by Trent Lorcher

Created on: May 28, 2008   Last Updated: November 19, 2011

The great ones throughout history have shared an important characteristic: imagination, the ability to see things that weren't there before. The Wright Brothers imagined mechanized flight before they invented the airplane; Henry Ford imagined the mass production of automobiles before designing the Model T; Martin Luther King imagined a better world before he created one; and William Shakespeare imagined his masterpieces before even one actor appeared on stage.

With the omnipresence of visual media and the encroachment of flashy entertainment, assuming a child will automatically develop his or her own creative and imaginative abilities contradicts common sense. Fortunately, your local library has yet to succumb to these invaders and provides ample resources for imaginary adventures. Here are some titles that just might stimulate your child's imagination as well as your own:

LITTLE CLOUD, by Eric Carle

Want to watch dragons sail across the sky or pirates attack giant ships? How about a giant rabbit transform into a deer as it prances in the air? No, I'm not talking about the latest Hollywood action film; I'm talking about lying down on the grass and watching clouds. Eric Carle chronicles the adventures of Little Cloud as it strays from its family, changes into a sheep, an airplane, a shark, and a Christmas tree before rejoining its family for a nice rain. LITTLE CLOUD is an excellent choice for stimulating creative thought at the park, at the beach, or in the backyard.

FIVE MINUTE BEDTIME TALES, by Derek Hall, Alison Morris, and Louisa Somerville

Take your child on a journey through enchanted worlds of the imagination. Journey with Peter in "Peter and the Dragon," or play magical music with "The Enchanted Harp." Swim deep with "The Lonely Mermaid" or fly with "The Golden Bird." No matter what your child's interest, this imaginative anthology will entertain for much more than five minutes. You don't need to wait until bedtime though. FIVE MINUTE BEDTIME TALES entertain at all hours of the day.

HOW DO DINOSAURS GET WELL SOON? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

One of literature's foremost writers of fantasy, Jane Yolen triumphs once again with her series of dinosaur books. Imagine having a dinosaur brother or sister who gets sick. "Does he drop dirty tissues all over the floor? / Does he fling all his medicine out the door?" Children find out in this imaginative classic. Your kids will love this one, so you may want to get some plastic dinosaur toys for some post-reading imaginary playtime.

DRAGON, by Jody Bergsma

Read this one nice and slow so your children can enjoy the beautiful illustrations that capture the colorful world of Lugin. More than just a book about dragons, this 2000 Visionary award winner will take your child on a journey through a magical world: twelve-year old Prince Langilor, aided by a white swan, must conquer the bully dragon Saras. As with most literature of this genre, Prince Langilor must first conquer himself before taming his nemesis.

THE HOBBIT, by J.R.R. Tolkien

A young adult classic, THE HOBBIT has entertained readers for nearly a century. Tolkien takes the reader on a journey through Middle Earth with reluctant explorer Bilbo Baggins. The bungling Baggins happens across a magic ring and is forced to use his wits to escape its tormented owner, Gollum. Because it is considered a young adult novel, reading it to an older child is an excellent transition from picture books to chapter books and a sure way to stimulate the imagination.

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