2026 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Imagination
We’re jumping straight into some amazing board books today with the Letter “I” for Imagination during the 2026 Blogging A to Z Challenge! Play is an essential part of early literacy and these books encourage play in really fun, creative ways. Whether you’re playing with an interactive book or the book itself asks you to move around or play, these books are just a joy to read and experience together.
Reading aloud doesn’t always have to be the quiet, bedtime snuggles, it can be loud and fun and encourage movement, discussion, and interaction. Maybe these are the books that you read right after lunch or maybe these are the ones you have in the car when you’re waiting for an older sibling to finish up a activity or in the school line. Remember, reading is important, the when and where are not important!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information.
2026 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Imagination
Eye Guess by Phyllis Limbacher Tildes
Do you know whose eye is looking at you? Featuring familiar forest animals, toddlers will enjoy guessing, turning the page, and finding out if they’re right!
Knock Knock Who’s There? by Rob Hodgson
Knock knock on the door and wait to be asked “Who’s there?” before turning the page to discover a different googly-eyed animal with a funny punchline. This easy-to-follow format is a fun introduction to the world of comedy for little jokesters, and you’re sure to be laughing along with them!
On the final page, be ready for a dino-size surprise that’s sure to spark even more fun for little comedians. The googly-eyed animals in this illustrated book of knock-knock jokes will have kids seeing double the fun.
Let’s Play! by Hervé Tullet
In Hervé Tullet’s third interactive outing, there’s a yellow dot. And a thin black line. Adventure definitely awaits! Press a finger to the page to embark on a new journey of color, shape, motion, and imagination. Follow the yellow dot’s invitation, turn the page, and you are on your way!
Filled with artistry and delight, the Let’s Play! journey lets you leap headlong into a completely new dimension: emotion. Connecting to the mind and the heart, this dot expresses an extraordinary sense of humor, fear, joy, and more as it pushes, lurches, wiggles, and slides its way through—and even off!—the pages. Hervé’s hallmark graphic style and irrepressible whimsy take young readers on a spectacular ride in this new compact, toddler-friendly board book edition.
Peekaboo Who by Elena Selena
Can you guess who? Who’s hiding behind bright blue feathers? Who’s covering their face with yellow wings, or a bushy orange tail? Little ones will delight in lifting the flaps to find out just who is playing peekaboo in this cheerfully illustrated board book.
Play With Me by Kat Chen, illustrated by Lorraine Nam
This board book series invites young readers to take part in a playdate activity of their choice, thereby empowering them with autonomy and validation. The picnic playdate models balanced and shared play, creating a positive experience that will provide readers with a reference for what caring and considered friendship looks like. Many toddlers and preschoolers consistently ask for someone to play with them, and this book provides just that for the quieter moments of the day. Simple language and gentle questions will help children develop their social skills by practicing conversations, all while engaging them in fun and familiar topics.
Some of These Are Snails by Carter Higgins
From the creative mind behind Circle Under Berry comes this deceptively simple concept book that explores sorting, classification, and patterns as it teases the brain in unusual ways. With an elegant and simple approach, this thought-provoking book shows young readers that even the most familiar things can be seen from infinite perspectives. As with the best classic children’s books, you read it once, read it ten times—and see something new every time.
Squeak-a-Boo! by Natasha Wing, illustrated by Grace Habib
What scurries past?
It’s small and fast.
Squeak-a-boo!
A mouse!
Natasha Wing has crafted a charming guessing-game board book. Her rhyming text, full of puns and wordplay, set this book apart from similar peek-a-boo books on the market, and with flaps to lift on every page, the youngest of readers will delight in discovering the answer to each peek-a-boo hint.
We All Play by Julie Flett
Baby animals and kids love to play! This wonderful book celebrates playtime and the connection between children and the natural world. Julie Flett’s iconic illustrations celebrate birds who chase and chirp, bears who wiggle and wobble, and owls who peek and peep. A group of kids love to do the same thing, shouting, “We play too! kimêtawânaw mîna.”
At the end of the book, the baby animals and kids gently fall asleep after a fun day of playing outside, making this book a great bedtime story. Featuring a glossary of Cree animal names used, We All Play is a beautiful ode to the creatures we share our world with, and belongs on every bookshelf.
Where Is My Nose? By Lucas Zanotto
In this humorous and heartwarming story, a dog wakes up without his nose and sets out on a search to find it. Despite the obvious challenge of searching without a nose, the dog explores various places.
At the seaside, he mistakes a fluffy white cloud for his nose. Underwater, he spots something red that he hopes might be his nose, only to discover it’s a fish. As our protagonist continues his quest for his nose, he realizes how far he has come and the wonderful things he has discovered. Curious about what more he can find in this vast world, he decides to keep searching.
This beautifully designed die-cut book is printed on luxurious, heavy-stock paper, matte coated with a varnish, that transmits silky tactile elegance. Die-cut elements provide for an interactive reading experience and lessons on perspective sure to delight parents and young readers alike.
2026 is my eleventh year participating in the Blogging A to Z Challenge! This year, my theme is Board Books for Babies with a focus on providing book suggestions that parents and caregivers can share with, of course, babies, but also toddlers and preschoolers! Each letter of the alphabet will focus on a different subject and will provide nine titles for each subject. While there are dozens of classic board books out there, this list includes titles published in the past 5-6 years, so you’ll get to learn about new titles, authors, and publishers! Stop by daily to check out the new books and other posts that I’ll be sharing in April.
