13 Children’s Books that Inspire
Creativity & Big Imagination
By Dr. Nosakhere Griffin-EL
Creativity and Imagination are core values of the Dreamocracy Learning Lab. These books provide kid-friendly stories that will inspire your young dreamer to be more creative and use their imagination in fun and amazing ways. For parents and educators, these books serve as tools to build a child’s confidence in becoming more creative. All of these books, I have read and enjoyed with my sons.
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What If is a must read! This is an amazing book centered on imagination. The author takes the reader on a journey with a little girl who dreams out loud. The little girl looks at what is in her environment and imagines how it can be used to create something beautiful. The vibrant illustrations allow young dreamers to follow the storyline with joy and excitement. The illustrations allow parents to pose questions about how their child can use their imagination. I love this book because it visually depicts the power of a child’s imagination. This is one of the best books I ever read to my sons!
Everywhere Wonder is a great book about imagination. A little boy is reading a book and it takes him across the world. When the boy is done traveling the world by reading, he decides to explore the real world. This book is a visual depiction of the role that books plays in inspiring children to dream.
Let’s Go for a Drive is a must read! The book starts off with Gerald having an idea about going on a driving with his friend Piggie. They gather various items to prepare for the trip, but at the end of the story they realize something important is missing. Without this missing thing, they cannot go on a drive. Instead of focusing what they cannot do, they decide to use their imagination. Making the decision to use their imagination opens a great opportunity to have loads of fun! This is a great tool for parents and teachers to teach children how to use their imaginations to make the best out of situations.
I am Invited to a Party by Mo Willems is fun book to read. The author takes readers on a hilarious journey through the grand imagination of two characters Piggie and Gerald. Their grand imagination has them putting many outfits and accessories. This book is a great tool to teach children how to develop a robust imagination!
Watch Me Throw the Ball is a great book about having fun. Gerald explains to Piggie the rules of throwing a ball, but all she wants to do is throw the ball. When she throws the ball, it does not go very far, but she does not care because she had fun doing it. This book is a great tool for parents and kids to understand the importance of unstructured play.
Lily Brown’s Paintings is a book that focuses on creativity and imagination. This book presents the story of a girl who uses art to reimagine her world. The amazing artwork provides children with a fun opportunity to learn how to use their imaginations. For parents, this book serves as a tool to pose questions about why it’s important for their children to use their imaginations.
Playing From the Heart is a must read book. One day, a father listens to his son play the piano. Wanting to nurture this talent, the father gets his son piano lessons. The more lessons the son takes the more he loses his love of playing the piano. Towards the end of the story, an event occurs and the son rediscovers his original love for playing the piano. This story teaches parents and children that an overemphasis on rules and technique can stifle creativity.
Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer encourages children to use their imagination. Using the vehicle of poem, the author teaches kids how to create art out of life. The book has great illustrations and plants seeds of creativity in young readers. This is a great gift for kids!
H.O.R.S.E. A Game of Basketball and Imagination by Christopher Myers is a great book about imagination. The author does a great job at using basketball to teach kids about imagination. The book begins with two boys transforming a traditional basketball game of H.O.R.S.E into an intellectual wrestling match. The boys’ imagination takes them around the world and all the way to outer space. The illustrations bring the boys’ robust imaginations to life! This book is a tool to teach children the power and joy of developing and using their imagination during play.#MustRead!
The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County is a magnificent story of how a Black girl engages in critical thinking and acting. This book tells the story of a young girl who chases chicken against the wishes of her grandmother. The author walks us through the young girl’s plan to capture Ms. Hen, who is a fast and beautiful chicken. When the Queen enacts her plan, she comes close to capturing Ms. Hen, but decides not to after discovering an important piece of information. With this information, she develops empathy for Ms. Hen, which makes her rethink chasing chickens. The descriptive words and matching illustrations allow the reader to actively follow the storyline. This is a great book that shows the intellectual and social emotional brilliance of a little Black girl. Must read!
Olu’s Dream by Shane Evans is a great book to spark creative thinking in your young dreamer. When Olu wants to play past his bedtime, his father encourages him to use his imagination to fall asleep. Olu uses his imagination and opens a new world. This is a fun book to use to encourage children to use their imagination during bedtime or daytime.
Drawn Together is a wonderful story about the power of art. When a grandfather and grandson who speak two different languages are unable to communicate, they discover art as a vehicle to express their love for each other. The illustrations in this book allow the reader to develop an in-depth understanding how both of characters are feeling throughout the story. This book displays how art is a language that builds relationship between people regardless of the languages they speak.
Violet’s Music by Angela Johnson is a beautiful story about pursing dreams. From the time she was a few hours old, Violet developed a loved for music, but not everyone in her life shared that same love. She goes through life searching for people who shares her love of music, but at first, she is unable to find them. Her inability to find fellow music lovers does not stop her from making music. She works on her dream and eventually meets up with fellow music lovers. When she meets them, she is able to fulfill her dream and maximize her talent. This is a great book to teaching children about pursing their dream.
