What Inspires

(Illustrated by Ellen Rooney, Orca Book Publishers, September 2024)

Three friends go to the park, where it seems like nothing is happening―but something is. Everyone becomes part of a domino effect of creativity from painting and building castle forts to having daring adventures and sailing the imaginary seas, and finally staging a colorful parade and watching stories unfurl in the clouds. And when they think nothing more could happen, it does.

Publisher's Weekly (Sept/24): A joyous tribute to imagination-fueled play. Hughes’s spare lyricism proves a ready partner for Rooney’s mixed-media artwork. The result is a friendly communal examination of making’s magic.

Kirkus Reviews (Aug 1/24): This is an uplifting, beautifully written story about possibilities and letting creative ideas play out freely. It demonstrates that inspiration is everywhere, even in small things and moments; we need only look for it to unlock our own creative potential. An inspired story about letting the creative spirit freely move you.

Booklist (July 1/24): Hughes' lively, poetic lines are nicely enhanced by Rooney's luminous mixed-media illustrations...with its inviting, playful presentation, this is a charming ode to imagination and wonder and a celebration of the way nature can connect and delight.

Quill & Quire (July 24/24): Governor General’s Literary Award nominee Alison Hughes’s latest picture book celebrates open-ended, device-free play. Kids at a park watch maple keys spiralling into the air, which leads to imaginative movements of their own and kick-starts community connections and creative collaborations.