Answers many of the questions the author receives from children on writing, including where she gets her ideas, how she learned to draw, and how many books she can write in one day. Many children want to know where stories come from and how a book is made. Marie-Louise Gay's new picture book provides them with some delightfully inspiring answers though a fictional encounter between an author and some very curious children - together they collaborate...

"Hey, Pirate. What are you doing in my sandbox?" "I'm not a pirate. I'm the captain of a ship." What is Captain doing in Dragon's sandbox? He is moping. Because he's lost his ship. "Oh, no! I'll help you find it! Come on!" "Where are we going?" "To my cave! I know I have a map somewhere."
Armed with a (toy watch) compass, a (paper-towel tube) telescope, and a (hand-drawn) map, Dragon and Captain set off on a great adventure. Dragon...

Wearing her ladybug costume, Lulu plays in new fallen snow.

"When Andy develops a severe toothache that prevents him from writing new jokes for their book, Terry uses their fantastical treehouse's money-making machine funds to purchase a Joke Writer 2000, with unexpected results."--

When Gertie moves in next door with fancy toys and a huge television set, Molly shares lessons she learned from her grandmother about homemade playthings and imagination.

The girl conjures up an imaginary companion, a lion, who will come with her on the long walk home from school. He will help her to pick up her baby brother from daycare and shop at the store (which has cut off the family's credit), and he'll keep her company all along the way until she is safe at home. He will always come back when she needs him, unlike the father whom she sees only in a photograph a photograph in which he clearly resembles a lion....

Jeremy Jacob joins Braid Beard and his pirate crew and finds out about pirate language, pirate manners, and other aspects of their life. When Braid Beard's pirate crew invites Jeremy Jacob to join their voyage, he jumps right on board. Buried treasure, sea chanteys, pirate talk--who wouldn't go along? Soon Jeremy Jacob knows all about being a pirate. He throws his food across the table and his manners to the wind. He hollers like thunder and laughs...

A mother's words help a little boy imagine the sights and sounds of the seashore, even though he has never seen the ocean.

"Ty wishes his family would play with him, but everyone is too busy before dinner-time. Luckily, Ty knows just what to do... Time for fun. Celebrate the power of imagination in All Aboard!"--Publisher's description.

A young child imagines going off to Kindergarten as a journey to another planet.