Picture Book Month‘s theme of the day today is Imagination and I couldn’t have the more perfect book to share with you!
Just Imagine by by Nick Sharratt and Pippa Goodhart is one of my top 5 picture books of 2012. Ever since we first heard rumours about a follow up book to another family favourite by the same team, You Choose, we were waiting like kids for Christmas.
A book full of story starters, eye-openers and first steps on adventure, each double page spread in Just Imagine invites its readers to think what it would be like to be someone or something else. Imagine being magical, being a pet, living underground, or being just a few centimetre tall. What would it be like to live in the sea, or the sky? Where would you choose to time travel to?
Just Imagine asks its readers to take the most inviting flights of fancy, with just a few open ended questions and then a panoply of bold, bright and often funny illustrations to pick and choose from, to be inspired by. Imagine instead of a sweetie shop, an ideas shop – one you could enter and instantly feel excited by the possibilities – that’s exactly what Just Imagine is like.
A wonderful book for starting conversations, suggesting stories, and for developing a sense of empathy by encouraging readers to think what it is like to step into the shoes of others, this is a book I would love to see in every home and every primary school.
The arrival of Just Imagine was the perfect excuse to tidy up and revamp our dressing-up supplies; what easier way is there to imagine yourself into another character or place than by dressing up?
Our top 10 items for inclusion in or near a dressing up box are:-
Whilst I love to sew, I’m no good at making costumes (unlike the amazing Ikat Bag). But, I do do a nice line in cloaks and capes. I got a whole load of curtain samples very cheap from John Lewis once, and they make the most brilliant regal cloaks or even super hero capes with just the addition of a brooch, or a simply sewn on hook and eye.
Dressing up storage is always a problem for us. I’ve seen lots of lovely ideas, but always end up using the “stuff back in a drawer” solution… Still, if we had more space, and more time for tidying up, then I might go for this DIY dressing up storage cupboard from Learn with Play at home, or this DIY foldable rack from Smile and Wave.
For one last word (or few) on dressing up I’d like to quote Cathy at NurtureStore: “Bear in mind your own approach to this kind of play. Dressing up is one area of play where I often see adults treating girls and boys differently. Do you offer children different costumes depending on whether they’re a boy or girl? Maybe you can have all the resources available and let the children decide who they’re going to be?”
Whilst dressing up you might enjoy listening to:
Other activities which would go well alongside reading this book include:
Wishing you a day full of imagination!
Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book I’ve reviewed today from the publisher. I was under no obligation to review the books and I received no money for this post.
Loll Kirby
What a brilliant post! We’re huge fans of ‘You Choose’ too and our copy of ‘Just Imagine’ should be arriving any day now. If it’s possible, I’m even more excited about it now that I’ve seen this review. Also, we’re expanding our dressing up box at the moment and this has given us some great ideas. Thanks!
Loll Kirby recently posted..Oxfam storytelling sessions
rhythm
This looks like a fabulous book! As does the other one you mentioned — You Choose. I don’t care too much for dressing up, but I know that kids love to! I’ve added both these books to my wish list! Thanks for sharing them!
rhythm recently posted..I’m Confused!
choxbox
We LOVED You Choose, and I have been eyeing Just Imagine for a while – I think I should get it now without further ado.
And have you been to Bekonscot Model Village?! One of our top favourite places and a must-visit during a UK trip.
http://www.bekonscot.co.uk
Mrs Brown
Thanks for bringing both titles to my attention! I know it’s hard to say, but do you think they’d be on level for a 4-5 year old?
Mrs Brown recently posted..Big days out and about: Potato Needs a Bath and Poppy Cat
Zoe
Mrs Brown – oh certainly! I think they are great from about 3 right through to 8/9/10 because they are open ended and detailed. Bright and bold enough to appeal to younger kids, enough content and little visual jokes to appeal to older kids too.
Zoe recently posted..Just imagine… (if you could spend the whole day dressing up)
Pippa Goodhart
Thank you so much for saying such nice things about You Choose and Just Imagine! And I’m absolutely with you on the wonders of a good dressing-up box. I was a child who struggled with reading and writing, and certainly never imagined one day writing books. BUT I did love let’s pretend games, helped by a good dressing-up box and like-minded friends, and I’m sure that’s where I learned to make-up stories. I played them rather than wrote them at that stage.
Helen D
I’m feeling very inspired to revamp our own dressing up box now! Love the pictures and looking forward to checking out the book too.
Helen D recently posted..12 Great Free Apps for Kids – Part 2
Elza
Hurrah! We have bought both Just Imagine and You Choose as a result of this post. But I think you forgot to mention the Dressing Up song by Nuzzle and Scratch!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/nuzzle-and-scratch/songs/nuzzle-and-scratch-dressingupisfun/
Padmini
Lovely read :):):)