Imagination According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney Page A

author Cameron Cole.”
    As the tall woman walked to the front of the room, my classmates all applauded. They looked as excited and amazed as I was.
    First of all, I’d thought Cameron Cole was a man.
    Second of all, I never thought I’d meet the author of the dragon book in person!
    Once the clapping and cheering stopped, Ms. Cole began to answer students’ questions.
    I climbed up to the tippy top of my cage so I had a good view.
    â€œI like to write stories, because I like to use my imagination,” she said. “Does anyone here like that, too ? ”
    Every hand—plus my paw—went up.
    She pulled a bright blue notebook out of her bag. “It’s important to keep a notebook,” she said. “I take my notebook everywhere.”
    Mrs. Brisbane asked our class to hold up their notebooks.
    I was tempted to pull mine out of its hiding place, but in the end, I left it there.
    Cameron Cole continued answering questions about dragons.
    Yes,
she had seen a bearded dragon.
    No,
she had never seen a huge, fire-breathing dragon like Goldie and she wasn’t sure whether or not they were real.
    Yes,
she’d loved fairy tales and dragon books when she was growing up.
    Then she answered questions about writing.
    Holly asked her where she got her ideas. That’s what I wanted to know, too!
    Ms. Cole said, “I find them absolutely everywhere! Things that happened to me, things that happened to people I know, things I read in newspapers and books, conversations I overhear. You need to be open to ideas and you’ll find them.”
    She paused to glance over at our table and smiled. “I have to admit, I had an imaginary dragon friend when I was little,” she said. “I’m very grateful to him for inspiring me. And I used to lie on the grass and look up at the clouds, imagining there was a secret kingdom with a great big castle up there. That was the beginning of the Gil Goodfriend story.”
    Imaginary dragon ? That’s a lot like an imaginary bear named Bear! Maybe Carlos will write a book about his friend one day.
    â€œWho knows,” she said, walking over to get a closer look at Gigi, Og and me. “Someday I might even write a book about these adorable animals.”
    â€œReally!” I squeaked. “I write about us all the time!”
    Cameron Cole laughed. “This hamster seems to have a lot to say.”
    â€œI DO-DO-DO!” I replied. I could hardly believe I was talking to a real author!
    â€œBOING!” Og added.
    â€œOh, and the frog has ideas, too.” Ms. Cole chuckled.
    â€œSay something, Gigi,” I told my guinea pig friend.
    But Gigi was too shy to squeak.
    â€œMrs. Brisbane said that you started with a sentence and then a paragraph and ended up with a story,” Cameron Cole said. “That’s exactly what I do when I write a book. So congratulations!”
    Then our teacher announced that it was almost time for lunch.
    My friends groaned. I think they would have gladly given up lunch to keep talking with Cameron Cole.
    She signed our dragon book and my friends’ notebooks.
    I wished I could have had her sign my notebook, too.
    The time had passed so quickly! My friends left for lunch and Mrs. Brisbane and Ms. Mac took Cameron Cole to the teachers’ lounge for lunch as well.
    Aldo stayed behind to talk to us.
    â€œWell, my friends, I don’t usually see you during the day,” he said. “But I learned the author was coming, and one of the subjects I’ll have to teach is writing. She gave me a lot of ideas.”
    â€œMe too, Aldo!” I squeaked.
    â€œI have to start my student teaching soon. That’s where you practice being a teacher in a classroom,” he said. “So wish me luck!”
    â€œGood luck!” I shouted.
    â€œBOING-BOING!” Og twanged.
    And Gigi even managed to softly squeal, “Luck!”

    After Aldo cleaned that night, I took out my little