Do It Yourself Dollhouse by Shannon Anderson

Charley has just received a fancy new dollhouse, but after moving her doll around, she gets bored. Then she learns about her next door neighbor, Lucy’s dollhouse, made from cardboard boxes and household scraps. Together, they gather materials to enhance their new dollhouses, using teamwork and creativity to show that you can make anything you set your mind to. This book is great for teaching children about sustainability and reusing materials in a creative way, and showing that although not everyone has the same fancy toys, we can still have fun with one another.

This picture book is a charming retelling of the classic The Twelve Dancing Princesses that challenges gender roles and encourages children to pursue their strengths. Margaret, Harriet, and Lila are princesses who live in a castle with their father, the king, and their brother, Prince Edward. They love to sew, play music, and make jewelry, but the castle has an alligator problem. Using their ingenuity, the princesses stay up all night to invent a solution to put the alligators back in the moat, showing the king that princesses can do more than just ‘princess things’ and princes more than ‘princely things’. This is a wonderful book to teach children to push past gender expectations and look for creative solutions.

“Paula’s Patches” is a bright and colorful picture book that addresses how not every child is able to buy new clothes when they need them, and how young kids can feel embarrassed about this difference. Paula’s pants rip during the school day, and she spends all day trying to cover up the hole. After learning from a friend that pieces of old fabric can be used to create patches, Paula uses her creativity to find a solution not just for herself, but to share with her classroom! This book is a great tool to help children understand that we all have access to different things, and that creativity can help us overcome obstacles.

The House of Love by Adriana Trigiani
“The House of Love” is a heartwarming story by Adriana Trigiani that shows it doesn’t matter how old and rundown a house is, as long as there is lots of love and a little creativity. Mia Valentina is excited for her family’s Valentine’s day party, but she knows her house is old, and wants everyone to enjoy it. The story follows Mia and her mom as they spiff up the house, using household items to decorate. This is a wonderful tale that shows readers what matters most in a home is a loving family, not peeling wallpaper or whistling windows.

The Postcard Project by Maggie Lauren Brown

“The Postcard Project” is a fun and colorful picture book about Lola visiting her Grandma for a few weeks in the summer. When Lola starts to miss her parents, Gram helps her understand that it’s possible to miss somewhere and still like where you are, and to help deal with her homesickness, they make postcards from everyday objects to send to Lola’s parents. A great summer read, this is a great book for helping children understand and deal with homesickness in a creative and engaging way.

Ava & Mae: The Fabulous Fashion Show by Brittney Dias
This fast-paced and rhythmic picture book follows Ava and Mae as they create their very own fashion show. This story encourages children to try something new and take risks, and to lean on their friends and family to help find success. A fun picture book about creativity and teamwork, this book makes a great addition to any shelf!

Noelle Bakes a Cake: A Story About a Positive Attitude and Resilience for Kids Ages 2-8 by Mikaela Wilson
In “Noelle Bakes a Cake”, children can learn that what matters when doing something special for someone is the love behind it, not how big or grand it is. In this picture book, Noelle wants to do something special for her mother’s birthday, and decides to bake a birthday cake with her dad. She is excited to take charge and pour and mix by herself, but when she drops the bowl, she thinks the surprise is ruined. Her dad steps in and shows her that she can get back up again and still make a fun surprise for her mom. This is a great book for teaching kids about persevering through obstacles, and that a special thought can always help us create something great.

Isabelle is an incoming senior at Eastern Michigan University with a major in Children’s and Young Adult Literature with a Publishing concentration and a minor in both Professional Writing and Literature. She is an avid reader of all fiction genres, and enjoys writing, especially poetry. She is currently working on her own fantasy novel. She is also a huge Swiftie, and loves spending time with her three younger sisters.