Book list: Creative and imaginative play

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By Chandra Littlewood from Moriah Kindergarten
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Image (c) Vincent Bourgeau from What’s That, Jack?

We asked Chandra Littlewood from Moriah Kindergarten in Wellington for a list of books she likes to recommend that foster imaginative and creative play for pre-school age children. These books are available from all good bookstores.

Papatūānuku_coverPapatūānuku has a Tummy Ache by A J Copping

This one is a favourite with tamariki and kaiako alike! It sparks much intrigue as Papatūānuku discovers she is sick and excitement when she needs tamariki to help her. Lots of conversations about how to help and role-playing of worms, reducing rubbish, composting and planting!

How Maui Slowed the Sun by Peter Gossage

Our tamariki love hearing about Maui and his adventures and this one grips all ages. Children love both reading and role playing this story and they can create their own focus whether it’s finding rakau or harakeke for rope, capes and objects to be the sun or simply packing up a bag and walking through te ngahere to get to their final destination.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen

So much to be said about this classic pukapuka. Our tamariki will gladly read it many times over and the joy just continues. From here they can go on their own hunt maybe for a bear, or a dinosaur, a kiwi or even a unicorn and nothing beats creating your own cave! They also often reenact different parts of the story as we walk through our local park.

Ten in the Bed / Ten out of Bed by Penny Dale

This book helps children build their own imaginative world with two very special things – their friends and cuddly soft toys. They love finding all different resources, setting up the bed, counting, jumping and sometimes even resting!

My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes by Eve Sutton, illustrated by Lynley Dodd

This is a wonderful book with both easy to follow rhymes and actions that tamariki love. They get hours of creative play through hiding, both themselves and props! The opportunities are endless be it cats in boxes, emergency vehicles, aeroplanes or music and movement.

I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato (Charlie and Lola) by Lauren Child

A hilarious and imaginative book which both tamariki and kaiako can relate to. Our children love coming up with ideas for food and imagining what the food could be, both during pretend play and while actually eating.
Photos from Moriah Kindergarten.

This book list was created for the release of What’s That, Jack? by Cédric Ramadier, illustrated by Vincent Bourgeau, available from our website and all good bookstores. Two curious animals have a remarkable adventure with a strange object that changes with the landscape then flies back into the sky—they don’t know what it was, but what a day they had!

What's That, Jack? cover