My favorite bookends need a little love. These books by Author and Illustrator, Peter H. Reynolds, are picture perfect. Most endearing are his efforts to preserve creativity in kids and adults alike. Reynolds explains:

“Nothing irks me more than seeing a person’s creativity get shut down. Through my books, I want to help give kids – and grown-up kids – the vocabulary to protect their exploration, in art, writing, and thinking.”

“I often visit classrooms and ask who loves to draw. In kindergarten and first grade, all the hands go up. In second grade, most of the hands go up. In third grade, half the hands go up. By fourth and fifth grade, most of the hands are down, or perhaps pointing to ‘the class artist.’ It’s sad to see the artistic, creative energy slowing down, being packed away. I am convinced it’s because children learn early that there are ‘rules’ to follow. But when it comes to expressing yourself, you can invent your own rules. You can change them, you can stretch them, or you can ignore them all and dive headfirst into the unknown.”

-Peter H. Reynolds