One of the best things about summertime is that kids have the time to explore, invent and imagine. Without the structure of school, children have the opportunity to spend the majority of their day just being kids.
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 his or her imagination there is no limit.
We have put together a list of our favorite books to inspire imagination and creativity in your kids.
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Table of Contents
Imagination Books for Kids
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.
Hugo and Miles in I’ve Painted Everything by Scott Magoon
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
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.
The Wonderful Thing You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin
We included to books that are more abstract inspirational book. Martin has inspired kids to use their imaginations and discover the possibilities for the future. It is done in a fun and sweet way.
Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
When a bunny encounters his “not a box”, he sees a castle, a spaceship and just about everything you can imagine except an ordinary box. We have read this many many times in our house and it never gets old.
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.
The Dot by Peter H. ReynoldsThere 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. She inspires Vashti’s creativity and imagination by simply giving credit for an attempt at doing something out of Vashti’s comfort zone.
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”.
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
I think this is the original book about the power of the imagination. The worlds that Harold creates with one purple crayon can inspire anyone’s imagination
Journey by Aaron BeckerIn the spirit of Harold and the Purple Crayon, this book is pure imagination. The illustrations are fantastic and the story is beautiful (but told without words.)
Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg
Is there a more perfect message for a child then it is okay to make a mistake? That is the message of this book.
Sarabella’s Thinking Cap by Judy Schachner
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.
This is Sadie by Sara O’LearySadie is a girl with a big imagination who uses her books to create fantasy worlds. This is the perfect book to inspire creativity.
