HOW TO HAVE A THOUGHT

Sibert Medalist Day transforms Charles Darwin’s daily walking routine into an enchanting blueprint for creative thinking.

The book opens with a delightfully unconventional instruction manual: “First you need a rock.” What follows is an intimate portrait of Darwin’s “Sandwalk”—the path he traversed as he pondered deep thoughts. Stacking rocks before he began, he knocked one down with each completed loop; simple conflicts were “one-rock problems,” while tougher ones were “two-rocks, three-rocks, even four-rocks.” Day’s conversational prose weaves seamlessly among Darwin’s voyage on the Beagle, his groundbreaking observations of finches and giant sloths, and his methodical approach to wrestling with the radical concept of natural selection. Never condescending, the text instead invites readers to see themselves as fellow thinkers capable of their own discoveries. Hooper’s mixed-media illustrations are nothing short of spectacular, combining vintage engravings, photographs of actual rocks and specimens, painted landscapes, and printmaking techniques, all resulting in richly textured pages. Real scientific illustrations of Darwin’s finches appear alongside a whimsical globe, while the recurring motif of blue walking paths, both literal and figurative, connects all elements. The book succeeds on multiple levels: as an accessible introduction to evolution, a meditation on the creative process, and gentle encouragement for readers to embrace their own thinking paths. Substantive author’s notes provide historical context without overwhelming younger children.

A masterful blend of biography, science, and philosophy that makes profound ideas feel wonderfully attainable.