Note: to see all the lessons, click on the category: Making Big Things Happen

I bet thousands of people went into the bathroom of Big O’s on 4^th Avenue before it burned down.  But how many came out with an idea for a picture book?  To make big things happen, you have to have a big curiosity about the world.  Pay attention to what catches your attention.  So many students tell me they don’t know what to write about.  Write about what interests you.  What captures your attention?  When I went into the bathroom at Big O’s restaurant, I saw a framed postcard on the wall.  It said:  In 1897, one of Sweet’s most famous guests was Tillie the Terrible Swede, fastest bicyclist of her sex.”  Wow, I thought.  Who would have a name like Tillie the Terrible Swede.  I went home and looked her up on the internet.  There wasn’t much information, but I saw that I could send away for some back copies of “The Antique Wheelman” magazine to learn more.  So I did.  That was the beginning of the book we will talk about.  I feel so much richer for having learned about this woman.  But it all started with following my curiosity.

I’m a really curious person and I would encourage you to be curious, too.  Maybe you’re curious about how they make the beautiful cakes you see on TV.  Or maybe how to do a cross dribble in basketball.  The next step is to figure out who knows.  Can you go to the library to find out?  Can you ask your coach or your older brother?  Curiosity leads you to new questions and new answers.

What are you curious about?