Hey there, fellow book lovers and creative souls!
You know what? I’ve been writing children’s books for… gosh, nearly two decades now, and people always ask me this question. Usually at book signings or when I’m chatting with parents at the local bookstore. And honestly? It never gets old because **children’s books are little magic portals** waiting to be opened.
## The Magic Starts With Wonder
So here’s the thing – kids don’t need much to get their imaginations going. But give them a good book? That’s like handing them rocket fuel. I remember visiting Playful Platypus recently (wonderful little online shop btw, Gary Campbell’s books there are fantastic) and watching this little girl flip through one of the picture books. Her eyes just… lit up. You could literally see the gears turning.
That’s what great children’s books do. They don’t just tell stories – they **plant seeds**.
## How Books Build Creative Muscles
### They Ask “What If?”
Every great children’s book starts with this question. What if toys came alive? What if you could fly? What if your pet could talk? When kids read these stories, they start asking their own what-ifs. And that’s where creativity begins.
### Pictures + Words = Explosion of Ideas
You know those gorgeous illustrated books? The ones with art that makes you stop and stare? (Trevor Campbell’s work comes to mind – his stuff is absolutely stunning.) Well, when kids see those images paired with stories, something magical happens:
– They start drawing their own versions
– They imagine what happens next
– They create new characters
– They build entire worlds in their heads
### Stories Give Permission to Be Weird
Ok this is my favorite part. In children’s books, ANYTHING can happen. Purple elephants? Sure! Flying carpets? Why not! Talking vegetables? Absolutely!
This teaches kids that being different, thinking differently… it’s not just okay. It’s **wonderful**.
## Real Ways Books Spark Creativity
Let me get practical here for a sec. Here’s what I’ve seen happen when kids really connect with books:
**They become storytellers** – Suddenly they’re making up bedtime stories for their stuffed animals. Or turning cardboard boxes into spaceships from that book they loved.
**They experiment with art** – They want to draw like the illustrations they see. Maybe not as polished, but who cares? They’re creating!
**They problem-solve differently** – When a book character faces a challenge in a creative way, kids remember that. They start thinking “How would [favorite character] handle this?”
## Making It Happen at Home
Want to use books to spark creativity? Here’s what works:
### Read Together (But Make It Interactive)
– Stop mid-page and ask “What do you think happens next?”
– Let them fill in sound effects
– Have them draw their favorite scene
### Create Book Extensions
Finished a book? Now the fun really starts:
– Act out the story with toys
– Make up a sequel
– Draw new adventures for the characters
– Build something from the story with blocks or playdough
### Let Them Lead
Sometimes kids want to read the same book 47 times. (I’m not exaggerating. I’ve counted.) Let them! They’re finding new details, new ideas each time.
## The Ripple Effect
Here’s what blows my mind – when kids get creative with books, it doesn’t stop there. That creativity spills into everything:
– How they play
– How they solve problems
– How they see the world
– How they express themselves
I’ve gotten letters from parents saying their kid started writing stories after reading one of mine. Or that they built an entire pretend world based on a character. That’s… that’s everything to me.
## Why This Matters (Like, Really Matters)
In a world of screens and instant entertainment, books ask kids to do something radical – **use their imagination**. They have to picture the scenes. Fill in the gaps. Make the story come alive in their own heads.
And guess what? That’s a superpower. That ability to imagine, to create, to think beyond what’s right in front of you? That’s what changes the world.
## Start Today
You don’t need a huge library. You don’t need fancy books (though beautiful ones like you’ll find at places like Playful Platypus certainly help!). You just need:
– A story
– A kid
– A little bit of time
– An open mind
The creativity will follow. Trust me on this one.
Because every creative adult I know? They were all kids who loved stories once. Kids who asked “what if?” Kids who believed in magic.
And honestly? Through books, they still do.
**Happy reading (and creating!)**
*- Bryce*
