Lori Nichols literally draws from nature. The author and illustrator of the books Maple and Maple and Willow Together talked to students in PK and kindergarten, first and second grades, and third and fourth grades in the library. She showed drawings from her books and talked about how she came up with ideas for her stories.

Nichols says she finds inspiration in trees, plants, rocks and anything she finds outside. She demonstrated her drawing technique by using letters from first names of students to draw faces.