Imagination, Book Spotlight, Fend Off Learning Loss / April 2021
What turns problems into opportunities, questions into passions, and keeps us company? Our imagination! We all have it and can use it in infinite ways. Books are the perfect exercise equipment for strengthening our imaginations!

Wish you could have an adventure but have to stay inside? How about creating a new environment—with blocks, or a dragon? Feeling lonely, worried, or scared, and wish you had a best friend who is always there, just for you? Make one up! Or borrow Ted, or Bear.

Stories about imaginationmaking things, pretending, seeing one thing as something elseincentivize children to rely on their creativity to persevere through all kinds of changing circumstances, and to become future innovators. We invite you to explore these themes in the books spotlighted below!

- Kathy Balch, BookTree Founder
Book Spotlight: Developing Your Child's Imagination
Block City, by Robert Louis Stevenson and illustrator Daniel Kirk. Kirk's bold, vibrant artwork breathes new energy into Stevenson's classic 1880's poem about imaginative play; for ages 2 and up.

Lily and Bear, by Lisa Stubbs. Lily draws a special friend Bear who magically comes to life and gives her a new perspective on the world; for ages 2 and up.

Duck! Rabbit!, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrator Tom Lichtenheld. Cute, clever, and fun optical illusions entertain young and old and teach us about different perspectives; for ages 3 and up.

Ted, by Tony DiTerlizzi. A large, zany, pink friend connects a busy father with his imaginative son; for ages 4 and up.

Raising Dragons, by Jerdine Nolen and illustrator Elise Primavera. Dream meets reality in this whimsically illustrated tale of a mysterious egg that hatches an unexpected best friend; for ages 5 and up.
Fend Off Pandemic/Summer Learning Loss
We were thrilled to see NYT Book Review editor Pamela Paul recently extol picture books as "the real wizards of the literary world". We built BookTree on the effectiveness of this genre for brain development, vocabulary building, and imagination building. Contact us for membership reactivation, free trials for new families, gift certificates, or questions. Have fun learning off-screen!
Support Our Local Business Partners
Many thanks to our amazing local business partners who have been critical in making BookTree accessible during the past year! San Francisco: Chloe's Closet, Fiddlesticks, Pet Camp, Small Frys, Sylvan Learning. Marin: A Child's Delight (Corte Madera), Rims & Goggles (Mill Valley), Secret Garden (Greenbrae), Toy Crazy (Larkspur). North Peninsula: My Gym (San Carlos), Pacifica Athletic Center (Pacifica), Paper Caper (Burlingame). South Peninsula: Adventure Toys (Los Altos), Cheeky Monkey Toys (Menlo Park), Sprout SF (Palo Alto). Please support these and other local businesses!