14 Wonderful Children’s Books to Inspire Imagination
Why is imagination so important? It allows children to explore their passions, escape from reality and achieve limitless dreams. Whether it be the first child to explore Mars or becoming a world-famous musician when a child uses their imagination, there is no limit. These books to inspire imagination are some of our favorites.
Kids need to explore, invent and imagine so they can grow and develop. We put together a list of our favorite books about imagination to inspire creativity in your kids.
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S.T.E.M Picture Books About Imagination
Not a Box
Author: Antoinette Portis
Illustrator: Antoinette Portis
Year: 2011
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 2 – 5
More info: Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Award Winner
Plot
The bunny in this book can find amazing things to do with a box. When you read this book with your child, not only will inspire creativity but you will allow them to think “outside the box” literally and figuratively.
Why Kirsten loves it
After you finish reading it, try setting up a creation station with boxes, paper towel rolls, scraps of paper, tinfoil, googly eyes, and more. This educational book for 3-year-olds is a winner!
Find this book in: Best Books for 3-year-olds / Books to Inspire Imagination
Ada Twist Scientist by Andrea Beaty
All three books in this “series” are amazing at encouraging passion and imagination. (Have a look at Iggy Peck Architect and Rosie Revere Engineer). Ada is a thinker whose questions often lead to disasters in the house but, as a parent, how do you encourage your child’s outside the box thinking?
What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada
When an idea is personified, you must nurture it to help it grow. That’s what this book does. Some children do not know what to do with ideas and inspiration. I love how this book offers encouragement to express yourself.
This wonderful book is perfect to inspire imagination in your child.
What To Do With a Box by Jane Yolen
Two books about boxes? Yup! Written in rhyme, this book explores the magic that pure make-believe creates.
We needed to include this in books about imagination because there really is nothing better than making a play-day out of an old box.
Picture Books about Reaching Your Potential
I Wish You More by Amy Krause Rosenthal
This sweet book inspires the imagination of all the wonderful things there are to experience like friends, love, and fun. It is a different kind of imagination.
We knew that this needed to be on a list of books to inspire imagination.
The Wonderful Thing You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin
We wanted to include books that are more abstract books about imagination on this list. Martin has inspired kids to use their imaginations and discover the possibilities for the future. It is done in a fun and sweet way.
The Most Magnificent Thing by Anthony Spires
Persistence, patience, and hard work along with a great imagination can make wonders. We have all felt the frustration of things not going right and I love how this book puts that into pictures and words.
As I tell my kids all the time. Edison tried 10,000 times before he made a working lightbulb. When he was asked how he felt to fail he replied” I didn’t fail. I learned 9,999 ways to NOT make a lightbulb”. This is one of the books to inspire imagination that also inspires creativity and persistence.
Imagination Books About Art
Hugo and Miles in I’ve Painted Everything
Author: Scott Magoon
Illustrator: Scott Magoon
Year: 2007
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 4 -7
Plot
I love this book and the message it contains. Looking at the world from a different lens is a difficult skill to master for anyone. Together, Hug and Miles discover that just when you thought you had seen everything, there is so much more to discover.
Why Jackie loves it
This book is perfect for inspiring imagination as Hugo and Miles discover a new perspective.
Find this book in: Imagination Books / Best Books for 4-year-olds
The Dot
Author: Peter H. Reynolds
Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds
Year: 2003
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 3 – 7
More info: Part of the Creatrilogy
Plot
The teacher in this story inspires Vashti’s creativity and imagination by simply giving credit for an attempt at doing something out of Vashti’s comfort zone. This is one of the best imagination books around.
Why Jackie loves it
There are not many books that can give such a wonderful message so sweetly and so succinctly. In life, we would all be so lucky as to have a teacher like the one portrayed in this book.
Find this book in: Best Books for 3-year-olds / Books to Inspire Imagination
Harold and the Purple Crayon
Author: Crockett Johnson
Illustrator: Crockett Johnson
Year: 1958
Genre: Classic Picture Book
Age: 2 – 5
More info: Part of the Purple Crayon series
Plot
When Harold gets a magical purple crayon, he draws on the walls and creates a world of his own. His adventures are marvelous (but stress to your kids that crayons don’t belong on the walls!)
Why Kirsten loves it
I think this is the original book about the power of the imagination. It’s a classic book for a reason. The worlds that Harold creates with one purple crayon can inspire anyone’s imagination.
Find this book in: Best Books for 3-year-olds / Books to Inspire Imagination
Beautiful Oops
Author: Barney Saltzberg
Illustrator: Barney Saltzberg
Year: 2010
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 2 – 6
Plot
Beautiful Oops is a 3-D book that shows a mistake, and then how the artist turns it into a masterpiece.
Why Kirsten loves it
A good imagination book inspires creativity but also teaches a lesson. The lesson in this book? It’s OK to make mistakes. It’s a great book to reference when talking to your children about mistakes and how to fix them.
Find this book in: Best Books for 5-year-olds / Children’s Books to Inspire Imagination
Imagination Books for Kids
JourneyÂ
Author: Aaron Becker
Illustrator: Aaron Becker
Year: 2013
Genre: Wordless Picture Book
Age: 3 – 6
More info: Caldecott Honor Winner, Journey Trilogy #1
Plot
When a little girl draws a door on her bedroom wall, she doesn’t expect to enter a magical land. Using her red marker, she creates a world filled with wonders and sets off on an adventure.
Why Kirsten loves it
This story reminds me of a grown-kid version of Harold and the purple crayon. Instead of simplistic drawings, readers are treated to elaborate illustrations to be poured over for hours.
Find this book in: Imagination Books / Best Books for 4-year-olds / Wordless Picture Books
This is Sadie
Author: Sara O’Leary
Illustrator: Julie Morstad
Year: 2015
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 2 – 5
Plot
Sadie is a girl with a big imagination who uses her books to create fantasy worlds. This is the perfect book to inspire creativity.
Why Kirsten loves it
As books about imagination go, this one is so much fun and the illustrations are mesmerizing.
Find this book in: Imagination Books / Best Books for 4-year-olds / Children’s Books About Books
Sarabella’s Thinking Cap
Author: Judy Schachner
Illustrator: Judy Schachner
Year: 2017
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 5 – 8
Plot
Sarabella is a daydreamer and creates a hat to show all her dreams and thoughts! With the encouragement of a special teacher, Sarabella can be herself.
Why Jackie loves it
This is one of the books to inspire imagination that we read over and over, even as our kids get older.
Find this book in: Best Books for 5-year-olds / Books to Inspire Imagination
