Creativity
Do you need some books to get the creative juices flowing? Are you trying to inspire some outside-the-box thinking? These books will do the trick! They have strong characters who think critically, problem-solve and color outside the lines. If you liked these books, or have some other favorites, please leave a comment below and share this page with a friend!
Make sure you check out the NEW activity books listed at the bottom of the post!
I hope you love the books I recommend! Please note that the links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Swatch: The Girl Who Loved Color - this one is one of my daughter’s favorites! It tells the story of Swatch, who loved wild colors and tries to tame them by catching them in jars. But what happens when she meets a color who doesn’t want to be tamed? The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous!
The Amazing World of Video Game Development - This book is truly unlike anything I’ve ever seen before and we’re absolutely loving it in our house. Do you have a gamer? or a tinkerer? an explorer? a scientist? this book is for YOU! With cool video game-style illustrations, your little reader will learn about the different stages of game creation, as well as the jobs of all of the people involved in the process.
Boogie Boogie, Ya’ll - When I saw this book on the shelf at my library I HAD to have it. The bold graffiti-style illustrations jumped out at me and I needed to see more. With vibrant color and rhythmic language, this story celebrates the vast canvas of art that envelopes the Bronx, NY. I love the way the children in this story inspire the community to stop and appreciate the art on the walls.
For an even more immersive reading experience, check out this fantastic video of the author, C.G. Esperanza, in the official Boogie Bogie, Ya’ll music video.
I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More - a fun and silly book about being fully immersed in the creative process. All too often, kids get the message that getting messy is bad, but this book is the perfect answer to that!
Mix It Up by Herve Tullet - This book is fun, silly and interactive. Your child will delight in touching the pages of the book, which helps make the colors mix and the magic of the book happen. You can also find it in Spanish!
I Can Only Draw Worms - this one is simple but so funny! It’s a book with a great message, that the most simple ideas are sometimes the most fun and creative. Follow this artist as he/she creates an entire story by simply drawing worms
Old Tracks New Tricks - In this fun rhyming book some old wooden train tracks find new ways to have fun. After reading this, your little one will be inspired to take their train and STEAM play to new heights!
Dreaming Up - I’m in LOVE with this book! It features illustrations of kids building in many different ways alongside famous architectural structures from around the world. For example, building with mud, boxes, popsicle sticks, pillows, cups and Lego, with photos of the Guggenheim, the Frank Lloyd Wright Fallingwater House, and the Montreal Biosphere. I love that this book features diverse children from all around the world too. This book is sure to inspire you and your family to build, create, construct and experiment in new ways.
Boxitects - a fabulous book featuring positive messages about girl power, cooperation, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math), and teamwork! Meg is a “boxitect” and creates amazing structures. In Maker School she meets kids who create all kinds of buildings. But what happens when she meets another boxitect with big ideas? Will they be able to work together?
Georgia’s Terrific, Colorific Experiment - Prepare to fall in love with everything about this book! From the gorgeous illustrations to the fantastic science terminology sprinkled throughout the story. Join Georgia on her journey to create her own unique experiment, you and your little reader might just find some artistic inspiration of your own.
Made By Maxine - Maxine is an inventor. She loves making new things out of old things. Follow Maxine and her pet fish Milton as her engineering skills are put to the test.
Another - What would you do if you met another you? Follow this adorable little girl and her cat in this fun wordless book. Wordless books for inspiring creativity and encouraging language development. Make up the story along with your child as you go!
The Biggest Story - this book is so much fun to read! Errol’s mom is the best storyteller, but what happens one day when he has to make up a story of his own? He finds inspiration from some spunky animal friends, and creates a fantastic and funny story! The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous.
Giraffes Can’t Dance - the story of Gerald the giraffe is one of my favorites and it’s one I read in my classroom every year! Gerald wants to go to the jungle dance but he’s clumsy and nervous. His friend, cricket, helps him find his own song and the courage to express himself.
The Prince and the Witch and the Thief and the Bear - When Jamie and his Dad create a bedtime story, a predictable fairy tale soon transforms into an energetic, hilarious story of bears and princes jostling with broccoli-wielding frogs, evil-eyed ninja witches and jewel thief princesses. An action-packed adventure that will inspire parents and children to embark on their very own storytelling journeys together.
You Are A Reader!/You Are a Writer! - Is a creative book that’s actually 2 books in one? Could there be anything better? Turn the pages and find inspiration for all new readers and writers. Start reading one side of the book and dive into all the wonderful possibilities that emerge when you start to write. Flip the book over and read it from the other side to “scan, sound, simmer, think. You can guzzle words and ink. You might stumble, you might sigh. But readers practice, grow, and fly!
Mel Fell - I’ve been seeing this award-winning book everywhere and couldn’t wait to read it. Mel is nervous about her first flight. Her brothers and sisters warn her about the big drop waiting underneath their nest, but Mel will not be deterred. This fearless and confident little bird reminds us to take chances, even when we’re scared.
Scrap Metal Swan: A River Cleanup Story - I love books with a story and practical activities, so this book was great for us. Follow one community as they embark on a mission to clean up their riverfront. Young makers will find inspiration as adults and children work together, repurposing the scrap metal into beautiful art.
So You Want to Build a Library - I don’t think there’s anything better than a book about books! As my kids and I read this book, we laughed and our imaginations went wild. What would you put in a library made by you? Would you make it 1000 stories tall? Would you add a self-service sundae bar? The possibilities are endless in this book.
Swim Swim Sink - This fun book really made my kids and me laugh out loud. 3 ducklings are learning to swim together, but what happens when one of them sinks? He finds creative ways to solve his problem, that will leave you giggling and inspire you to think outside the box.
Most Marshmallows - I LOVE this book! The story and illustrations are so engaging. Most marshmallows go to school, and learn how to be squishy. But some have big dreams, and know that they can accomplish anything. It’s a great story about thinking outside the box and dreaming big.
Think Big - This story is so fabulous! It’s the kind of book I wish all parents and educators would read. Follow these spunky kids as they follow their imaginations and create incredible works of art. From painting and drawing, to sewing and acting out plays, this book will inspire your reader to create and explore.
Box - this book is great for all kids, but especially for 2-3 year olds, who love to touch everything. What would you do with a box? Open the flaps and unfold the pages to find a world of endless possibilities. Use this book to talk about colors, shapes, and animals. You can ask your little reader to predict or guess what might be inside each box. This allows kids to build their language and critical thinking skills.
I Don’t Draw a Color - I love this book because it presents art and creativity from the perspective of a child. Follow along as our narrator tells us about his “color feelings,” and how his mood influences what he creates. It’s so important for kids to see themselves as capable people, who create what they enjoy, and not to please parents or teachers. So often kids feel as though they have to draw something that adults can identify, instead of enjoying the process. This book is sure to spark new conversations and great ideas for discussions about feelings.
Anywhere Artist - "I don't need paint or paper. I can make art anywhere. My imagination is all I need." This simple book packs a powerful punch of creativity and will inspire your little one to find opportunities for creativity in the natural world around us.
Book - This is a story that challenges us to look closer and not judge a book by its cover, literally. As an avid reader, I appreciate books about the joy of reading and the magic of getting lost in a story.
When I Colored in the World - Imagine a world in which we can use color and imagination to transform society. Using her crayons, our main character crosses out the word “crying,” and creates the word “laughter.” The color yellow turns despair into hope, and writing the word “wheat” solves global hunger. I love the way this book inspires readers to think about both the power of their creativity and their voices.
The Book of Mistakes - I’m in love with this book! What happens when this drawing doesn’t turn out as planned? This simple but powerful book shows young readers all of the wonder and unexpected magic that can happen when we make mistakes. Books like these are so important because they inspire resilience and creativity in our kids. When we teach children that it’s ok to make mistakes, we create an environment for fearless exploration and growth.
What We’ll Build - Books by Oliver Jeffers are full of adventure and inspiration! Join this dad and daughter duo as they build things big and small, full of love, for themselves and for others together. My favorite section from this book reads: “what shall we build you and I? I’ll build your future and you’ll build mine. We’ll build a watch to keep our time.”
Fort-Building Time - If you have a little one who loves building forts and play structures, this book is for you! Follow along as the seasons change, bringing inspiration for new kinds of forts, and never-ending creativity.
The Very Last Castle - What’s inside the very last castle in town? Is it monsters? snakes? giants? Follow Ibb, our brave hero, as she knocks on the door and finds out what’s inside. This adventure reminds readers not to “judge a book by its cover.”
My Kicks: A Sneaker Story - I love this book because it offers readers a unique perspective on an ordinary pair of shoes. What happens when Mom notices that her son’s sneakers are tattered and stained? She’s sure that it’s time to throw them out. But as they look closely, he sees reminders of all of the fun he had in his shoes. Splashes of paint from a masterpiece, drips from a delicious popsicle, and scuffs from an epic skateboarding ride, all tell the story of his adventures.
I See, You See - Follow Maisie, Jonah, and their dog, Tinker, as a simple walk turns into a fantastic adventure. With a bit of imagination, the whispy branches of a willow tree transform into a bell machine, and a field of cattails turns into a sea of popsicles. I love the way this story offers readers a chance to take on new perspectives.
48 Grasshopper Estates - Sicily Bridges is the ultimate inventor. She can make just about anything using discarded scraps, and odds and ends that she finds around her apartment building. But when it comes to making friends will she find the right person? I love the way this book inspires children to use their imaginations to create, dream, experiment, and care for others.
365 Words for Clever Kids - We got this book a few months ago at our local indie bookstore and have been loving it! My daughter is in 2nd grade and LOVES learning new words. She says it makes her feel “fancy.” I love this one because it’s a fun and silly way to expand her vocabulary, and the colorful illustrations with animals help make each word more memorable.
Is That You, Eleanor Sue? -Eleanor Sue has a flair for imaginative play and dressing up. Follow along as she puts on a stunning array of costumes and tries to fool her mommy into thinking that she’s someone else. This book is so much fun to read and is sure to inspire some perfect pretend play!
Color Blocked - I absolutely LOVE interactive books and this one is my newest favorite. All of the color in this story is blocked, can you get it unstuck? Rub the pages, straighten out the pipes, and pop the corks to get the color flowing again. My kids absolutely love reading this book.
Frankenslime - Do your kids love all things gooey and slimy? This book is for you! Victoria Franken is a slime scientist. She spends her days in her lab, mixing, measuring, and experimenting with new kinds of slime. But what happens when one of her experiments turns into a living, breathing creature?
Building Books - Katie loves to build but her brother, Owen doesn’t. Owen loves to read, but Katie won’t. Will they ever find something that they can do together? When the librarian suggests building with books they finally have something they both love. I love the way this book helps little readers learn about compromising and taking on different perspectives.
Big Words for Little Geniuses - Little kids love learning big words. They especially love long words, that are hard to pronounce and sound silly, which makes this book an absolute blast! Explore fun words such as onomatopoeia, kerfuffle, whirligig, and arachibutyrophobia (which is the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth).
Pro tip: Enjoy reading this book and take turns sounding out the words. Don’t worry about saying every word perfectly. When kids see grownups make mistakes, or go back and try something again, they learn about perseverance, hard work, and feel comfortable making mistakes themselves. It’s ok if your child doesn’t remember the meaning of these words, they’re learning many important literacy skills (such as the letter-sound connection and letter recognition) and exercising their oral-motor muscles. All of these skills lay the important foundation for language, reading, and writing!
Inner Workings - The most perfect book for your curious kiddo! Step inside and learn all about how things work, the gumball machines and bowling alleys, to ant colonies and hair hockey tables. Explore the wires, gears, buttons, and science inside of ordinary objects all around us. My kids loved learning how vending machines work!
He Came With the Couch - When Sophie’s family gets a new couch they bring home a little more than they bargained for. No matter what they do, they can’t get rid of the guy who came with the couch. Just when they begin to give up hope of him ever leaving, this quick-thinking guest turns out to be exactly what they needed. I love the way this fun and silly story challenges readers to think outside the box, and not be so quick to judge a book by its cover.
I Had a Favorite Dress- this book is a HUGE hit in our house! My daughter is a mini fashionista and she loved everything about this book. What do you do when you outgrow your favorite dress? Turn it into something new, of course! This gorgeous book is filled with messages about the power of creativity, ingenuity and imagination.
Marvelous Magicians- This book is my new favorite. With colorful illustrations, foldout pages, and tons f behind-the-scenes secrets, this book is full of fun facts and information. From diagrams explaining automatons to the history of t, e art of illusion, this book has got it all. This title is perfect for any curious kid who likes to understand how things work.
The Dot - Vashti is drawing a blank in art class. Her teacher tells her to just make a mark, and then sign it. With this small first step, Vashti’s imagination and creativity take off!
Ish -another great one from Peter H. Reynolds, the author of The Dot. Ramon loves to draw and draws all day, every day. But what happens when his brother begins criticizing his work? I love the message in this book, which reminds us that creativity is about joy and expression, not perfection.
The Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Jigs - this one absolutely captivated me as a child! When Jillian Jiggs decides to make little pigs out of materials she finds in her room, her imagination takes off. She makes pigs of all shapes and sizes, with costumes, hats, personalities and so much more. This colorful rhyming book is so much fun to read and it even has the instructions for DIY pigs. Which pig will be your child’s favorite?
How to Become a Superhero - If you’re going to become a superhero there are a lot of questions to answer. What will your costume be like? Cape? or no cape? will you have a sidekick? what will your superpower be? Will you fly or have a mega-fast scooter? Let your imagination run wild as you answer all of these questions and more. I love the way this book inspires young readers to dream big and explore a world of possibilities.
Making Faces! Star in Your Own Works of Art - As soon as I saw this book I fell in love! Flip through the book and choose any page you like. Follow the short prompts to add your own ideas and details. Once it’s done pop your face in the middle and you’re the star of the show. A perfect go-to book for screen-free fun and creative play.
Think Like an Artist - This book takes an in-depth look at the different skills artists use when creating art. With simple activities and examples from famous artists, it challenges readers to find the beauty in everyday life, set goals, make plans, take risks, make mistakes, work with others, try different mediums, practice regularly, and so much more.
How Things Work: Facts and Fun, Questions, and Answers, Things to Make and Do - another awesome book for curious kids with lots of questions! Full of colorful diagrams and explanations, this book explains how water goes in an out of our homes through plumbing, how energy powers our homes, how homes are built, and more! With lots of fun activities and fascinating descriptions, this book is great for kids who like to explore, tinker, and learn about how things work.
Activity Books
Below are some of my all-time favorite activity books, plus some BRAND new ones! These books are fantastic for inspiring creativity and keeping kids busy while parents and caregivers work from home. Keep copies on your classroom bookshelf for a quick reference, or pack them in your bag for long car rides and trips!
**New - Take Me To Museums: The Young Explorer’s Guide to Every Museum in the World - We absolutely love this book, and have enjoyed taking it with us on trips, now that my kids are a bit older. Turn every museum visit into an adventure, by observing and documenting the experience. Packed with facts about museum history, and prompts to create their own ideas, this book is perfect for trips!
Illustrate this Book: Unicorn Party, My Prehistoric Pet and One Brave Astronaut - what better way to kick the creativity up a notch than with a book your mini author writes herself! Each book includes warm-up activities, a book planner, stickers, and visual prompts from real-life illustrators.
“Check back again soon for more books!”
Quick Tips:
Turn the TV off! It may seem cliché but it really helps. It’s easy for all of us to get stuck in the stories, characters and narratives we see each day. It’s certainly normal and completely ok for kids to play out the stories they see in movies and shows. But helping your child branch out allows them to learn to better express their own ideas.
Give your child time to create and explore art materials as often as possible. Let them pick the materials and how they use them. Avoid making suggestion and asking questions.
Allowing them to choose their colors, materials, ideas etc. gives them a chance to hone their problem-solving, planning and decision-making skills. This is why giving them the space to create without our input is so important.
Don’t ask “what is that?”or “what’s that going to be?” because it doesn’t HAVE to be anything. Allowing children to create, because it feels good, is the goal. We want to avoid imposing our ideas about what things should be and how they should look.
Encourage art that is open-ended and focus on the process of making it, rather than the product.
Open-ended art is created by your child, using their ideas & imagination. Great examples of this are painting, drawing, coloring, making a collage, working with play-dough or clay etc. These projects encourage creativity, independent thinking, exploration, decision-making skills, self-expression, and outside-the-box thinking.
Closed-ended art is done with specific directions, generally to create a specific and concrete “thing.” Examples of this include, drawing in coloring books, worksheets/printouts, paint-by-number etc. These projects help kids practice following directions and hone specific skills. There is nothing wrong or bad with these kinds of projects, kids love them and they help with strengthening their fine motor skills. Just try your best to give them open-ended experiences too.
Need more inspiration?
Consider trying out a new activity or class in your community. Many businesses offer families a free trial first class.
Check out events and classes at your local library and community center, they’re free!
Find a local hiking/walking trail or nature preserve.
Get out some play dough or clay. Let your child explore, sculpt and squish. Don’t ask questions about what she/he is making, just enjoy the way it feels. (This is also a great activity to strengthening their hands!).
Try the same thing with finger paints. If you have a toddler, you can try using home-made finger paints made of edible ingredients.
Find a book at your local library and try out some of the ideas at home. A few ideas include:
kid-friendly cookbook
book of science experiments
DIY slime or soap recipe book
kid-themed yoga guides
