Creative Crayons!

The Brand-new, Never-used, Perfect crayons written and illustrated by Leanne Hatch

When Violet gets a super big box of crayons she can’t bring herself to use them because they are so perfect.

Creepy Crayon! Written by Aaron Reynolds

When Jasper Rabbit finds a purple crayon willing to do his schoolwork for him, he is elated–at first.

More than Peach: changing the world … one crayon at a time! Written by Bellen Woodard

The very first Crayon Activist presents this picture book in which she spreads a message of inclusivity, empowerment and the importance of inspiring the next generation of leaders through The Peach Project and crayons.

The Crayons Trick or Treat written by Drew Daywalt

The hilarious crayons from the #1 New York Times bestselling The Day the Crayons Quit are ready to celebrate Halloween! But they don’t know what to say when they knock on the door.

Things to do with Dad written and illustrated by Sam Zuppardi

When a little boy sees a long list of chores on the refrigerator, he utilizes his creative energy with a green crayon to transform time spent with his dad into a celebration of fun.

Monsters Love Colors written by Mike Austin

Playful monsters combine their favorite crayons, red, yellow, and blue, to create new colors, including one never before seen.

Red: a crayon’s story written and illustrated by Michael Hall

Red’s factory-applied label clearly says that he is red, but despite the best efforts of his teacher, fellow crayons and art supplies, and family members, he cannot seem to do anything right until a new friend offers a fresh perspective.

Nonfiction

The Crayon Man: the true story of the invention of Crayola crayons written by Natascha Biebow

Celebrating the inventor of the Crayola crayon! This gloriously illustrated picture book biography tells the inspiring story of Edwin Binney, the inventor of one of the world’s most beloved toys.

The Crayola Counting Book written by Mari C. Schuh

Twos, fives, tens–there are lots of ways to count! Count forward and backward, add and subtract, and practice skip counting with colorful crayons. What other ways can you count? Encourage readers to create art inspired by the numbers all around them through colorful illustrations and photos.

Heat Wave Science Magic for Kids: Make Crayons: https://www.mamasmiles.com/sun-upcycled-crayons/

Crayon play dough: https://www.theottoolbox.com/how-to-make-crayon-play-dough-recipe/

How to Make Your Own Scratch Art with Crayons: https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/26970/crayon-art/

Melted Crayon Lanterns: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/craft-of-the-day-crayon-lanterns_n_1296588

The Power of Perception

The World and Everything in it written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes

Celebrates the big things and little things in the world and everything in between.

Can You See It? Written by Susan Verde

A child considers the difference between using our eyes to look at what is in front of us and using our hearts to see beyond the surface to find the miracles surrounding us.

Invisible Things written and illustrated by Andy J. Miller

This creatively wacky and interactive exploration of the abstract concepts of the human experience, such as feelings and thoughts, encourages readers to look past the visible and connect with the things that are not seen.

We are Branches written by Joyce Sidman

Branches are all around us: in butterfly wings, on gecko toes, in flowers, frost, and mud. Whether as electricity moving across the sky or rivers flowing to the sea, branches are nature’s most efficient way to spread and to connect. They are even found inside our own bodies, helping us reach and grow with each breath and heartbeat. Branches–strong, hopeful, beautiful–are the shape of life. How many can you find?

Big and Small and In-between written by Carter Higgins

A tribute to all the special things in the world, whether big, small or somewhere in-between, from the hole in the donut to the way the Moon looks through a telescope, and a boat below the sky and above the waves.

I am!: a book of reminders written and illustrated by Juana Medina

Remind yourself every day how amazing you are with this joyful celebration of … YOU! The words and pictures in this book are here to remind the reader how wonderful they are! Focusing on helping to build emotional literacy, self-esteem, and self-worth as well as improving communication skills.

The Upside Down Hat written by Stephen Barr

A boy wakes up and discovers that everything he had has disappeared except for his hat, so he sets out to find what is lost and ultimately discovers that the most important thing of all is self.

Turtle in a tree written and illustrated by Neesha Hudson

Two dogs learn the importance of listening to others when they disagree over what they see in a tree.

Nonfiction:

Patterns Everywhere written by Lisa Varchol Perron

Step outside. Let’s find designs– / branching, cracking, spirals, lines. / Search the earth, the seas, the air. / Patterns, patterns everywhere.

Look around and discover patterns in the natural world! You might see them in leaf veins, in coral reefs, in sand dunes, and in many other places.

Get Creative!

Corner written and illustrated by Zo-O

In this (almost wordless) picture book, the sole character, a crow, finds themselves in a new and completely empty space. With nothing to do, boredom sets in, and the crow decides to take matters into their own hands. The crow starts to decorate, adding a bed, a bookshelf, a lamp, and even a potted plant. Everything is placed neatly in the corner of the room, and slowly the corner begins to reflect the life and personality of its occupant. These furnishings help, but it’s not enough. The crow spends time watering the plant, reading, sleeping. However, in the end, there’s still not much to do but stare at the wall. “Hello?” the crow calls out. But nobody answers. The crow wonders what else they can add to the space to make it their own.

The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination written and illustrated by Brad Montague

Sparky the special figment agent delivers all the mail in the very orderly Fantastic Bureau of Imagination, until one day when all the unshared ideas in the world overflow and threaten to topple the whole building.

The Artist written and illustrated by Ed Vere

A brave little artist goes on an epic adventure to share her creativity with the world, adding color and life to a drab, gray city.

Arlo Draws an Octopus written by Lori Mortensen

Arlo likes octopuses but when he tries to draw one his picture does not turn out well at all–or does it?

Nola’s Scribbles Save the Day written by Christina Lalli

Nola loves her scribbles. They go with her wherever she goes. But she can’t seem to share her scribbles with others–no one seems to understand the imaginative world she’s created for herself. Frustrated and uninspired, Nola draws a blank. A big, boring blank. But when Nola falls deep into a creative slump, she discovers she’s not alone. If she can find the courage to share her scribbled ideas again, she may just inspire others to think outside the box and give their ideas a try too.

What If written by Samantha Berger, Samantha author

A child who likes to draw and write stories imagines what would happen if there were no pencils, paper, or other tools for being creative.

I Have an Idea! Written and illustrated by Hervé Tullet

The author meditates on the search for an idea, and the wonderful feeling when the right idea comes along, unleashing the creative process.

Something Great written and illustrated by Jeanette Bradley

Quinn spends the morning in their workshop, and emerges with Something Great! But everyone wants to know…what is it?…Can’t Quinn just share the job of their new invention without a label?

Melia and Jo written by Billy Aronson

Melia is scientific and loves to create things in her backyard laboratory, but something is missing. Her inventions just aren’t quite right. Enter Jo, her new friend with an artistic spirit. When you add the arts to sciences, something magical happens!

Easy Drawing Prompts for Kids: https://craftulate.com/easy-drawing-prompts-for-kids/

Drawing Prompts for Kids to Encourage Creativity: https://thesavvysparrow.com/drawing-prompts-for-kids/

Fun activities to do at home: https://makinglemonadeblog.com/?s=bored

All Kinds of Abilities

Baller Ina written and illustrated by Liz Casal

A rhyming picture book about Ina who is a graceful ballerina who also loves to get competitive on the basketball court.

The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination written and illustrated by Brad Montague

Sparky the special figment agent delivers all the mail in the very orderly Fantastic Bureau of Imagination, until one day when all the unshared ideas in the world overflow and threaten to topple the whole building.

The Blur written by Minh Lê

A picture book about a baby with superhero-like abilities…and the parents who are racing to keep up with her!

Meet the Family written by John Yeoman

Come and meet the family. There’s magicians Uncle Marvello and Auntie Shazam, Aunt Lorna’s athletic daughters, Uncle Ignatius, a master of disguise, not to mention Belinda and Hattie; each one has an extraordinary talent. You’ve never met as eccentric a family as this one!

Layla the Last Black Unicorn written by Tiffany Haddish

When Layla arrives for her first day of school at Unicornia, the school for unicorns, she realizes that she’s not like the other kids there. They’re all pastel colors and know the rules to Horn Ball and none of them come from the Woods like Layla does. Try as she might to make friends, Layla’s just … different. But when her class gets lost during a field trip to the Fiddle Dee Deep Forest, it’s up to Layla to step up and save the day.

Free to be Elephant Me written by Giles Andreae

It’s time for the Elephant Games! Every young elephant parades their talent in front of the king to earn their special elephant name. But Num-Num doesn’t have a special skill to display. With a little help from some familiar friends, will this little elephant learn that being yourself is the most important talent of them all?

Cannonball written by Sacha Cotter

Determined to execute the perfect cannonball dive, a boy tries to follow everyone’s advice but finally hears Nan, an expert and former champion, who advises doing it his own way.

Knot Cannot written by Tiffany Stone

Knot cannot do most of the things that Snake can do, such as slithering and hissing, but has one skill that saves the day when Snake is in danger.

Garden of Greatness: a Lesson on Self-Esteem: http://www.literacylovescompany.com/2015/04/garden-of-greatness-lesson-on-self.html?m=1

Growth Mindset Fun with 2 Free Printable Cootie Catchers: https://rockyourhomeschool.net/growth-mindset-fun/

15 Self-esteem Activities: https://lightlysketched.com/2022/07/21/15-self-esteem-activities/

Playing Games

Got Your Nose! Written by Alan Katz

Becky loves Grandpa Max. When he visits, they have a lot of fun together. But when Grandpa Max pulls his favorite prank on Becky, he accidentally takes her nose–for real! OH NO! Now Becky and Grandpa Max have to chase Becky’s runny nose all over town–or else, who nose what will happen? With vibrant art and hilarious wordplay, children, parents, and grandparents alike will love the funny, fast-paced picture book tale.

Window Fishing written by DK Dyson

Amir bonds with Rudeday, his downstairs artist neighbor, over a game they invented.

To the Other Side written and illustrated by Erika Meza

A girl reframes the dangerous border crossing between Mexico and the United States as a game to help her brother through the journey.

Sunny Days written by Deborah Kerbel

Rhyming couplets celebrate the activities made possible by sunny weather from a preschooler’s perspective. Mixed-media collage art shows small children engaging in a range of outdoor activities, including gardening, making mud pies, swimming, observing insects, and picking wildflowers. A final page includes age-appropriate STEM activities related to the sun.

It Fell from the Sky written and illustrated by Terry Fan

All the insects agree that the object that fell from the sky is a Wonder, but when Spider decides it is his, he risks losing all of his friends.

Do Not Eat the Game!  Written and illustrated by Matthew

A girl tries to play a game with monsters, but it quickly turns into chaos when they don’t follow the rules.

I Can be Anything! Written and illustrated by Shinsuke Yoshitake

A pre-bedtime game of charades between a child and her mother leads to a series of wildly imaginative interpretations of everyday objects and feelings.

Crash, Splash, or Moo! Written and illustrated by Bob Shea

Mr. McMonkey hosts a game in which the reader is invited to guess whether a stunt will result in a crash, a splash, or a moo.

Snowboy and the Last Tree standing written by Hiawyn Oram

Snowboy is busy saving the Polar Bear King when Greenbackboy approaches him with an idea for a game called KA-CHING — a game that will make them rich. It’s easy: all they need to do is cut down all of the trees in the forest and catch all of the fish in the ocean and trade it in for piles and piles of shiny KA-CHING. But if all the trees are gone, they won’t be able to breathe. And what is a sea without fish?

Nonfiction

Go Out and Play!:favorite outdoor games from Kaboom!

A guide to more than seventy classic and contemporary playground games provides instructions for such favorites as kick the can, freeze tag, and sardines, in a volume that also includes tips for adults on how to encourage and facilitate outdoor play.

Blank board game templates: https://timvandevall.com/product-category/board-game-templates/

How to Make a DIY Board Game for Family Game Night: https://www.sunnydayfamily.com/2020/09/how-to-make-diy-board-game-for-family.html

Homemade Board Game Creator: a free printable: https://twitchetts.com/2015/05/free-printable-game-creator.html/

Fun Pen and Paper Games to Cure Boredom: https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/pen-and-paper-games/