A joyous exploration of imagination and finding inspiration, The Idea in You is the debut picture book from Questlove—New York Times bestselling author, six-time GRAMMY Award–winning drummer, producer, and Academy Award–winning filmmaker—and Coretta Scott King Honor Award–winning illustrator Sean Qualls

An idea can come from anywhere.
Start here: reach up into the sky
And unhook a star.

Questlove’s debut picture book, an uplifting story about passion, creativity, and joy—exuberantly illustrated by award-winning artist Sean Qualls—will inspire kids to find their own creative pursuits

Musician, producer, and music journalist Questlove offers encouragement for young dreamers.

As this work opens, a young child with dark skin and a large Afro gazes out the window at the night sky and finds inspiration for a newly formed idea. Each page includes suggestions for coming up with and honing an idea. “Look at it from one side. Look at it from the other side. Toss it, turn it, spin it, flip it upside down.” “It may need a little sweetness, or maybe some umami, building a depth of flavor.” The motivational text is paired with dark, otherworldly, mixed-media illustrations, rendered in acrylic paint, paper, collage, and pencil, which demonstrate the limitless potential of ideas. Together, the words and visuals offer readers opportunities to explore how to turn their thoughts into realities. While the book is stirring, it may go over youngsters’ heads; some references will leave little ones perplexed. The abstract nature of the instructions and illustrations make this work better suited for the audience the book is dedicated to: presumably older readers nurturing their inner child.

Ages: 6-9

32 pages

Hardcover