July 21, 2026

Picture Books That Take Imagination Seriously

The picture books that take a kid's imagination completely seriously

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These are the books featured in this post — tap any cover to find it on Amazon.

Cover of The Girl and the Dinosaur

The Girl and the Dinosaur

by Hollie Hughes

A lonely girl digs up a dinosaur skeleton and wishes it to life.

Cover of A House That Once Was

A House That Once Was

by Julie Fogliano

Two kids find an empty house in the woods and imagine the whole life that once filled it.

Cover of Ish

Ish

by Peter H. Reynolds

A kid who is sure he cannot draw learns that his art only has to be ish.

Cover of Jeremy Draws a Monster

Jeremy Draws a Monster

by Peter McCarty

A shy kid draws himself the worst possible roommate, and then the monster wants lunch.

Cover of The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination

The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination

by Brad Montague

A whole secret agency that keeps every dream and drawing in the world running on time.

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