As a writer of picture books, this is the question I am most frequently asked: “Where do you get your ideas?”

I used to flippantly reply, “Where do you get yours?”

But lately I’ve reconsidered my answer. I no longer believe people are asking the obvious. No, I think they are inquiring about something much bigger. I think they are asking about the mysterious process of creation; that elusive mix of inspiration, imagination, frustration, perspiration, consternation, and revision… revision… revi...