In an age of screen time coming at ya from every angle, it is a sweet respite to curl up with a good book. I feel like my daughter has a HUGE appreciation for books right now and I hope to foster that feeling for the rest of her life.
Here are five books sure to light the spark of imagination in your kids:
- The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds: A girl in art class thinks she can’t draw. Her teacher challenges this notion in an unexpected way. What flows is a lesson in possibilities, changing your perspective, and starting small to achieve big goals. By turning an “I can’t” into “I’ll try,” a tiny dot explodes into an entire gallery of artwork.
- A Little Bit of Oomph! by Barney Saltzburg: Creativity is the overarching theme here, with examples of its magic unfolding at every turn of the page. Pop-up art, a play on words, looking twice to see the unseen, and more discoveries awaken the reader’s curiosity. Big bright illustration and interactive prompts engage children throughout.
- Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go by Richard Scarry: Future little engineers of the world, rejoice! Really though, kids will spend HOURS examining all the tiny details on each page. Illustration abounds and any & all types of automotive transportation are depicted. Especially great for road trips, too.
- Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson: A young boy wanders out into the night with only a purple crayon in hand — pair that mighty instrument with some quick thinking and turns out, that’s all ya need. Calling upon a little improvisation to navigate the night ahead, little Harold is off on an adventure! This is a classic tale that I never read as a kid and but have been delighted by since discovering it while I was pregnant.
- We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen: I first read this to my daughter a few months ago on summer vacation in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, where actual black bear sightings could happen. I wanted to run outside and go play with her the minute we closed the cover! This winding tale full of fun outdoor misadventures will inspire you & your kiddos to go out on a “bear hunt” of your own.