except if - a book to fuel the imagination

 Albert Einstein is quoted as saying

Imagination is more important than knowledge. 

Since Mr. Einstein was one smart cookie, it behooves me to nurture, feed, and encourage a fine and healthy imagination in each of my students.  

A sense of wonder.

A what if ... ?

An except if. ... ?

Jim Averbeck, the author and illustrator of Except If   has a fines sense of fun and a  flourishing imagination.

the book info

published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

January 2011

40 pages 

themes: play, imagination

excellent for children 3 - 6

The story begins:

In the beginning, there is an egg.

Which may become a baby bird, except if it becomes a snake instead.

The story journeys from there to a lizard,  a dinosaur, a fossil, and finally to a nest that cradles an egg ... that might be a baby bird.

The book description states:  This young, clever and whimsical picture book in the spirit of Not a Box and First the Egg, an egg is not just an egg, but a symbol of the potential a child's imagination holds. As each image melds smoothly but unexpectedly to the next, readers are invited to stretch the limits of their imaginations.

I love this book because each word is necessary and perfect (even if it is one long run on sentence). It is pared down to the essential.  The illustrations are simple and gently bold.  And it is fine food for the imagination. 

I think that life would be so incredibly dull without a finely tuned imagination.

I find that I have fewer and fewer "specific use" toys in my classroom.  Some of our most used toys are versatile, inexpensive and leave a lot of scope for the imagination.

buttons

source: Ontario Farm Girl  

rocks

pinecones

shells

thrift shop trays and bowls

tree blocks

thrift shop sheets cut into various sizes

sticks

Dr. Mira Reisberg reads What If and chats about what makes it so good.

This post is linked up with Susanna Hill's Perfect Picture Book Friday.