500 Activities to Encourage Creativity in Kids Ages 2 to 12--Play, Pretend, Draw, Dance, Sing, Write, Build, Tinker

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Also try Tinkerlab: A Hands-On Guide for Little Inventors

Ages: 2-8

“The buzz of bees in summertime. The tracks of a bird in the winter snow. This beautiful book captures all the sights and sounds of a child’s interactions with nature, from planting acorns or biting into crisp apples to studying tide pools or lying back and watching the birds overhead. No matter what’s outside their windows — city streets or country meadows — kids will be inspired to explore the world around them.” - Amazon

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Ages: ALL ages

This beautiful encyclopedia of more than 100 plants, minerals, and animals is sure to captivate any child or adult. Each wonder of nature has 2 pages dedicated to stunning photography and gorgeous illustrations of its attributes. From rocks to microorganisms, you will have a close-up interaction with each as you learn about its habitat and features as well as some fun facts.

“Discover how the dragon blood tree got its name, why a sundew means big trouble for insects, and what on Earth a radiolarian is. The storybook descriptions let you discover the myths and legends surrounding both organisms and gemstones, as well as key facts about their natural history. From orchids to opals and lichens to lizards, this beautiful treasury lets you find the things that interest you and uncover new favorites along the way. Explore some of the myths and stories surrounding both organisms and gemstones, as well as key facts about their natural history. With reference pages packed with information, you'll go away knowing something you didn't before, even if you return time and again.” - Amazon

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Ages: ALL ages

This beautiful encyclopedia of more than 100 intriguing animals is sure to capture the attention of any child or adult. Each animal has 2 pages dedicated to stunning photography and gorgeous illustrations of its attributes. From largest to smallest, you will have a close-up interaction with each animal as you learn about its habitat and features as well as some fun facts.

“This beautiful modern collection lets you find the animals that interest you and uncover new favorites along the way. From lions and butterflies to sharks and spiders there's an animal for everyone in this celebration of the animal kingdom. Every animal is shown both photographically and illustrated, and children will love poring over the detailed images. The index is packed with reference information, including the size and location of each species, and a tree of life shows how the animal groups are connected.

With foil on the cover, gilded edges, and a ribbon for keeping your place, An Anthology of Intriguing Animals makes an attractive gift for any child who can't get enough of wildlife and nature.” ~ Amazon review

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Ages: 8-12

A fun book for any child who loves modes of transportation and wants to learn how different vehicles can be used for Jesus and sharing His love.

Note: Illustrations include pictures of real missionaries out in the field. You can even find my husband and his team in Peru long ago in a not so flattering picture of him. ;)

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Ages: 4-8

Follow a trail from your shoes on the street down pipes, burrows and layers of earth, all the way to the core of earth’s center. This book is sure to elicit many questions for children to explore what lies beneath the ground. It’s a wonderful educational tool with charming and colorful illustrations.

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Ages: 4-8

A beautifully illustrated book that depicts life in a garden through each season. Your child is sure to learn so much about gardening with every crafted word that expresses what is growing up in the garden and what is down in the dirt.

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Ages: 4-8

Claws and jaws, howls, growls and smells. Explore various beasts in the animal kingdom. Also learn about environmental issues such as how to prevent beasts from extinction. This book is such an incredible resource for the home with charming and colorful illustrations.

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Ages: 4-8

Fins and flippers, gills and blowholes, deep-sea fish, tide pools and dolphins. Explore the ocean with alluring, detailed illustrations of various animals. Also learn about environmental issues such as oceans in danger and plastic in the sea. This book is such an incredible resource for the home.

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Ages: 4-7

Children will love to explore a world beneath them during the wintertime. It opens their eyes to life under their snowy feet as they learn the subnivean zone revealing different animals and their homes.

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See also: Over and Under the Pond

Ages: 3-7

This book has such a fun and creative way to teach children their colors. It will have you giggling with your children over the different personalities of colors and how they express themselves to their artist boy, Duncan through letters they’ve written him. Illustration done by Oliver Jeffers, a young boy at the time, who helps bring the crayons and drawings to life. It may even spark more creativity in your children to color and draw.

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Ages: 4-8

This book will ignite childhood memories you didn’t think you had. Eli learns to love sacred places around his grandparents’ farm while cherishing those around him and appreciating the places they love too. Soon he has a chance to pass on what he has learned to his baby sister.

With beautifully painted illustrations this book is sure to become a family favorite.

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Ages: 4-8

Join Joanna and her family as they share lessons learned to growing a happy, successful garden. Excellent quality, beautiful illustrations and a genuine story about not being afraid to try new things, overcoming obstacles, not giving up when you fail, and working hard for things you believe in. I mean this is the epitome of who the Gaineses are!

It’s simple, timeless and has a deeper message that is sure to inspire others.

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Explore 21 iconic National Parks around the US and get your children excited about the outdoors. This book is packed with colorfully illustrated maps and interesting facts about the terrain unique to each park. Educates the reader as to why parks should be preserved for future generations to enjoy.

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Ages: 5-8

This book helps children explore changing scenery and animal life during each of the four seasons. Pages contain nine different places, including a farm, back yard and woods. Fun script and gorgeous illustrations make this book enticing to an active learning child. There is also an activities version with a purchase link below.

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Purchase also: Nature's Day: Out and About: Spotting, making and collecting activities Version

Ages: 5-8

Have fun exploring with your kids the fascinating world of bugs.

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Spanish Version

Sticker book edition - Purchase Spanish Version

Ages: 4-8

The book reveals creative ways to encourage learning in the garden. With hands-on activities that promote, science, math, reading, writing and art. 

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Ages: 2 & up

This book is about creative experiments encouraging children to tinker, explore, and be hands-on in areas of science, art, and more. 

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Ages: 2-12

A fun book with tons of ideas to: Play, Pretend, Draw, Dance, Sing, Write, Build, & Tinker

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