if you can dream it

A caterpillar wants a picture of itself with its mother, a butterfly. A lion sitting on his throne wants a picture of himself as king of the playground swings. The four-leaf clover wants a picture of itself playing hide-and-seek. The frog wants a picture of itself as a super soccer goalie.

We all have ideas about the person we really are, the person we want to be, and the person we show to others. Teaching that concept to children is not always easy, so teaching them about the creatures in this book can help start the conversation.

There is a pet pig who wants to be pictured with a wild boar in a rock band. A badger wants a picture with his siblings, who all like to hide. There is a cockatoo who wants to be pictured by a famous artist. These characters all have an idea of how they want to be seen, and each of these stories reveals something about each character.

These stories can spark enthusiasm and curiosity, and they can help encourage kids to explore their own ideas of identity. There are even blank frames at the front and end of the book, where kids can add their own photos, or even draw their own photos, of themselves as they want to be seen.

And while this book can spark conversations, it can also just be read for fun. The illustrations are colorful and energetic, and they’re funny. Some offer playful games, like finding the four-leaf clover that’s hiding in a field of three-leaf clovers. Others, like the cockatoo, include many paintings done in the style of popular artists, offering giggles at the bird painted like the Mona Lisa, the Scream, or a portrait done by Picasso.

So if you’re like the ant who just wants to spend time alone or the bluebird who wants to be at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, you can find a creature in this book that speaks to you, child or adult. At least, I did. I had a lot of fun reading this book (a few times), from the colorful art to the charming creatures. I thought this book was smart, funny, and imaginative, and I enjoyed every page.

Egalleys for Click! Snap! Picture That! were provided by NorthSouth Books through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.