CREATIVITY
DEAR HUMANS, WE STOLE YOUR CRAYON (Anna McGregor)
On a mission to discover and retrieve the most advanced technology in the universe, Zimothy and Meep know there is only one place to go: Earth! When the curious aliens land their spaceship in an empty elementary school classroom, they find a most strange and wonderful object called a ‘crayon.’
I always love a picture book that trusts children to join in the joke, and Dear Humans, We Stole Your Crayon! (Scholastic, 2026) does exactly that! Watching two well-meaning aliens try to work out the purpose of a crayon is delightfully funny, with each new theory more imaginative than the last. It’s a wonderful celebration of curiosity, creativity and the way children naturally make sense of the world through play.
Anna McGregor’s signature pops of neon become part of the narrative itself, adding another layer to the storytelling. If you’ve enjoyed her previous books, this one won’t disappoint. And if you haven’t discovered her work yet, this is a great place to start.
(Reviewed by Lucy at @lovefourreading)
BEAST MEETS STICK (Emily Davison, Marian Deuchars)
Beast is bored of his sludgy, slimy swamp. BORED, BORED, BORED! That is until he finds a strange knobbly thing. With a stick to play with, Beast can make patterns in slime, play music, cast spells and even fly!
But just when it seems there’s nothing Beast’s stick can’t do… something very unfortunate happens.
This book has a special, joyful approach - snappy storytelling and bright, playful art. Children can follow Beast’s diary-style journey, following all the days in his week as he explores, learns, grows and has fun with Stick.
A visually-striking, playful book for little beasties who relish in the magic of the simplest of things.
SWEETPEA MAGEE: MERMAID EXPERT (Rhian Wright)
Sweetpea Magee: Mermaid Expert (Words and Pictures, 2026) is an imaginative picture book that blends fantastical storytelling with cute fact files, as Sweetpea shares with readers all she knows about mermaids - she is an expert after all!
Children are invited to join Sweetpea as she searches for the very rare Cave Mermaid. But they’ll have to navigate a Grizzle Grump, a Snot Goblin and other mythical characters on the way!
There is so much to spot in the illustrations of this book. The voice is engaging and there are splashes of humour throughout. The ending has a superb twist that champions the magic of childhood. All children will surely want to go away and create their own fantastical fact files, because this book encourages wonder, creativity and imagination… and it does it so well!
THE ARTIVIST (Nikkolas Smith)
This beautiful book with its bright, messy brushstrokes and poetic storytelling is a celebration of art and how powerful it can be. It explores how while the world is full of instances of inequality and injustice, children do have a voice. Through art, they can express themselves and make their thoughts and feelings and dreams seen and heard. That means a lot when it's so easy to feel helpless in the face of big problems.
It's a book that is sure to comfort and inspire and start some important conversations.
(Reviewed by Rashmi Sirdeshpande, author of Super Uma)
MILO IMAGINES THE WORLD (Matt de la Peña, Christian Robinson)
Milo Imagines the World (Two Hoots, 2022) is a thoughtful book that gently challenges assumptions and invites readers to look beyond first impressions. Set during a train journey through a busy city, Milo travels with his older sister and sketches the imagined lives of the people around him. His drawings are filled with castles, riches and idealistic lives, whilst quietly mirroring the snap judgments we make based on what we see. Milo is surprised when he discovers that a boy on the train shares his reality; they are both visiting their mothers in prison.
This book makes you think, but the themes are handled sensitively and without judgement. It leaves readers thinking about assumptions but also shows that love exists even in difficult and unfair circumstances.
A deep and rich story to provide discussion and reflection about bias and the limits of what we know about others.
THE ARTIST (Ed Vere)
One brave little artist goes on an epic adventure to share her art with the world, and in doing so learns that it doesn't matter if you colour outside the lines, that art is full of heart... and that maybe you are an artist too!
The Artist (Penguin, 2023) is a joyous and inspiring picture book about what it means to be an artist, encouraging us to wonder, play and be at home making mistakes. It takes courage to share art with the world, but a little girl reminds the main character to embrace the messy beauty of her art. Soon, her colours fly wild and free and she rediscovers exactly why she loves what she does. Ed Vere boldly and colourfully models what is to create art and be an artist.
GET REAL MALLORY (Daisy Hirst)
Nomi loves drawing dogs, but she finds them difficult. It's much easier to draw fish because she owns one. She's not allowed a dog. Nomi’s older brother, Stephen, tells her to ‘get real’ when she asks why not. So at bedtime, Nomi tells her dog drawing to ‘get real’ too. Then, in the dead of night, her dog DOES. Mallory gets real! Nomi has her own dog friend! And then the adventures really begin...
Nomi and Mallory are a fantastic picture book duo - familiar, characterful and well-observed. Daisy Hirst’s writing voice is pitch perfect and dotted with humour. The combination of words and pictures bring to life this child’s eye view of the world, and will surely make every reader want to grab a pot of crayons and create.
Get Real Mallory! (Walker, 2023) is a magical story celebrating the power of a creative imagination.
ART AND JOY (Danielle Krysa)
Art and Joy (Prestel, 2023) is the story of two best friends who love making things. Art and Joy make the most creative things out of almost nothing. There are no rules to their imagination and no limits.
That is until Art Bully comes along and tells Art that their work is silly and weird and messy and wrong. Suddenly, Art can’t paint or draw or colour. They decide to only make serious, normal, tidy and right things… but that only makes Art miserable. Art eventually overcomes the art bully and their criticisms, learning there’s no wrong way to make art.
Danielle’s illustrations match the theme of this uplifting text perfectly - bright and playful collages show children how creative you can be with seemingly mundane objects. Suitable for children aged 5yrs and up, this book will help young artists find their creative joy - silencing their inner Art Bully and embracing a growth mindset.
AN ARTIST’S EYES (Frances Tosdevin, Clemence Monnet)
Jo is a little boy who desperately wants to 'see like an artist'. He tries as hard as he can to see the things the way Mo does, and when he starts to use his imagination, he realises that the things he dreams up are completely unique to him. From the autumn oranges of the forest floor to pink and lilac pigeons in flight, Mo teaches Jo to trust his own eyes, and to see like an artist.
A thoughtful and beautiful book about creativity and the power of imagination that helps readers realise that our perspectives are unique and that no two artist's eyes are the same.
A TULIP IN WINTER (Kathy Stinson, Lauren Soloy)
Maud is one-of-a-kind. But she has a one-of-a-kind condition that the doctor can’t explain. Her ‘crooked walk’ and ‘stiff fingers’ make things difficult. Until one day when Maud’s mum gives her a paintbrush. And so begins a journey of ups and downs, of colour and darkness. From bright paintings of the sea and countryside, to the flowers and birds she paints on the walls of her small house, Maud’s art delights and inspires all those around her, right up until the end of her life… and afterwards.
A Tulip in Winter (Greystone Kids, 2023) is celebration of the beloved and iconic folk artist, Maud Lewis, who despite spending much of her life living in poverty with rheumatoid arthritis, brought joy and beauty to the world through her artistic expression.
THE BOY WITH FLOWERS IN HIS HAIR (Jarvis)
His name is David.
He’s the boy with flowers in his hair and he’s my best friend...
David is the boy with flowers in his hair. He’s sweet and gentle, just like his petals. But when David’s flowers begin to fall – a single petal at first, then every last blossom – his best friend never leaves his side. And through kindness and creativity, he even finds a way to give David his colour back…
The Boy With Flowers In His Hair (Walker, 2022) is a beautifully illustrated and gentle story, told through sensitively-written sentences and stunning illustrations. The unique idea of a child with flowers in their hair, holds a hidden message - encouraging us to look out for each other and take care of our friends. It’s a story about being there for someone when they are at their most vulnerable and brings to life a pure and poignant friendship that children will never forget.
NATURE IS AN ARTIST (Jennifer Lavallee, Natalia Colombo)
In this colourful playful book, Nature is an artist who shows readers how they can be artists, too. Nature paints and sculpts, collages and etches and the children in the story are inspired to stamp, make and create in turn.
Nature Is An Artist (Greystone, 2023) is a beautiful, empowering rhyming story that celebrates the natural world and encourages creativity. We can all be artists - let nature instil us with confidence and ideas and show us how.
IS IT A SEED? (Emily Davison, Adriena Fong)
Is It A Seed? (Flying Eye Books, 2024) is a playful journey between two children who find something outside one day. It’s only small, but feels special. What could it be? And so ensues a fun-filled, creative conversation as the pair envision the outcomes for the little seed they find. Will it sprout into a pretty flower? Or could it transform into something extraordinary? As anticipation takes hold and the seed takes root, wild dreams unfold sprinkled with magical characters and twisted tales. An open-ended text that could encourage little gardeners to wonder about their own seeds whilst they wait for nature to work its magic and for their plant to grow.
A FAIRY CALLED FRED (Robert Tregoning, Stef Murphy)
Have you heard of the fairy called Fred? Fred works at a Wish-Granting Plant in Fariyland and has been given his very first wish - to make a dress for a boy to wear to a princess party. Fred conjures up the perfect outfit, making Josh the belle of the ball, and proves to all the fairies at the Wish-Granting Plant that he has what it takes to be top designer in Fairyland.
A Fairy Called Fred (Bloomsbury, 2024) is an uplifting, joyful rhyming story with colour and heart, celebrating Fred the fairy and Josh the best-dressed princess and their courage to be themselves and to do something for the very first time.