Topic 3: Imagine that!

The books we have chosen for our third topic encourage and support developing imagination. The capacity to imagine is a necessary component for the development of higher thinking and problem solving. We have chosen books that inspire creative thinking and encourage looking at everyday surroundings with different perspectives. With an imaginative mind, the possibilities are endless and children will enjoy reading these books again and again.

Clicking on the titles will direct you to the amazon.com page for each book listed below. Clicking on highlighted words or phrases in the descriptions will direct you to resources and information related to the topics.

For ages 0 - 3

Jamberry by Bruce Degan

This book invites you to take an imaginative journey with its whimsical illustrations, catchy rhyming text, and repetitive vowel sounds. Your young child will love to join you in reading this book because each time you open it up, it welcomes you into an adventure of the senses! Children will want to read this book over and over again and will quickly become a treasured part of any child’s book collection. - C.Love

For ages 0 - 3 and ages 3 - 6

We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen

Retold by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, this traditional story follows the adventurous journey of a brave family out to catch a big bear.  Along the way they encounter numerous obstacles, such as “thick, cozy mud” and a “deep, cold river”, and through clever maneuvering they overcome each one.  Alas, they tip-toe into a cave and see “one shiny nose” and “two furry ears” and “two big goggly eyes”.  Have they found a big bear?  Will their bravery sustain or will fear take over? Come along on a bear hunt and follow the sing-song text that is sure to become an enjoyable participatory read aloud for preschoolers. School age children will also enjoy acting out the story, with the help of its vivid and scenic illustrations. - D. Gilbert

Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis

How many times have you heard a child say, “I’m bored?” In this sequel to Not a Box, Antoinette Portis introduces a pig who explores all the possibilities a regular old stick can bring. This story is told through playful banter between the narrator, who encourages the pig to be careful with his stick and a pig who continually says, “It’s not a Stick.” The illustrations are an integral part of the story, as there is limited text to explain the creativity used to turn the pig’s stick into fun objects. We see the stick as a fishing rod, paintbrush and so much more. Young children may not understand the connection between a stick and the pig’s imagination, but older preschoolers will appreciate the concept of pretend play. Parents and teachers will also enjoy this book as a resource to spark a child’s imagination. - D. Gilbert

It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles Shaw

This book is a favorite of mine and I use it time and time again in the classroom. I enjoy reading this book with my students, pausing as I turn the pages to allow students the time to take notice of each illustration. Then I ask each student about their thoughts and ideas about what they are seeing as we look at each picture together. This allows them to develop their imagination because there is no right or wrong answer! Children find it exciting to compare and contrast their ideas with the author’s suggestions and with each other. There are so many ways to extend this book which makes it a valuable teaching tool! - C. Love

For ages 3 - 6

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman

Grace loves stories and Grace loves to pretend. She delights in dressing up and acting out different roles, from Joan of Arc to Hiawatha. Grace’s family supports her in her acting endeavors, despite discouraging words from peers at school that she cannot be Peter Pan in the upcoming school play because she is a girl. Imagination and playing different roles are an important part of childhood as children learn about the world around them by playing and pretending. This is a wonderful book for encouraging young girls to be all that they imagine they can be and to seek what they truly desire. - J. Reid

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

Harold knows just what he needs and wants as he uses his imagination and his purple crayon to the fullest on a fantasy adventure away from home. He protects himself from danger when he gets into tricky situations, including confrontation with a scary dragon, falling off a mountain cliff, and getting lost from home. Every child fears danger, whether fantasy-based (such as monster fears) or reality-based, and a child's ability to use their imagination to fix 'pretend' problems and danger while playing helps them develop problem solving skills and stronger mental muscles for when they face 'real' problems and anxieties in life. Harold and the Purple Crayon shows children, teachers, and parents alike just how creative, resilient and adaptive a child can be when they face imaginary adversity. A must read for every parent and child! - J. Murphy

The Trek by Ann Jonas

Ann Jonas captures how useful and creative a child's imagination can be as she tells the journey of a young girl who turns an ordinary walk to school, without her mother, into adventure. Jonas's pictures beautifully illustrate this adventure, bringing to life how the girl plays the role of an explorer and pretends to find distant lands with exotic animals, all within her own neighborhood, leaving her with a healthy sense of pride and accomplishment when she arrives at school. - J. Murphy

Imagine by Allison Lester

Imagine is the story of a boy and a girl who explore different lands together in their imagination. Throughout this book, there are detailed illustrations of different places in the world such as the rain forest, the ocean, and a polar ice cap, each followed by an illustration of their props used to create each habitat. Similar to the creativity of Not a Stick, Imagine inspires children to be creative in their use of props to represent imaginative themes. Imaginative, pretend play is an important part of early childhood that is often overlooked in today's world of busy schedules and "kindergarten readiness." Furthermore, this book is an excellent choice for animal and nature lovers and is a resource for accurate animal names and their habitats. - J. Reid

The Salamander Room by Anne Mazer

One of my favorite childhood books is one I read first, as an adult, to the students in my classroom. This book has been selected by Reading Rainbow, too, as an engaging book for children and parents to read together. Through the illustrations and text, The Salamander Room brings the reader into an imagination-filled journey of a boy named Brian who finds a salamander and wants to keep him. Brian's ever-practical mother questions how this will work; and Brian uses his imagination to create the perfect habitat for the salamander right in his own bedroom! - M. Burke

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Where the Wild Things Are is a timeless classic. The book tells the story of a boy who has been sent to his room without dinner by his mother for his mischievous behavior. Once in his room, Max ventures off in his imagination to a far away land filled with wild creatures. After taming the “wild things” and feeling more settled himself, Max heads back to his room where his dinner is waiting for him. Children enjoy this story as they identify with Max when he gets in trouble for being a little wild, as they watch with awe as he tames the wild things, and as they take comfort in knowing that dinner is always waiting once things have settled. - J. Reid

Parents' selection

The Case for Make Believe by Susan Linn

As an early childhood professional I value how important the role of creative and imaginative play is for child development.  Author Susan Linn’s book The Case for Make Believe takes an in depth look at the impact of current societal trends on children’s capacity for imaginative play. The book also helps adults understand how children use play for working out their understanding of their world. Linn writes about topics such as how current culture is inhibiting the capacity for spontaneous imaginative play, gender roles in play for children and how children can use play to conquer their fears. With wonderful vignettes that give insight to the emotional life of children, The Case for Make Believe is a fascinating statement of play today. - M. Burke

Below are additional titles for our third booklist, Imagine that!

For children:

Bailey, Debbie: Let's Pretend
Blos, Joan: Martin's Hats
Carle, Eric: Little Cloud
Carlson, Nancy: Henry's Amazing Imagination
Crews, Nina: Down Below
Ets, Marie Hall: In the Forest
Jukes, Mavis: You're a Bear
McBratney, Sam: Colors Everywhere
Portis, Antoinette: Not a Box
Roberts, Bethany: A Mouse Told His Mother
Schaefer, Carole Lexa: Someone Says
Spier, Peter: Dreams

For parents:

Zigler, E., Singer, D., & Bishop-Josef, S. (Editors): Children's Play: The Roots of Reading