Out through the skylight, there is another world.
If only you could find a spaceship to take you there...
you could explore its strange surface, and float in the air. You could see all there was too see...
and you could bring home a treasure and share all your stories with me...
The world is full of hidden adventures. At any given moment a pine tree could turn into a castle... a flower into a magic wand... a jungle gym into a sailboat... and a crumbled-up piece of tinfoil into a precious treasure from outer space. Imagination is the currency of childhood. A limitless belief in the impossible allows the world to renew itself each time children encounter it. Nothing is fixed or set in stone. Words and objects have flexible meanings and act as tools and implements for exploration. What happens if you call a dog a cat? That might sound like the beginning of a very mediocre joke, but if you stop and think about it, it could be a very useful and interesting activity to answer that question. When you call a dog a cat you have to recognize, explore and reconcile all of the similarities and differences of each animal. Do they look the same? Do they act the same? Do they eat the same things? Do they make the same sounds? Children do this all the time. They compare and experiment and explore. They take cognitive leaps and build priceless critical thinking skills, all in the name of play and make believe. Every once in a while you come across a book that can change the way you look at things, that opens up the world to endless possibilities, a book that asks you to call a dog a cat. How To Be An Explorer Of The World by Keri Smith is just that book. Filled with activities and suggestions that encourage everyday explorations of the world around you, from paperclips to fallen leaves, to grocery stores and sidewalk cracks, this book should be part of every person, parent or caregiver's tool kit. Not only is it a great source of inspiration for endless adventures, but in its own way, it manages to rediscover, pinpoint, expand and celebrate the amazing and indescribable wonder that is childhood... even if you are only a kid at heart. Wishing you a weekend filled with real and imaginary adventures out in the world.
