2 Must-Read Books to Spark Creativity in Kids 📖💡

Hi! I’m Radha, psychologist, mother, and founder of Little Makers, a process-art studio inspired by Reggio Emilia, created in 2015 in Amsterdam. But beyond that, I’m a total children’s book lover. Together with my daughter, we’ve discovered a whole universe in stories—reading has been an incredible tool, not only for sparking creativity in our art workshops in Barcelona, Madrid, and Amsterdam, but also for writing and inventing our own stories. Storytelling is a powerful way to boost imagination, and I proudly declare myself a huge fan of children’s books.

At Little Makers, we don’t just create with our hands—we also create with words. That’s why I love bringing books into our creative workshops, dramatizing them (because, fun fact, I used to do theater and improvisation! 🎭) and turning them into moments full of magic and inspiration. And hey, my storytelling skills are so good that at home, I’m always the one asked to read aloud! 🤣 Oh, and here’s a little secret... I’ve even written my own children’s book inspired by everything we’ve learned in the atelier. Maybe one day, you’ll see it! 😉

Now, let me share two must-read books that we love to include in our creative activities, summer camps in Barcelona, and art workshops for kids. They highlight one of our core values: learning to trust our ideas, believe in them, and let them grow without fear of making mistakes.

💡 "I Have an Idea!" by Hervé Tullet

If you know Hervé Tullet, you know his books are meant to be touched, played with, and explored! They’re interactive, colorful, and completely engaging. This one invites kids to understand how ideas are born, how they evolve, and why it’s okay to have many “bad” ideas before finding the one that really works

We love using this book in our creative workshops and extracurricular activities because it perfectly matches our way of working: trial and error, exploration, and trust in the creative process. It’s a hit in our art workshops in Barcelona, Madrid, and Amsterdam, especially for kids aged 6-12.

🤔 "What Do You Do With an Idea?" by Kobi Yamada

This book has a totally different feel—it's almost poetic. It tells the story of a child who has an idea but isn't sure what to do with it. At first, they doubt it. Then, as they nurture and believe in it, the idea grows, transforms, and changes everything.

It’s a book that resonates deeply, not just with kids but also with entrepreneurs, educators, and parents. We often use it in our summer camps in Barcelona and in plans for kids that encourage creativity, because it beautifully reinforces what we teach at Little Makers: your ideas matter, and the world needs them!

📚 Why Do We Read Stories in Our Workshops?

At Little Makers, reading stories isn’t just a fun activity—it’s a way to immerse kids in creativity before they dive into hands-on exploration. Unlike traditional school settings, our art workshops allow kids to experiment freely, express their ideas, and create without limits. And books like these inspire them to do just that.

Reading is a big part of our creative extracurriculars, whether it’s sparking an idea for a tinkering workshop, inspiring a group painting, or setting the stage for imaginative play. We believe stories have the power to unlock creativity, and we love bringing them into our studio.

🚀 Let’s Talk About Ideas!

If you’re passionate about creativity, storytelling, and innovative learning, I’d love to chat! At Little Makers, we’ve spent nearly 10 years designing creative workshops for kids, inspiring over 100,000 children in two countries.

Whether you’re an educator, entrepreneur, or just someone who loves creative learning, I’d love to hear from you! What’s your favorite book about ideas? Drop a comment or send me a message—let’s chat! 👇💬

Cheers,

Radha