serious, so humor is GOOD to find.
January 8, 2019 at 11:02 am
Andria Rosenbaum
Thanks, Bonnie!
I’ll be looking way, way, way baaaaaaack for inspiration!
January 8, 2019 at 11:04 am
carol w Munro
Three new ideas on my list. Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 11:05 am
Carol Gwin Nelson
Thinking of all of those misconceptions from my childhood, my children’s, and grandchildren. I think it may be a gold mine!
January 8, 2019 at 11:07 am
kirsticall
Love this post! And loving the posts from past storystorms. I wasn’t even writing picture books when this post originally ran. So MUCH fun!!!
January 8, 2019 at 11:07 am
hmmmmm
Thanks for the post Bonnie!
I spent more time screaming into the TV at Mr. Rogers and worrying about the little people in the radio box than I should probably admit…
January 8, 2019 at 11:14 am
Amy Mann
I always thought Tacomawashington was the name of the town, Thanks for the inspiration!
January 8, 2019 at 11:16 am
Amanda Malek-Ahmadi
Thanks for this info. I keep thinking how can I solve some of the things our son is going through with picture books.
January 8, 2019 at 11:17 am
Kathy Mazurowski
Wow, you you’ve got me thinking a little differently now. Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 11:18 am
Catherine Millington
I really enjoyed this post, thank you! It reminded me of how much I enjoyed laughing while reading Amelia Bedelia when I was a child.
January 8, 2019 at 11:19 am
Krista Harrington
Thank you! And yes, my boys tend to see only black and white and momma has to show them there is also gray.
January 8, 2019 at 11:19 am
Janie Reinart
Bonnie love your sketches and your charming post.
January 8, 2019 at 11:19 am
Sensibility and Sense
This is awesome, Bonnie! We big people forget the child’s POV so often and what we write can do so much to answer questions and let them know they are OK! Thank you! Patti Richards
January 8, 2019 at 11:20 am
missvidalia
Funny! My misinterpretations could filled a page. Great ideas for writing.
January 8, 2019 at 11:27 am
Gretchen McLellan
Bonnie—love your drawings and ideas and the too short trip inside your head. I hope you are writing the Storybook Lending Zoo, because I’m in the checkout line already.
January 8, 2019 at 11:27 am
Susan Johnston
Thanks for the inspiration, Bonnie!
January 8, 2019 at 11:29 am
Kim Wilson (@AuthorKimWilson)
Through the eyes of a child – love!
January 8, 2019 at 11:30 am
ingridboydston
I got today’s ides thanks to you! Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 11:30 am
Carole Calladine
Fun post with a trip back to childhood. Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 11:32 am
Genevieve Petrillo
So…. what are you saying? If I go to bed on a clear winter night and wake up to 2 feet of snow, that snow DIDN’T all plop out of the sky at once? It fell flake by flake?? And the fire extinguisher in the hallway of my building ISN’T trying to kill me? And Mom DOESN’T have to carry me past it every day?? Huh! Who knew?
Love and licks,
Cupcake
January 8, 2019 at 11:32 am
michelemeleen
Really fun post!
January 8, 2019 at 11:35 am
dhigbee
The world is a mysterious place. I’m still trying to puzzle some of it out.
January 8, 2019 at 11:35 am
Akula Harish
Hilarious! As a mom of a toddler I really appreciate this perspective.
January 8, 2019 at 11:36 am
Lindsey McDivitt
This is so perfect! I was an amazingly neurotic child! Thanks Bonnie!!
January 8, 2019 at 11:36 am
judyrubin13
Thank you, Bonnie. Your drawings really illustrated the confusion of growing up.
January 8, 2019 at 11:36 am
Kaylynn Johnsen
Thank you for addressing how frightening it can be to be a child. Our son has autism and we used social stories to him understand difficult situations. Picture books were very helpful for him because he could recognize in a picture expressions he missed on real human faces. Thank you.
January 8, 2019 at 11:36 am
Erika Henkart
These ideas are precious! Thank you for the reminder to always go back to the child… what joy!
January 8, 2019 at 11:38 am
Barbara Farr Renner
I have so many misconceptions from my own childhood I can draw on. Thank you for the suggestions.
January 8, 2019 at 11:39 am
jenabenton
LOL! This made me giggle. Great idea to change our perspective.
January 8, 2019 at 11:45 am
matthewlasley
It is hard to put your mindset back as a child. We often think it foolish. Luckily, I work with 6 year olds so I have to immerse myself into the world of a child!
January 8, 2019 at 11:46 am
Lisa Billa
Great inspiration to reach back and dig up some urgent kid-sized problems!
January 8, 2019 at 11:49 am
Debra Daugherty
Return to the child within, a great idea! Your illustrations are wonderful!
January 8, 2019 at 11:51 am
Shelly Hawley-Yan
Hahaha – all true! 💗
January 8, 2019 at 11:52 am
Paula Puckett
Thank you, Bonnie Adamson, for great suggestions on how to revisit circumstances that generate ideas. Major disappointments. Total humiliation. Nightmares. They are there. I will go dig and uncover possible gold.
January 8, 2019 at 12:00 pm
Susan Macartney
Bonnie thank you for taking my brain back to those personal and very special ideas! Love your illustrations and smiled the whole time I was reading!
January 8, 2019 at 12:02 pm
Lauri Meyers
Love this thought of disappointment or misunderstandings as an idea starter!
January 8, 2019 at 12:02 pm
Marge Gower
I have a collection of inquisitive questions from my granddaughter. I need to start writing again. She’s given me so many ideas for stories, just waiting to be written. Thanks for the post.
January 8, 2019 at 12:02 pm
danielledufayet
Thanks for the reminder – look back in our own childhoods for story ideas. Of course! I’m going to start searching my memory today!
January 8, 2019 at 12:03 pm
Jessica Potts
Great!
January 8, 2019 at 12:04 pm
Arlene Schenker
Great cartoons, Bonnie, and will think back to my childhood for some terrific story ideas. Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 12:06 pm
Andi Butler
Such a thoughtful piece and lovely sketches, thank you! a : )
January 8, 2019 at 12:08 pm
jessica shaw
A dresser drawer outfitted with soft, warm blankets is also a great spot for a mama cat to have her kittens (even if your mom tells you she will *never* have them there;)
January 8, 2019 at 12:10 pm
Angie
One of my favorite things about littles is how they interpret the world (as they see it) and learn how things work. Too much fun! Thanks for sharing!
January 8, 2019 at 12:10 pm
Sara Fajardo
Wonderful idea, our childhoods are ripe with possibilities. Thanks for the invitation to revisit the past.
January 8, 2019 at 12:14 pm
Anjali Amit
The power of picture books.
January 8, 2019 at 12:14 pm
Linda KulpTrout
Great reminder and lots of fun!
January 8, 2019 at 12:16 pm
Leslie L Goodman
Childhood – mine or my daughter’s, That’s the perfect place to find inspiration. It’s sometimes easy to forget the wealth of story ideas we each have down on memory lane. Thank you for the reminder. 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 12:16 pm
Daryl Gottier
Just a confusing world for literal little minds. You could have a feild day with idioms! Love your art.
January 8, 2019 at 12:18 pm
Alicia
Great post!
January 8, 2019 at 12:20 pm
Jay
Going to have writing fun with some confusion!
January 8, 2019 at 12:23 pm
Chris M. Regier
Such fun. Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 12:23 pm
Li’vee Rehfield
Bonnie thank you…I needed this today…see ya later, I have to go take a time trip now 💋
January 8, 2019 at 12:24 pm
Connie L Van Horn
The possibilities are endless. Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 12:27 pm
Cathy Ogren
I love the misconceptions we have as children. You’ve given us a great way of putting those thoughts we had as children into use in our writing. Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 12:32 pm
Becky Ross Michael
Great idea starters AND illustrations!
January 8, 2019 at 12:34 pm
Anna E. Jordan
This sparked so many ideas for me! Thanks for the beautiful illustrations!
January 8, 2019 at 12:35 pm
Carrie Kruck
Thanks for the reminder to take off my grown-up glasses and see things from a few feet closer to the ground 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 12:36 pm
Lydia Lukidis
A great reminder of how far you can go with picture books!
January 8, 2019 at 12:40 pm
Claire W Bobrow
Ah, yes. Expectations, misunderstandings, and disappointments – I remember them well. Thanks for a great post, Bonnie. Makes me think of all the song lyrics I thought I knew, too, only to realize as an adult…hmmm. Maybe not!
January 8, 2019 at 12:49 pm
Lisa Springer
I love these illustrations!
January 8, 2019 at 12:50 pm
Rebecca Colby
Thanks for the inspiration, Bonnie! You’ve reminded me of at least one of my daughter’s misunderstandings as a child. It will be great fodder for today’s idea-generating. 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 12:55 pm
LaurenKerstein
Thank you for the important reminder of the ways in which a child’s brain works. YES! Picture books offer children the opportunity to see and do so many wonderful things!
January 8, 2019 at 12:56 pm
Angie Isaacs
I see this all the time with my own kids. When their expectation doesn’t live up to reality. When they were little that was the cause of many a meltdown. Sigh.
January 8, 2019 at 12:58 pm
Kassy Keppol
Love seeing the sketches! So fun.
January 8, 2019 at 1:01 pm
Sheri Radovich
I love misperceptions and kids have so many of them. It takes a day or two to listen to them come up with them but it is worth it to gather ideas from them.
January 8, 2019 at 1:05 pm
bevbaird
Great ideas. Thanks so much.
January 8, 2019 at 1:08 pm
Elizabeth Brown
Great information and tip! Thanks so much for your post!
January 8, 2019 at 1:08 pm
Laurie Bouck
Thanks for such a fun post! And I LOVE your illustrations!! 😀
January 8, 2019 at 1:08 pm
sarahheturadny
I love listening to my kids and writing down the awesome things they say. (Like: Blue-ly-berryls for Blue berries, Haha!). Sometimes it’s hard to correct them, but I do (99% of the time). Thanks for the ideas.
January 8, 2019 at 1:09 pm
Penny Parker Klostermann
Off to create ideas and recalculate from a child’s POV. Thanks for the inspiration!
January 8, 2019 at 1:11 pm
Sara Matson
Thank you. I love your sketches!
January 8, 2019 at 1:13 pm
Juliana Jones
Thanks for reminding me of how kids see the world.
January 8, 2019 at 1:15 pm
Sharon Nix Jones
It is fun to see the world through a child’s eyes. The everyday mundane event can become magical.
January 8, 2019 at 1:17 pm
Sherrilynn Scott
Great ideas Bonnie! Thank you. I’m sure I have plenty of those types of memories to dredge up.
January 8, 2019 at 1:17 pm
Val McCammon
How fun is the “what we don’t know” — thanks, Bonnie, for that inspiration
January 8, 2019 at 1:20 pm
Kimberly
Great ideas – thank you for grounding us in kid reality!
January 8, 2019 at 1:23 pm
Katie Giorgio
Thanks for sharing!
January 8, 2019 at 1:25 pm
Josie Liming Gawlowski
Great ideas to jump start ideas! Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 1:28 pm
Sue Heavenrich
dresser drawers should come with labels: remove from dresser before using as crib. Also – you mean there aren’t dinosaurs? Oh, man! Thanks for reminding us how literal children can take the world.
January 8, 2019 at 1:31 pm
mariagianferrari
Love your illustrations, Bonnie! Thanks for the mining neuroses tips. I don’t have to dig too deep for them ;).
January 8, 2019 at 1:34 pm
Pamela Harrison
This is great! I love your illustrations. I think I’ll interview my grandchildren for their literal beliefs. Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 1:35 pm
Joy Pitcairn
Such cute illustrations. 🙂 Off to brainstorm…
January 8, 2019 at 1:40 pm
Aimee Satterlee
Thanks for the reminder of looking at the world when everything is new.
January 8, 2019 at 1:43 pm
LeeAnn Rizzuti
Am I shaking the dust off these old brain cells if I wonder if Bonnie was channeling Art Linkletter when creating this post? PS: great illustrations and examples. Joining Gretchen in checkout line for Lending Zoo.
January 8, 2019 at 1:45 pm
Rinda Beach
This is what I love about books…they take you anywhere…right now I’m reading a story set in medieval Provence. Great writers have super powers!
January 8, 2019 at 1:46 pm
doreenbuchinski
Thank you for reminding us to view the world from the eyes of children. Must never forget. Love your illustrations!
January 8, 2019 at 1:46 pm
Nancy Colle
Nifty pics and tips, thank you. Now to mine some misconceptions of my own;)
January 8, 2019 at 1:46 pm
SARAH Meade
I enjoyed this post very much. Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 1:49 pm
Sarah John
Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 1:52 pm
kiwijenny
Yes I was that goofy little kid who never ate her crusts….I was told they made your hair curly. My hair was the curliest. I shuddered to think what would happen. Thanks..and we put newborn nephew Luke in a drawer but never slammed it shut. Lol
January 8, 2019 at 1:55 pm
marsha e wright
Bonnie, you swooped me back to my childhood imagination that sometimes expanded real-life expectations, which led too often to disappointment. Thank you for your unique idea. As I sit poised over the keyboard with ideas swamping my adult imagination, I will remember to tap into my childhood moments when expectation exceeded way beyond reality.
January 8, 2019 at 1:59 pm
Chambrae Griffith
Such a fun post. I love the reminder to remember to look at the world the way a child would. Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 2:05 pm
Jenifer McNamara
Enjoyed your post how the disappoints can make someone think PB.
January 8, 2019 at 2:06 pm
Sunny Walker
Bonnie, what a cool idea (DARN, I hadn’t thought of it in that way). Good for you! AND now, good for me, too. Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 2:13 pm
heatherbell37
What a great post! Thanks for sharing. I already feel the gears turning.
January 8, 2019 at 2:15 pm
S. V. Moody
I like to remind myself that while some story ideas may not seem new, the children themselves are new and bring with them their own interpretations.
January 8, 2019 at 2:18 pm
Jaclyn Kruzie
Thank you for this! One of the things I enjoy doing is not only reflecting on my childhood but asking my siblings about their perspective. It’s always funny to see how we view things differently:)
January 8, 2019 at 2:32 pm
teacherwriteracker
Love! My mom yelled that the soda would explode after I dropped it. I ducked and covered, certain I had accidentally started WWIII.
January 8, 2019 at 2:37 pm
karengreenwald2985
This post brought up a fantastic idea re one of my childhood “miscalculations!” I am excited to explore this…:) Thanks for your post!
January 8, 2019 at 2:38 pm
Judith Wright Aplin
Children can often get confused about adult sayings. I especially appreciated a first grade teacher’s unit on idioms. It helped my granddaughter so much with phrases like,”break a leg”….Thanks for pointing this out…No one will ever forget Ramona sitting patiently in class when her teacher said, “Sit here for the present.”
January 8, 2019 at 2:40 pm
heidikyates
Thank you for the encouragement to question things from a child’s point of view. I’m sure this post will inspire lots of ideas. 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 2:42 pm
Laura Jean Watters
Thinking back to all the things I didn’t understand as a child may not be the most comfortable journey I take this month…
January 8, 2019 at 2:45 pm
Rene` Diane Aube
Doh…I think maybe I was the baby left in the dresser drawer tool long! :O Just kidding…thanks for a boatload of great ideas!
January 8, 2019 at 2:49 pm
Prairie Garden Girl
Such an excellent post, Bonnie. I love your illustrations and the reminder to see the world through a chuld’s eyes.
Suzy Leopold
January 8, 2019 at 2:52 pm
nataliecohn0258
Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 2:56 pm
Katie Williams
Great post, such a wonderful reminder to look at the world through a child’s eyes!
January 8, 2019 at 3:04 pm
Aimee Isaac
Great POV reminder! Reminds me of a few misunderstandings from my childhood!
January 8, 2019 at 3:05 pm
Roz Malin
Yah. The toy dinos look so tiny and cute. It’s a big surprise when kids go to a dino exhibit at the science museum.
January 8, 2019 at 3:07 pm
Tina Hoggatt (@tinahoggatt)
So worth a revisit. Love the animation in the drawings and their support of the message, Bonnie.
January 8, 2019 at 3:10 pm
Ellen Sirianni
I love your illustrations, especially the dinosaur ones. Thanks for sharing.
January 8, 2019 at 3:13 pm
Jamie L. B. Deenihan
Hello and thank you for this wonderful post! I’m repped by Gallt & Zacker, too! (Love the G&Z team <3) This post has inspired me to look at the world with fresh eyes. Your art is lovely and I’m a big fan of your books. Congrats!
January 8, 2019 at 10:06 pm
Bonnie Adamson
Hellooo, Jamie–yay, G&Z!
January 8, 2019 at 3:14 pm
Gregory E Bray
Great post. Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 3:14 pm
Susan Eyerman
Hi to all and Happy New Year! Missed the sign-in deadline due to family issues but I am working on ideas right along anyway. Wouldn’t miss it. May the ideas flow freely for all.
January 8, 2019 at 3:15 pm
Lori Alexander
Love this! I too was confused about that baby in a drawer hack 🙂 Thanks for the tips.
January 8, 2019 at 3:23 pm
writeknit
Fabulous advise, can’t wait to create my long list of misunderstandings I had as a child and often as an adult…:)
I believe we had the same haircut as children. My mom always cut my bangs – way too short in my mind, but always said I wiggled so she had to keep evening them out. LOL
January 8, 2019 at 10:07 pm
Bonnie Adamson
Re: bangs–I feel your pain! That hairdo followed me well into elementary school (another humiliation worth “fixing” in a pb! 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 3:27 pm
Carolyn
This is a great reminder! Thanks for shifting our perspective 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 3:37 pm
SuZan Klassen
Yep. I’ve been thinking about a moment when I had the last laugh. I’ll add it to my list of ideas. Thank you.
January 8, 2019 at 3:40 pm
Matt Forrest Esenwine
Wait, wait…what’s this about needing to take the drawer out of the dresser first?
January 10, 2019 at 2:42 pm
Maria Marshall
HA! I was wondering if that didn’t explain a lot about some people. 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 3:42 pm
Michele Helsel
Makes me remember things my children said when they were young that I didn’t bother to correct because I thought it was cute; but then as teens embarrassed them. Oops. My bad.
January 8, 2019 at 3:48 pm
Jane Baskwill
The dresser drawer reminded me of the time our cat went missing overnight and was finally found inside the dresser drawer – perfectly fine!
January 8, 2019 at 3:52 pm
RaeMcDonald
Literal and figurative thinking are good places for discussions when creating for children. Metaphors can be a rich starting place and make for beautiful writing…when the kids get it. Thank you.
January 8, 2019 at 3:55 pm
authoraileenstewart
Love it!!!
January 8, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Kelly Conroy
I am positive I’ll think of a couple ideas from this post. Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 3:58 pm
bonni goldberg
Your post/idea sparked a childhood memory that might make a great PB if I can pull it off. Misunderstandings is fertile ground!
January 8, 2019 at 3:58 pm
Alexandra Hinrichs
Thank you for sharing these reminders of child-minded expectations and experiences!
January 8, 2019 at 4:00 pm
Susan Schade
Your post prompted a brain storming exercise for me. Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 4:04 pm
Debbie Meyer
Great ideas. 🙂 I feel like I’ve spent an entire 51 years getting things confused. haha I should have a bookshelf full of Storystorm ideas.
January 8, 2019 at 4:15 pm
Janet Smart
Hi, Bonnie. Thanks for the post. My oldest son actually spent his first night away from the hospital in my mom’s dresser drawer. But, we did take it out of the dresser first!
January 8, 2019 at 4:24 pm
Tanya Shock
Thank you. 😊
January 8, 2019 at 4:44 pm
Heather Gallagher
Will need to think on this one – thanks Bonnie 😀
January 8, 2019 at 4:52 pm
Amy Newbold
Thank you for a great reminder about how things seem to children. I am looking forward to going backward to my own misunderstandings as a child and seeing where it leads.
January 8, 2019 at 4:52 pm
shiela Fuller
Thank you Bonnie, for sharing this post again.
January 8, 2019 at 4:53 pm
Judy Sobanski (@jkspburg)
Great examples of how misunderstandings can lead to great story ideas. Thanks for sharing!
January 8, 2019 at 4:54 pm
chardixon47
Thank you, Bonnie, for the reminder to see a child’s POV. I still have problems getting things confused-LOL.
January 8, 2019 at 5:02 pm
betlw
What a hoot, Bonnie. You brought back memories from long, long ago when I misunderstood things too. We have to look at life from that child’s POV. All he/she sees are knees and backsides. What a view.
January 8, 2019 at 5:02 pm
setwiggs
Bonnie,
Thanks to u I’ll keep my eyes open for quirky and confusing figures of speech. They just may make good PB material.
January 8, 2019 at 5:06 pm
tanyakonerman
Fun idea for finding my humorous PB ideas!
January 8, 2019 at 5:09 pm
RebeccaTheWriter
Love this post. Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 5:10 pm
rosecappelli
Such a fun post! Thanks for sharing!
January 8, 2019 at 5:14 pm
Jim Chaize
Thanks, Bonnie. I’m sure I will harvest some ideas from your suggestions.
January 8, 2019 at 5:18 pm
nrompella
Luckily I write down all the fun things my kids say. I’ll have to revisit them.
January 8, 2019 at 5:21 pm
Maria Marshall
Oh my gosh, Bonnie! I loved your illustrations. Baby-eating furniture!! 🙂 This is a great kick-start for finding humor for a PB. Thank you so much.
January 8, 2019 at 5:27 pm
Marie Sanderson
Thanks for the nostalgia, Bonnie! I remember many misunderstandings from childhood. And they are great idea starters!
January 8, 2019 at 5:37 pm
mona861
We overthink everything…kids are simply literal! Love this post-thanks.
January 8, 2019 at 5:37 pm
Meli Glickman
What a wonderful flashback to long-ago days! It sure does help to remember my own childhood experiences, and I appreciate the reminder. I also adore your younger-you’s skeptical glare in photo. Super cute! Many thanks for sharing!
January 8, 2019 at 5:41 pm
Jennifer Bower
Taking a trip down memory lane to remember all the things that confused me; and likely still do. Thanks Bonnie for the inspiring post!
January 8, 2019 at 5:47 pm
Buffy Silverman
You took me straight back to one of my childhood misconceptions… and a fun exploration!
January 8, 2019 at 5:47 pm
writeforapples1
Such cute illustrations! And a great idea to watch for these moments. 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 5:56 pm
mariaordish
Great post! Thanks, Bonnie! Love the illustrations!
January 8, 2019 at 6:00 pm
jaclynsmiller
This reminds me of some of Tedd Arnold’s books. He understood the conflicting ideas in kids’ heads too. Thanks for the post!
January 8, 2019 at 6:18 pm
Aryn Kennedy
This definitely gave me some ideas to think about! I love the illustration of the baby in the drawer.
January 8, 2019 at 6:19 pm
Diane Tulloch
Love the reminder to look at things through a child’s eye! Thanks.
January 8, 2019 at 6:25 pm
Dawn
Love the illustrations! Thanks for sharing.
January 8, 2019 at 6:26 pm
James Arthur
Awesome. So good!!
January 8, 2019 at 6:26 pm
Dayne Sislen, Children's Book Illustrator
Great ideas here. Love your illustrations.
January 8, 2019 at 6:29 pm
Jill
It helps to remember how literal kids are as well as how much the English language confuses kids (and others trying to learn the language). Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 6:39 pm
Sandy Foster
Darling illustrations! What a good reminder of childhood. . .and mining the silly things that happened is a great idea. We all had them!
January 8, 2019 at 6:41 pm
Latasha Vernon
So true! I love hearing how children think. Thanks, Bonnie!
January 8, 2019 at 6:44 pm
Dawn Prochovnic
A bunch of ideas started pouring out of me after reading this post. THANKS!
January 8, 2019 at 6:47 pm
Tracy Hora
Great idea…I know I had some bizarre misunderstandings as a child.
January 8, 2019 at 6:52 pm
Mary Warth
Nice choice of post to revive! I love the examples.
January 8, 2019 at 6:56 pm
pjaegly
Bonnie, thanks for the laughs and the reminders about how a child views things. It brought back a memory of one of my young child confusions.
January 8, 2019 at 6:57 pm
Lucy Staugler
Bonnie, great post! Reminding our adult brain to turn back the time clock to our child brain.
Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 7:00 pm
celticsea
I love your drawings!! Thank you for the great ideas!
January 8, 2019 at 7:06 pm
Suzanne Lieurance
Great idea. I can still remember things I didn’t quite understand as a kid. Now…to use them for stories. Thanks.
January 8, 2019 at 7:18 pm
Noelle McBride
It’s odd to think that I am hoping for some childhood nightmares to find their way into my dreams tonight….
January 8, 2019 at 7:20 pm
R.J. Koehn
Loved this approach to getting some ideas! Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 7:21 pm
Jilanne Hoffmann
Oh yeah, I still do this as an adult. Hmmm, maybe I’ve never grown up….
January 8, 2019 at 10:19 pm
Bonnie Adamson
I used to worry about not being in touch with my inner child, until my husband said one day, “Bonnie, being in touch with your inner child is your MAIN PROBLEM.” (I assume he meant that in the nicest way.)
January 8, 2019 at 7:33 pm
Nicole Vuong
Ooooo, this is a fun one!
January 8, 2019 at 7:46 pm
Gayle Veitenheimer
Thanks for sharing. What a great reminder!
January 8, 2019 at 7:59 pm
Lisa L Furness
Hmmm… You got me thinking about this one.
January 8, 2019 at 8:01 pm
Frances Kalavritinos
Mining childhood’s little miseries is a never ending source of story ideas!
January 8, 2019 at 8:05 pm
supermario6
I respect your talent! Continued success on your career!
January 8, 2019 at 10:15 pm
Bonnie Adamson
Thank you–and all the best to you!
January 8, 2019 at 8:09 pm
Karin Larson
This was such a fun post, thank you. Thinking of what-ifs is the best!
January 8, 2019 at 8:10 pm
junesmalls
Love the reminder of how literally we took everything and how BIG those feelings felt.
Thank you,
January 8, 2019 at 8:10 pm
Jacqueline Adams
This is really a fun exercise! Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 8:11 pm
Antje
A very thoughtful post. Thank you for reminding us to view the word through children’s eyes.
January 8, 2019 at 8:18 pm
Christine Irvin
Thanks for re-sharing this with us.
January 8, 2019 at 8:18 pm
Stephanie Shaw
Love the examples! Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 8:20 pm
bgonsar
Love the goony golf bit. Thanks Bonnie!
January 8, 2019 at 8:24 pm
jennagrodzicki
I love this! Kids’ misconceptions can lead to the best ideas for picture books!
January 8, 2019 at 8:25 pm
Jenny Boyd
I love the illustrations! (And the advice.) I got such a kick out of the kid’s major disappointment in seeing the dinosaurs.
January 8, 2019 at 8:25 pm
Rani Iyer
Golf is my favorite joke! Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 8:27 pm
CindyC
Thanks Bonnie!! I love hearing your story ideas. Hope to see you soon.
January 8, 2019 at 8:29 pm
Brittanny Handiboe
😂 oh no I had that mini golf incident happen to meeee.
January 8, 2019 at 10:12 pm
Bonnie Adamson
My cousins were merciless teasing about that one . . .
January 8, 2019 at 8:35 pm
Michelle O'Hara Levin
I “win” at golf a lot too!
January 8, 2019 at 8:40 pm
Heather Stigall
Thanks for inspiring some memories and story ideas!
January 8, 2019 at 8:47 pm
Lori Dubbin
Your illustrations are wonderful! Love your examples, ideas, and humor!
January 8, 2019 at 8:51 pm
sherilyncook
A great reminder why we create these worlds and to remember our audience. Thanks!
January 8, 2019 at 8:56 pm
Natalie Jager
So great!
January 8, 2019 at 8:56 pm
Bethanny Parker
Pay attention to the kids in your life and the off-the-wall things they sometimes say. Thanks for the inspiration.
January 8, 2019 at 8:56 pm
Kyle McBride
“There’s a bathroom on the right.”
January 8, 2019 at 10:13 pm
Bonnie Adamson
For me, it was “a baboon on the right,” but yes!
January 8, 2019 at 9:01 pm
Kaye Baillie
Yes, the magic of being able to create what you want. Great post.
January 8, 2019 at 9:04 pm
Anita Palmeri Overgaard
Oh, I have a million of these! Thanks for the tip!
January 8, 2019 at 9:10 pm
Diana
It is always so fun to hear how kids explain these things too! Thanks for sharing!
January 8, 2019 at 9:15 pm
Nadia Salomon (@Nadia_Salomon)
This is really great advice. I’ve never thought of writing from this angle. Funny enough, it prompted an idea from real life…Thank you for the insight.
January 8, 2019 at 9:16 pm
nicolesalterbraun
Great examples and cartoons! Thanks for the reminder….
January 8, 2019 at 9:17 pm
Lori Mozdzierz
Misconceptions can grant some of the best LOL!!!
January 8, 2019 at 9:19 pm
Carolyn Bennett Fraiser
Great post. Thanks for the reminder to look at life with the eyes of a child
January 8, 2019 at 9:29 pm
saputnam
Great post, Bonnie! Thank you for reminding us to look at the world through a child’s eyes.
January 8, 2019 at 9:38 pm
Vicky Ford
What a fun idea. So many of my own ideas come from things my kids and grandkids have said and done over the years. And now they are coming to me with their own ideas and we write books together. Such a great post as a reminder to see the world thru a child’s eyes.
January 8, 2019 at 9:46 pm
K.A.Steed
Great reminder to look at the world as a child. Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 9:46 pm
Erik Ammon
Thanks Bonnie! Now thinking back on my childhood…wish my memory was better…I’ll think of something (or notice something from young ones around me…).
January 8, 2019 at 9:55 pm
Tempy
Mine through my childhood confusion? That should be a deep well of ideas!
January 8, 2019 at 9:57 pm
Amy Bradshaw
Thank you for the suggestions and for reminding all of us that children think in different ways. Great tips!
January 8, 2019 at 10:02 pm
Kim Erickson
Great post to get me thinking like a child!
January 8, 2019 at 10:09 pm
lauriekutscera
What a fun exercise. I feel like I must have hundreds of misperceptions tucked away. Maybe some cookies and milk will jar my memory! ThNk you Bonnie. I love your illustrations.
January 8, 2019 at 10:09 pm
Cindi Goodeaux
This was so great!
January 8, 2019 at 10:19 pm
Nicole Loos Miller (@beautify_life)
I hope this one leads to lots of ideas that turn into books that my kids and I can read and laugh about!
January 8, 2019 at 10:19 pm
Elizabeth Steiner
Childhood misunderstandings and adult misunderstandings…one in the same for me!
January 8, 2019 at 10:41 pm
Hank Dallago
I loved your tip to imagine a new or old friend from childhood and have the last laugh or fly to the rescue. I feel like liberated! Thank you so much!
January 8, 2019 at 10:43 pm
Nancy Riley
Thanks for taking us back to our inner child. It’s so good to keep this in mind as we write.
January 8, 2019 at 11:00 pm
fireurchin
If a baby can sleep in a dresser drawer… a mouse can sleep in a matchbox or a fairy ….. or a tiny fairy dragon … but what happens to the matches? What if …
Thanks for adding fuel to the fire here.
bonnie fireUrchin lambourn
http://fireUrchin.com
January 8, 2019 at 11:01 pm
Rebekah Lowell
My youngest daughter has a hard time with metaphors and it’s taught me to listen more. I relate to this and like the idea of using pieces for stories.
January 8, 2019 at 11:10 pm
moviemommie
Thanks for sharing!!
January 8, 2019 at 11:13 pm
Annie Cronin Romano
Great post! Thank you for sharing!
January 8, 2019 at 11:15 pm
Jolene Ballard Gutierrez
I love this–it brought back so many memories of being so, so confused as a child. 😉 I’m going to mine those memories!
January 8, 2019 at 11:19 pm
Nadine Poper
Thank you for your advice and insight.
January 8, 2019 at 11:20 pm
megcason1
Baby eating furniture, ah the brainstorm this created!!
January 8, 2019 at 11:20 pm
Debbi G
Thanks for the reminder to view situations through a child’s perspective.
January 8, 2019 at 11:37 pm
seschipper
Thanks for sharing these great ideas!!! 🙂
January 8, 2019 at 11:48 pm
Lisa Marie Murphy
My son has had a few of these in recent years! I need to start writing them down!!!! 😍
Thanks Bonnie xx
January 8, 2019 at 11:49 pm
Jennifer
Such an interesting way to approach it! Putting specific parameters on what we remember can open up doors in our memory we never would have accessed. Thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 11:58 pm
susanzonca
Time to revisit my childhood.
January 9, 2019 at 12:01 am
Leah Coleman
Thanks for sharing!
January 9, 2019 at 12:07 am
Trine Grillo
Thanks for reminding us to think like a child.
January 9, 2019 at 12:08 am
Carmen White
Gaaah!!! i love the idea I just came up with. Hubby helped a little.
January 9, 2019 at 12:15 am
Meghan Burch
I’m sure I’ve written down some of my kids’ gems- now to dig them up and see if I can remember some of my own.
January 9, 2019 at 12:20 am
Joana Pastro
Great post! I’m already having fun thinking of odd misunderstandings from my childhood. Thanks! Now, If you’ll excuse me I’ll have to google the dresser drawer. 😂
January 9, 2019 at 12:38 am
sallie wolf
Great post. Unfortunately, it’s bedtime. I’ll never get to sleep, trying to remember all those crazy ideas/misunderstandings.
January 9, 2019 at 12:40 am
Moon Bishop
Totally digging everything!
January 9, 2019 at 1:00 am
DB Cote
I liked your suggestion to “think back to those times in your childhood when things were not quite what you expected.” Thank you.
January 9, 2019 at 1:00 am
Alicia
Great ideas! Thanks
January 9, 2019 at 1:06 am
rjtraxel
Right! The funniest moments can be found in how a how a kid interprets a situation. Thanks.
January 9, 2019 at 1:11 am
Emily Wayne (@heyemilywayne)
Great ideas! I’m sure I have many of those moments in my childhood.
January 9, 2019 at 1:11 am
Vicki Wilke
Anything is possible – thanks!
January 9, 2019 at 1:17 am
Liz
Love this it’s a great thought
January 9, 2019 at 1:36 am
Linda Silvestri
I think this is an area I could mine pretty well for ideas. Thanks so much for the idea and perspective!
January 9, 2019 at 2:06 am
photojaq
Trying to come up with some sayings that confuse children, and a lot of adults too. Sleep tight, Don’t let the bedbugs bite. No story is comming yet, but I’;ll sleep on it and then see. Thanks!
January 9, 2019 at 2:06 am
M.A. Cortez
Great illustrations, and great post!
January 9, 2019 at 2:59 am
Marcia Berneger
Reading our work from a child’s lense is also important. Watching kids helps with that, too. Thanks for reminding us how important it is.
January 9, 2019 at 3:02 am
Storystorm 2019 Day 8: Bonnie Adamson’s Post of Storystorm Past | Dm4r
[…] Source : Storystorm 2019 Day 8: Bonnie Adamson’s Post of Storystorm Past […]
January 9, 2019 at 3:10 am
Jocelyn Rish
The illustrations to, uh, illustrate your points are so cute!
January 9, 2019 at 6:55 am
Artelle Lenthall
Thank you, love this post, great illustration both figuratively and literally, I generated three ideas from this post and am sure I could think of more in the future.
January 9, 2019 at 7:36 am
deniseaengle
Enchanting. Just journeyed back in time to my own neuroses, with a head-tilting perspective. Refreshing! Thank you!
January 9, 2019 at 7:43 am
Jo Jo
Great post and I love the illustrations! Thank you Bonnie.
January 9, 2019 at 8:13 am
Helen Matthews
Exactly! That’s why I love picture books and children’s stories in general, because anything is possible. Including furniture-eating babies 🙂
January 9, 2019 at 8:40 am
Lucky Jo Boscarino
What? Delve into our childhood confusions/frustrations/misunderstandings for story ideas? GOLDMINE.
January 9, 2019 at 8:51 am
cravevsworld
Amazing technique to generate kid-appropriate ideas. Love it! Thanks for sharing.
January 9, 2019 at 9:15 am
jheitman22
What a great way to turn fright into flight and chase away fear! Thanks, Bonnie!
January 9, 2019 at 9:19 am
Rebecca Guzinski
Such a fun post. We need to remember to see the world through children’s eyes to write great stories for them.
January 9, 2019 at 9:21 am
Christine Fleming McIsaac
Wonderful idea! All those ideas and questions kids have. I’m going to have to go back in my memory and listen to my kids. Thanks for th inspiration!
January 9, 2019 at 9:47 am
Carolyn Currier
Thank you for sharing.
January 9, 2019 at 10:01 am
nancy armo
I like Bonnie’s style too. Great post!
January 9, 2019 at 10:14 am
Laurie Goodluck
This is a great exercise on creating conflict too! Thank you for the exercise – so helpful!
January 9, 2019 at 10:16 am
Nicole Turner
Thank you so much for your post. I love the idea of starting with a childhood misunderstanding. I am an elementary school science teacher. I get crazy misunderstandings all day long.
January 9, 2019 at 10:18 am
Teresa Daffern
I also love those funny moments – it reveals what goes on in those imaginations! Thanks for this.
January 9, 2019 at 10:26 am
Zoraida Rivera
Searching childhood memories and wondering about kid’s worlds.
January 9, 2019 at 10:35 am
Myrna Foster
Thank you, Bonnie!
January 9, 2019 at 10:36 am
Kathleen Cornell-Berman
Love your illustrations and great tips to keep us grounded in a child’s world.
January 9, 2019 at 10:38 am
Debra Katz
I love all of these reminders of how to see the world from a child’s point of view.
January 9, 2019 at 10:42 am
Bettie Boswell
What a fun way to use misconceptions! Thank you for sharing your drawings and humor.
January 9, 2019 at 10:46 am
diana delosh
Great post – taking a trip down memory lane for story ideas.
January 9, 2019 at 11:01 am
Dianne
Oh right! I remember those days of monsters under my bed and getting laughed at at school. I’d love to get back at them by putting them in a story! Thanks for the great idea.
January 9, 2019 at 11:17 am
Jennifer Hunt
In picture books, all things are possible! Great reminder!
January 9, 2019 at 11:51 am
aidantalkin
Misunderstandings are great story starters! (though child-hood you would have been alarmed to know that as a tiny baby in the 70s I slept in an open heavy wood dresser drawer that was still in the cabinet – though I was never CLOSED inside!) =)
January 9, 2019 at 11:52 am
Anne Appert
I’ve never thought about using these moments for picture book inspiration. Thank you for the idea!
January 9, 2019 at 12:08 pm
Suzanne Alexander
Children’s imaginations are amazing! Thanks for the inspiration.
January 9, 2019 at 12:20 pm
jessicadunnagan
Thanks for the reminder to get back into my childhood worldview!
January 9, 2019 at 12:23 pm
Amalia Reef
Yes, so much to figure out for the little ones! As my adult daughter keeps reminding me, children speak a different language…
January 9, 2019 at 12:29 pm
colleenrkosinski
It’s always good to think back on childhood.
January 9, 2019 at 12:30 pm
Janet AlJunaidi
Oh my gosh Bonnie! This is such a perfect way to show grownup words vs. child’s imagination! So FUNNY and well-written! (As usual). Love it! It reminds me of a book of cartoons I use for my English Language Learning students that show misunderstandings from literal understandings of some English phrases!
January 9, 2019 at 12:52 pm
Becky Scharnhorst
Fun post, Bonnie! Thank you!
January 9, 2019 at 1:04 pm
Anita
Thanks for the reminder.
January 9, 2019 at 1:06 pm
Rebecca Van Slyke
One of the reasons I love teaching second grade: the ideas that I get from kids trying to “connect the dots” between what they know (or think they know) with new information. My favorite: One of my kids was SO excited that she and her family had gone to see the “Dead Sea Squirrels.” (She had never heard of the word “Scroll” before, but she knew squirrels.) She had two interesting take-aways from that museum visit. They got that way (dead) from falling into the sea. (Because what ELSE would you expect from falling into the Dead Sea?) Also, they were SO OLD that they looked just like pieces of paper. (An amazing conclusion, since she knew what squirrels look like, but these “squirrels” were nothing like the furry ones she had seen scampering through the trees. But her parents kept emphasizing that these things were OLD!)
January 9, 2019 at 1:43 pm
leeanimator
Such fun! Love your sense of humor! Thanks for reminding us that little ones don’t understand our grown up words and statements. Sheesh, half the time I don’t understand them and I’m past my double nickle year. Thanks so much for your article it really helps.
January 9, 2019 at 2:11 pm
andromeda515
A thought provoking post. Time to ponder.
January 9, 2019 at 2:19 pm
Sara A
Love the illustrations!
January 9, 2019 at 2:29 pm
Carol Kim
My parents loved to tell the story of how I threw a giant fit because “we didn’t see the dragon!” as we were getting ready to leave the zoo. They thought it was hilarious — but gosh, that banner with the dragon picture sure made me wish it was real!
January 9, 2019 at 2:40 pm
Nora Fry
Love seeing things through the eyes of little ones!
January 9, 2019 at 2:44 pm
Jen Bagan
Thanks, Bonnie! You’re right – misunderstandings/misperceptions sure can be funny sometimes! 🙂
January 9, 2019 at 2:56 pm
Kathryn Jean Hagen
Great ideas, Bonnie! Brings back not-so-sweet memories from childhood. Thank you.
January 9, 2019 at 3:04 pm
Elizabeth Saba
Thanks Bonnie…this is great insight. Very funny!
January 9, 2019 at 3:24 pm
Caren Cantrell
Love your sketches! It’s so easy to forget that kids don’t see the world the way we do. Thanks for the reminder.
January 9, 2019 at 3:27 pm
Valarie Giogas
I’m ashamed to admit that the golf cartoon went over my head. (In my defense, I read quickly in a busy place lol.) Great ideas!
January 9, 2019 at 4:53 pm
Janet Frenck Sheets
This reminds me of the scene where Ramona Quimby’s new kindergarten teacher tells her to “sit here for the present.”
January 9, 2019 at 5:41 pm
Kristin Wauson
I’m always so inspired by anyone who writes nonfiction well, especially because choosing a topic to focus on can be so overwhelming. This is a great strategy. Can’t wait to read these books!
January 9, 2019 at 5:46 pm
Poupette Smith
Love that drawer idea. Now why didn’t I think of that? My brother and I poured lighter fluid on window sills and bedroom floors then let a fire, stoking it until a neighbor interrupted –uh, I mean saved– us and our home. Kids often obsess about fires, but maybe I’ll brainstorm less lethal shenanigans lest kids discover new tricks.
January 9, 2019 at 5:47 pm
Gail Hedrick
What fun, er, once we ‘get’ it!!! Need to ‘get down on the floor’ to see/feel things from their perspective and then how that feels. Thanks so much!
January 9, 2019 at 5:48 pm
Kristin Wauson
Doh! I accidentally posted my comment for Nancy Churnin’s post here. So sorry! I wish I could delete it. Love this post. Having little kids at home I am constantly noticing these moments and you think you will remember, but you don’t! Must start writing them down. Thanks for the great post and love your little comic illustrations.
January 9, 2019 at 5:54 pm
viviankirkfield
Wonderful post, Bonnie…to get us thinking outside the drawer…I mean, box.
My sister actually did sleep in a drawer when she was first born…it was war-time and dad was overseas and mom was living with her mom and they used a drawer because the crib hadn’t come yet.
January 9, 2019 at 6:09 pm
Jennifer
Thanks for the good ideas!
January 9, 2019 at 6:49 pm
Marcie Rinka Wessels
Thank you for reminding me to get in touch with my inner child!
January 9, 2019 at 6:52 pm
Steve Schwartz
Great memory jogger of a blog! Thanks for the inspiration!
January 9, 2019 at 6:57 pm
David McMullin
I was certainly confused through most of my childhood. Still am most of the time.
January 9, 2019 at 7:18 pm
Ashley Bankhead
This was such a fun post to read! Thank you for all of your fun illustrations. Some things really are hard to figure out as a kid. But sometimes those misunderstandings can lead to great book ideas!
January 9, 2019 at 7:43 pm
cath jones
Back in time we go!
January 9, 2019 at 7:46 pm
martina.franklin.poole
This idea is fantastic!
January 9, 2019 at 7:52 pm
kjerstenhayes
My son once asked if a statue of Mark Twain was a real man. I thought he was asking if Mark Twain had been a real man so I said yes. He of course just wanted to know if that real-looking statue was itself once human. I fielded many questions for many weeks about the death of Mark Twain before I figured out his confusion and curiosity regarding that piece of bronze. Thanks for this post!
January 9, 2019 at 8:19 pm
annjex
This brought a couple great ideas to mind…what a great way to mine ideas. Thank you!
January 9, 2019 at 8:41 pm
Robin Robb-Kraus
Thank you Bonnie and fellow storystormers! You prompted a memory for me of my daughter when she was 3 years old and wasn’t hearing things correctly! She thought sneezing was known as “bless-you-ing” since we always say “bless you” when you sneeze =) There are more memories as I look back that could combined into a great story about a little girl who ends up needing/being diagnosed in need of a hearing aid. Thank you for helping me find this idea!
January 9, 2019 at 9:30 pm
Karen Lawler
I got a terrific idea pop into my head just by reading your post and enjoying the drawings!! Thanks sooo much. Lets hope for the best!! 🙂
January 9, 2019 at 9:40 pm
chrisynthia
I have a whole book filled with things my kids and niece and nephews have said. They make me laugh all day.
January 9, 2019 at 9:56 pm
julielacombeauthor
What a great reminder to see things from a kid’s POV!
January 9, 2019 at 11:27 pm
Cinzia V.
Awesome reminder. Thanks so much! Cindy
January 9, 2019 at 11:42 pm
donnacangelosi
Thank you for this fun approach for coming up with PB ideas. Love your sketches!
January 9, 2019 at 11:47 pm
Lindsay Fiore
Thanks for the great ideas! When I was 3 or 4 I thought I could control the sun with my mind, could fly off the roof if I “really believed” and thought Peter Jennings could see me through the tv. This made me think of all the funny misunderstandings I had as a kid! Lol!
January 9, 2019 at 11:48 pm
Tasha Hilderman
I had the same thoughts about the dresser drawer! Thanks for the post!
January 9, 2019 at 11:50 pm
Chelle Martin
That’s an interesting approach. Thanks for your suggestion.
January 9, 2019 at 11:58 pm
Monica Stoltzfus
Great post, Bonnie!
January 9, 2019 at 11:59 pm
Bronte Colbert
Thank you! Love this perspective.
January 10, 2019 at 12:24 am
Jabeen Chawdhry
So fun! Bring out the child in me, cant wait to get started!
January 10, 2019 at 12:45 am
Brittney Kauffman
This one was more of a thinker for me, I have difficulty remembering things like this from childhood. I’ll wrack my brain until I come up with ideas though!
January 10, 2019 at 1:08 am
Susan Orton
I love this idea! It will be fun to jump into those misunderstandings of childhood and see what happens. Very creative exercise! Thank you, Bonnie.
January 10, 2019 at 1:51 am
Savannah
I love your fantastic sketches!
January 10, 2019 at 1:53 am
Savannah
Great suggestion! My latest MS is based on a funny childhood misunderstanding.
January 10, 2019 at 3:03 am
Michelle Sumovich
I think this is so important– writing about embarrassing experiences which kids can relate to, and peeling away the shame. Thank you, Bonnie!
January 10, 2019 at 8:33 am
hdening
Makes me smile! Oh, the innocence and misunderstandings of childhood. So many ideas. Thanks, Bonnie!
January 10, 2019 at 9:42 am
kaleegwarjanski
thank you for this one!
January 10, 2019 at 11:33 am
Lynne Marie
OMG — I love your ART and your idea starters! Thank you so very much for both! Truly appreciate your time and talent.
January 10, 2019 at 12:13 pm
shannonstocker
These illustrations are priceless! Thanks for the laugh (and the post) today!
January 10, 2019 at 12:48 pm
Melissa Stoller
Great post (and art!) about always keeping in mind the kids’ point of view! Thanks!
January 10, 2019 at 1:12 pm
LAUREN BARBIERI
Love this! I always smile at those easily-misunderstood phrases and ideas that seem to be sprinkled everywhere!
January 10, 2019 at 1:44 pm
jeanjames926
I love your sense of humor. It is absolutely those misconceptions that our children have that we relish so much, and provide great sparks for story starters. Thanks for such wonderful ideas.
January 10, 2019 at 1:48 pm
Stephen S. Martin
Giggle Giggle Giggle. I need to pull out and revisit my draft of a kid’s misconception about Cat descriptions.
January 10, 2019 at 2:25 pm
Angela De Groot
Thanks for sharing!
January 10, 2019 at 2:35 pm
Lisa Riddiough
Thank you, Bonnie. Great ways to spark the imagination!!
January 10, 2019 at 2:40 pm
Mary Kate
Thank you for sharing!
January 10, 2019 at 3:46 pm
Kath Carroll
Thanks for the reminder that picture books can be rectifiers of some of those misconceptions and “injustices.” Love these three examples!
January 10, 2019 at 4:22 pm
rgstones
Unmet expectations are such a great place to mine for ideas. Thank you!
January 10, 2019 at 4:27 pm
Wendy
As a kid I was one of those disappointed by the dino exhibit! I knew they weren’t alive, but I had expected skin. Thanks for the repost Tara and Bonnie. 🙂
January 10, 2019 at 5:18 pm
Cheryl Malandrinos
This is great. Once we get older we sometimes forget what it’s like to be a child. Thanks for the funny reminder.
January 10, 2019 at 5:22 pm
Carol Gordon Ekster
Thanks for the repost. We definitely can get more out of these posts with a second read!
January 10, 2019 at 5:50 pm
melissamiles1
Great information! Thanks. 🙂
January 10, 2019 at 6:01 pm
Tracy Molitors
Thanks, Bonnie. I love this idea!
January 10, 2019 at 6:43 pm
Susan Orton
Your post also made me think of all of those mispronunciations that kids make that evolve into totally different meanings and perceptions in their minds. Thank you!
January 10, 2019 at 8:29 pm
angiecal76
Love that little “super hero in training!” Thanks for the levity, Bonnie!
January 10, 2019 at 9:00 pm
Laura Purdie Salas
Oh my goodness–love your examples!
January 10, 2019 at 9:31 pm
Naomi Gruer
I need to mine some of those misunderstandings!
January 10, 2019 at 9:46 pm
writeremmcbride
Bonnie, you would have enjoyed being at school with me yesterday, when one of our first graders told me that I made her head explode! Do you think I may have given them too much information? She did seem quite happy about the explosion…so now you have me thinking about a story! Great post!
January 10, 2019 at 10:08 pm
carmelamccainsimmons
Kids do say, and think, the darndest things, as Art Linklaetter used to remind us. Thanks for sharing this as a source of inspiration.
January 10, 2019 at 11:33 pm
Dani Duck
My kids are like this too. It’s nice that they often ask me about things they are confused about. Maybe one of those things will become a story!
January 10, 2019 at 11:37 pm
tiffanydickinson
Bonnie, I like the idea of looking (far) back at past confusions and things I didn’t understand. There were many. Thanks for sharing!
January 10, 2019 at 11:43 pm
Pamela Miller
Bonnie, I’m charmed by your illustrations. Thanks for the writing prompt: think like a child. I need to stamp that across the page as I begin.
January 11, 2019 at 12:04 am
Deb Cushman
Wonderful inspiration! Confusion and misunderstanding is a daily occurrence in childhood. Surely I can come up with three ideas of my own 🙂
January 11, 2019 at 12:37 am
Cathy Pledger
I love your illustrations and a great article reminding us how literal children are!
January 11, 2019 at 1:56 am
Keila Dawson
Kids are so literal! Great idea to use those misperceptions as story ideas.
January 11, 2019 at 6:45 am
Linda Hofke
wonderful post. And it gave me an idea!!! Thanks.
January 11, 2019 at 7:51 am
Sharron Magyar
Love the literalness of kids they make me smile. Great writing inspiration.
January 11, 2019 at 9:25 am
Sarah Maynard (@SarahDMaynard)
Yes! I loved this! Thank you!
January 11, 2019 at 9:59 am
Nicole Strangman
Misunderstandings are also a great basis for a story
January 11, 2019 at 10:06 am
Freda Lewkowicz
Thank you.
January 11, 2019 at 10:16 am
Clare Juliet Clare Bell
Thank you. Off to dredge up many embarrassing misunderstandings and transform them into something positive!
January 11, 2019 at 12:37 pm
KRISTINA CASTILLO
I love this! I can remember so many things I got wrong as a child.
January 11, 2019 at 12:37 pm
Sara Pistulka Weingartner
Great post! Thank you!
January 11, 2019 at 12:48 pm
shanah salter
great post!
January 11, 2019 at 1:49 pm
kathydoherty1
Your post reminds me of author Lisa Cron; she says the main character should have a misconception.
January 11, 2019 at 3:05 pm
laura516
Childhood misunderstandings are gold!
January 11, 2019 at 3:48 pm
Tracey Brown
The dresser drawer?! Brought back a funny memory. Thank you for this post!
January 11, 2019 at 4:34 pm
Michelle Kashinsky
Excellent! Looking forward to drawing from my childhood memories and witnessing my children’s miscalculations too. Thanks!
January 11, 2019 at 5:46 pm
Teresa Robeson
Misunderstandings make the funniest books! I love Bonnie’s art.
January 11, 2019 at 6:22 pm
Helen Lysicatos
Great idea, can’t wait to get started.
January 11, 2019 at 7:33 pm
Carrie Finison
Misunderstandings and mispronunciations are a goldmine of ideas!
January 11, 2019 at 9:50 pm
Vicky Howard
Thinking about taking those misperceptions and actually visualizing them, putting them on the page in an illustration, makes me realize how much potential there is for humor here!
January 11, 2019 at 10:24 pm
denarose
Thank you for the wonderful post! Hm, I’m going to have to start thinking back to my misconceptions, long, long ago–I’m sure there were zillions of them! Thank you!
January 11, 2019 at 11:59 pm
Cindy E. Owens
This article was both informative and inspiring. It opened my eyes to look at my writing in a different way.
January 12, 2019 at 12:49 am
Sandy Perlic
Loved her sketches! And yes, kids misunderstand or mishear things all of the time – I’ll be paying close attention to my little guy for the best of those for inspiration.
January 12, 2019 at 1:29 am
Julia Dworschack
LOVE your photo as child!!! Looks like you are thinking, “Seriously?”
😄😄😄😄😄😂😂😂😂
January 12, 2019 at 2:29 am
Jessica Kulekjian
This is a wonderful reminder that children’s point of views are different than adults. I’m going to have fun trying to remember things I misunderstood as a child. Thank you!
January 12, 2019 at 8:19 am
Meilssa Chupp
Such a wealth of resources when you study all the children around you!
January 12, 2019 at 8:42 am
Midge Ballou Smith
Loved this! Thank you!
January 12, 2019 at 10:06 am
aliciaminor
We still think as children do sometimes. We have so many how’s and why’s in our minds and it is in picture book writing that we could remove the drawer first out of the dresser before the baby sleeps in. More power to you.
January 12, 2019 at 11:49 am
Cynthia Harmony
Ha! Great post thank you!
January 12, 2019 at 12:05 pm
Maritza M. Mejía
Good point of view. Thank you, Bonnie!
January 12, 2019 at 12:18 pm
Lori Williams
This was simply great! Thank you!
January 12, 2019 at 5:24 pm
Melissa Mwai
This is too funny and a good way to brainstorm more ideas!
January 12, 2019 at 6:47 pm
Catherine Morgans
Thanks Bonnie, these misunderstandings do happen all the time, still with a nine year old. Great idea to work on these.
January 12, 2019 at 6:53 pm
Kathy O'Neill
A good reminder to go back to childhood memories!
January 12, 2019 at 7:48 pm
Janet Halfmann
What a great idea. Need to be on the lookout for some of these experiences during times with my grandkids.
January 12, 2019 at 10:30 pm
Anna Levin
Love your illustrations and thank you for the tips!
January 12, 2019 at 11:36 pm
Stephanie Lau
Enjoyed reading this post. Thanks for sharing!
January 12, 2019 at 11:59 pm
Jennifer Broedel (@JBroedelAuthor)
I once made a list of “kid-understandings.” Guess I’ll have to revisit that list, to go mining for story ideas. I knew they’d be useful!
January 13, 2019 at 12:20 am
Erin Le Clerc
A great idea – thank you 🙂
January 13, 2019 at 6:57 am
Mel Copeman
I don’t really have a good enough memory for this but I’ll keep am eye on my niece for her own mishaps.
January 13, 2019 at 7:40 am
Nadia A.
So many times as authors we try to think about children like instead looking at our inner child. Thanks for the reminder
January 13, 2019 at 1:32 pm
KATHY Z.PRICE
Thanks for sharing~
January 13, 2019 at 1:43 pm
Barb Ostapina
Good idea, Bonnie – look back to look ahead! Thanks
January 13, 2019 at 2:13 pm
Susan Nicholas Korstanje
Thanks for the reminder — to think more like a child when we write.
January 13, 2019 at 5:18 pm
Shereen S.
When I was in kindergarten my mom said the electric company was coming by that day. I waited outside all day long, sitting on the step for the entire cast of The Electric Company to come parading down my street. Wish I had known she meant they were reading the meter.
January 13, 2019 at 6:37 pm
Susanne Whitehouse
So much material to choose from when you put yourself in a child’s shoes. Thank you!
January 13, 2019 at 7:17 pm
Rona Shirdan
Great post! Thank you.
January 13, 2019 at 9:21 pm
Patti Ranson
Can lead to total confusion…I remember that from when I was wee 😉
January 13, 2019 at 10:01 pm
susanzonca
I especially mispronouncing words and my family not being able to understand me.
January 14, 2019 at 5:26 am
Mindy Alyse Weiss
Thanks, Bonnie! I have a couple in mind for novels. Now to see if I can come up with some for PBs, too.
January 14, 2019 at 9:24 am
Tiffany Painter
A child’s viewpoint is often the best place to start. Thanks for the reminder.
January 14, 2019 at 11:41 am
Judy Cooper
Thank you for the reminder to view the world through a child’s eyes. PS – I love the childhood photo. Based on the haircut, it looks like we are of the same generation. ha, ha
January 14, 2019 at 11:54 am
Laurel Ranveig Abell
I wrote down a bunch of crazy things my kids said, so that’s a great place to start!! Thanks for reminding me!
January 14, 2019 at 3:05 pm
Jen Kraar
Thanks for this. Thinking like a child, complete with misunderstandings, fuels my stories.
January 14, 2019 at 3:17 pm
naturewalkwithgod
Thank you, Bonnie, for reminding us of childhood misunderstandings. They really can become wonderful writing prompts. Loved the cartoons. — Kim P.
January 14, 2019 at 7:06 pm
Sarah Momo Romero
It’s so true! So many funny ideas can come from embarrassing moments…. even ones that happen today. I’ll have to start writing these down. 🙂
January 15, 2019 at 12:27 am
storycatcherpublishing
Oh, how I love history and dinosaurs and picture books. Great post!
January 15, 2019 at 1:02 am
Helen Taylor
I like this lens for thinking about childhood. So often it can be hard to pick out specific moments from a foggy memory.
January 15, 2019 at 2:46 am
Nancy Kotkin (@Brave_New_Words)
Wonderful cartoons. Love the dinosaur example.
January 15, 2019 at 3:00 pm
Lynn Alpert
Great exercise to think about. I always love seeing Bonnie’s drawings!
January 15, 2019 at 7:06 pm
Shawna J Tenney
This is great! It’s easy to forget what it is like to be a child, with limited experiences and understanding. It’s important to remember that.
January 15, 2019 at 11:42 pm
Andrew Lefebvre
I love to try to think like a child. Thanks.
January 16, 2019 at 3:15 am
Susan Cabael
Your examples remind me of Amelia Bedelia’s funny mix-ups.
January 16, 2019 at 11:31 am
Therese Kay
I was just thinking about Amelia Bedelia and looked at the post above! I guess I’m not the only one! I have fragments of my own misunderstandings in childhood but nothing I’ve been able to craft a story around….yet.
January 16, 2019 at 3:58 pm
Joannie Duris
Thanks, Bonnie. Fun post. Picture books are a great way to change childhood misconceptions into real life (for our characters). I’ll have to go through a list of idioms to remember which ones drummed up bizarre imaginings as a child.
January 16, 2019 at 4:34 pm
Janine Johns
Thank you for the fun post! It has prompted a few ideas already!
January 16, 2019 at 7:25 pm
Terri Sabol
A good reminder to look at the world through a child’s eyes. Thanks!
January 17, 2019 at 11:52 am
Amelia Shearer
A quick Google search of “childhood misunderstandings” has led to a lot of funny tidbits and hopefully some ideas as I keep reading through them! 🙂 Thanks!
January 18, 2019 at 12:01 am
Jill M Proctor
You’ve prompted some ideas already. Thanks for the fun post!
January 18, 2019 at 11:29 am
Cassie Bentley
I’ve done and seen many of these mistakes, not all of them when I was a child. This gives me an endless supply of story ideas. Thank you.
January 18, 2019 at 2:52 pm
imagination4lf
Thank you for sharing. I like the idea of thinking back to my childhood to all the times and moments when things were not quite what I expected them to be. 🙂
January 19, 2019 at 11:26 am
topangamaria
You’ve reminded me that some of my favorite PBs take misunderstanding to a pun level of fun.
January 19, 2019 at 4:46 pm
readstuffnwrite
I remember the confusion when I was little, will definitely use it!
January 20, 2019 at 11:32 am
cantsing1
Got me thinking!
January 20, 2019 at 2:05 pm
dlapmandi
Bonnie loved reading this post again. Hope all is well at your home. Thanks for the post.
January 20, 2019 at 3:18 pm
Doris k Stone
Great post. Thank you!
January 20, 2019 at 4:21 pm
Carolyn Kraft
Great post, I’m already thinking of some childhood memories that might work. Thank you!
January 21, 2019 at 12:53 am
Angela H. Dale
Childhood expectations, disappointments, misunderstandings, and scary dreams – plenty to mine there, thanks.
January 21, 2019 at 7:06 am
Rick Starkey
Thanks for sharing.
January 21, 2019 at 8:48 pm
Charlene Avery
So innovative and helpful to kids. Thanks for sharing!
January 21, 2019 at 10:58 pm
Diana Calio
Thank you, Bonnie! These are really great suggestions…and FUN!
January 21, 2019 at 11:50 pm
Beth Stilborn
I have a feeling that if I start mining my childhood for this sort of misunderstanding/misconception, I will come up with an embarrassing array of experiences to build on! *puts on miner’s hat* I’m going in…
January 22, 2019 at 1:35 am
Hillary Homzie
Love your keen observations. The highest score scene is priceless!
January 22, 2019 at 2:59 am
thedandelionzoo
Thank you for the great inspiration!
January 22, 2019 at 5:43 pm
Paula VanEnkevort
Great reminder to mine childhood memories and misconceptions. Thanks!
January 23, 2019 at 1:22 am
sharongiltrow
Thank you
January 23, 2019 at 7:23 pm
Amanda Davis
Transport back in time! So important to remember when writing for children. Thank you, Bonnie!
January 23, 2019 at 7:47 pm
Lou
This is kind of a gutsy strategy. It requires allowing a certain level of vulnerability.
January 24, 2019 at 9:18 pm
annettepimentel
Such a lovely perspective to take on picture books.
January 25, 2019 at 3:28 pm
Carolyne Ruck
Not being an illustrator, I usually use the words to create the picture, but you’ve inspired me to try it the other way around!
January 25, 2019 at 3:29 pm
denitajohnson
Thank you, I enjoyed the information.
January 26, 2019 at 3:05 am
Emily Patriquin
I think all children’s book writers should try to think like children! What a great exercise!
January 26, 2019 at 9:34 am
Shel ledrew
Thank you.
January 26, 2019 at 2:56 pm
Susan Tuggy
Misunderstandings abound in my life even now. I have many ideas to flesh out.
January 26, 2019 at 10:22 pm
Robyn Campbell
Thanks again, Bonnie. I have 130 ideas, and there are still five days to go.
January 27, 2019 at 11:37 am
Dea Brayden
Thank you. With my kids grown, I look for opportunities to have time with kids to keep these experiences coming.
January 27, 2019 at 4:41 pm
Joyce
Good food for thought and the misunderstandings that come with it.
January 28, 2019 at 12:49 pm
creationsbymit
So true that children spend a lot of their time trying to figure things out! The world through their eyes is much different than what we experience as adults. Thanks for the idea of tapping into those memories!
January 28, 2019 at 4:44 pm
Sharalyn Edgeberg
To question things like a child is a good starting point for ideas. Thanks for sharing. Congratulations on all your illustrations for picture books.
January 29, 2019 at 4:12 am
Maria J Cuesta
Hilarious! Love it! I need to think about this. Thank you!
January 29, 2019 at 12:30 pm
Marie Powell
Thanks for the funny-true post and for the idea of using those misperceptions.
January 29, 2019 at 1:24 pm
hannahtuohyillustration
I love the idea of drumming up inspiration out of childhood misunderstandings. Thanks for sharing!
January 30, 2019 at 2:07 pm
Danielle Hicks
This is a great way to think things through from a child’s perspective! Thank you!
January 31, 2019 at 9:24 pm
higherthanrubies
Thanks so much!
January 31, 2019 at 11:26 pm
Laurie Swindler
Thanks for reminding me that figuring out this world can be tricky.
February 3, 2019 at 8:07 am
Johna Nicole Rossetti
That was such a cute idea! I love the one about highest score wins. I am terrible at golf so that’s my favorite! 🙂
February 3, 2019 at 10:09 am
Sheri Dillard
Great post! (It made me think of times when I’ve heard others (or me!) get song lyrics wrong.) Thanks, Bonnie! 🙂
February 4, 2019 at 5:00 pm
loelmu
I love this one. Useful!
February 5, 2019 at 11:18 pm
Becky Shillington
Thanks so much, Bonnie. This was great!
January 26, 2020 at 5:56 pm
teachom
Thank you for the ideas!