• Age: 4 to 18
• Grade: k to 5

From the creators of You Are Stardust comes a new informational picture book that brings the big ideas of their first book down to earth. Wild Ideas looks deep into the forests, skies and oceans to explore how animals solve problems. Whether it’s weaving a safe place to rest and reflect, blowing a fine net of bubbles to trap fish, or leaping boldly into a new situation, the animals featured (including the orangutan, humpback whale and gibbon) can teach us a lot about creative problem solving tools and strategies.

Like You Are Stardust, this book uses lyrical text grounded in current science alongside wonderfully detailed art to present problems as doorways to creative thinking. Wild Ideas encourages an inquiry-based approach to learning, inviting readers to indulge their sense of wonder and curiosity by observing the natural world, engaging with big ideas and asking questions. An author’s note at the end delves deeper into the research behind the text.

 

ELIN KELSEY, PhD, is an award-winning author and a leading spokesperson for hope and the environment. In 2014, she co-created #OceanOptimism, a twitter campaign to crowd-source and share ocean conservation successes which has reached 90 million users to date. She frequently works on projects with the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Stanford University and the University of Victoria and is passionate about engaging kids in hopeful, science-based, environmental solutions. See more at www.elinkelseyandcompany.com.

Elin Kelsey's profile page

Soyeon Kim is a Korean-born artist and educator currently living in Toronto. She is a graduate of the Visual Arts and Education programs at York University and has participated in artist residences at the Hermitage (St. Petersburg, Russia), Spark Box Studios (Picton, Ontario) and the Toronto Public Library. She has illustrated a number of children's picture books, including Once Upon an Hour, You Are Stardust, Wild Ideas, Is This Panama?, Sukaq and the Raven, You Are Never Alone and A Last Goodbye. Soyeon won the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award in 2013.

 

Soyeon Kim's profile page

• A Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Book for Kids and Teens
• Joint winner, Kirkus Best of 2015 Selection

"A strong voice and an angle that makes it different from other books...a fun book to discuss in science and environmental studies."

The International Educator

"Speaks directly to young readers in a carefully constructed, elegant, accessible language that transcends the ordinary and demonstrates not even the slightest hint of condescension... This is a work that will be read and examined again and again, with something new to be discovered at every turn. Profound and entirely wonderful."

Kirkus Reviews STARRED REVIEW

"A beautiful picture book that will encourage young readers to explore and connect with the natural world."

Allison's Book Bag

"Entertaining as it is informative...a truly exceptional and highly recommended addition to family, school, and community library collections."

MIdwest Book Reviews

"Owlkids hit the mark with Wild Ideas."

The National Post

"Kelsey presents simple, powerful examples in warm, accessible language...beautifully presented and rich in ideas."

Booklist

"An imaginative and illuminating catalog of various animals' problem-solving strategies...[a] heartening celebration of our kinship with other beings."

Brain Pickings

"Would also make an excellent part of a unit or discussion on problem solving."

Resource Links

"Beautiful."

KidsBookshelf.com

"Imaginative and inspiring."

Bookviews.com

"A wonderful and unique picture book...kids will enjoy every page."

The Write Path

"A timely resource for classrooms, libraries and families that invites readers to indulge their sense of wonder and curiosity."

Examiner.com

"Delightful and though-provoking."

Quill & Quire

"After exploring this contemplative, inspirational book, readers will be up for any challenge."

The National Reading Campaign

"Each statement supported by scientific fact is woven into the whimsical world of Kim's visuals. This book frees us to be more than we thought we could be."

Librarian's Quest

"Elin Kelsey crafts lyrical prose to expose our youth to the 'magic' of science...a brilliant book."

Critical Blast

"The illustrations are three-dimensional dioramas that are sure to spark plenty of creative ideas."

Ithaca Child

"The depth of the images and the surprising facts work together to create a lovely connection between the readers and the natural world."

The Boston Globe

"Young kids who like to write stories will be interested in this beautiful book."

San Francisco Book Review

"Encourages children to think creatively about solving their own problems and to use animals as inspiration and example...This is a nice addition to beginning science classrooms."

The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database

"Delightful dioramas bring the book's accessible prose to life."

Science Magazine

"The perfect mixture of science and storytelling that children will love to read and parents and teachers will love to use as a teach tool."

South Florida Sun Sentinel

"This book introduces innovative thinking and problem-solving."

Library Media Connection

"Although most readers will be drawn to this book because of the animal content, they might pick up some problem-solving skills in the process."

School Library Journal

"This is one outstanding children's book...if this team continues tithe their publications both the incredible will happen and, fingers crossed, miracles will come about."

Feathered Quill Book Reviews

"Encourages an inquiry-based approach to learning, inviting readers to indulge their sense of wonder and curiosity by observing the natural world."

Curling Up With A Good Book blog