Picture books has the incredible ability to capture and inspire your imagination. They bring to life new places and different experiences. The best make you temporarily get lost in their pages.
Below are some of our favorites.
This post was originally shared as part of our A Read A Day Challenge.
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Picture Books to Inspire Imagination
Journey by Aaron Becker
This is a stunning wordless book. There are two others in this “series” now that follow the same vein of imagination filled adventure. It is a modern version of Harold and the Purple Crayon, but truthfully it is a work of art. Definitely the kind of thing to encourage imagination.
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
It is hard to get more classic than this amazing book. This is another one of those books that we studies in my kids lit classes and it is truly genius. It also happens to be a lot of fun. My kids love this just as much as I did when I was little.
Where’s Walrus by Stephen Savage
Wordless books often blow me away because I lack the ability to illustrate anything recognizable. These are books that tell a story with just pictures and they are full of potential for kids of all ages. This cute book asks the reader to help the zookeeper find the escaped Walrus in each picture. You and your kids will get a kick out of this one. You can also find more of our favorite wordless books in this post.
Not Your Typical Dragon by Dan Bar-el
We have no shortage of books about Princesses – my daughter went through a major Princess phase – but this is a fun one that just about anyone will enjoy…no I take that back. I think I can guarantee that if you have a 3-5 year old they will think this is hilarious. Dan Bar-el has created a story that defies expectations in the best kind of way. A dragon that blows bubbles and beach balls instead of flames. A knight in training who is afraid of dragons. A wonderful book about differences, being who you are, and ignoring first impressions.
Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima
A must-read story about imagination and a grand adventure. A little girl who loves costumes lets her imagination run wild and has the most extraordinary adventure. Cleverly written, great page turns, and a fun one to read aloud.
Author Spotlight: Audrey Wood
I adore Audrey Wood almost as much as Shirley Hughes…almost. She is another author that I grew up with and many of my childhood favorites were written by Audrey Wood and illustrated by her husband, Don. I love her books for different reasons though.
Audrey Woods is wonderful at coming up with preposterous situations (like a King that won’t get out of the bathtub or that Silly Sally going to town upside down) and excels at storytelling. Her books are just fun. There is also often an element of the little guy outsmarting others or surprising you that is just perfect when you are a kid.
She has written so many that maybe rather than trying to summarize them or her, it is best to say – her books make me smile – and send you here for a better look.
King Bidgood is in The Bathtub by Audrey Wood
As a kid this was my favorite book by Audrey Wood and it is now my daughter’s. It is the silly story of a King that won’t get out of the tub. Everyone tries to get him out without success until the Page wisely just pulls the plug. The repetition is well done, the story is funny, and the illustrations are wonderful.
