There is no other activity book like this one. Imagination Lab: Experiments in Creativity is one of the only books in the world built around an award-winning children's podcast—and it works because podcasts are already screen-free. Kids listen the way they listen to music or audiobooks, fully present and imagining. In The Story Seeds Podcast, each child's own story idea is matched with a beloved author who helps grow it into an original story. Kids aren't just listening, they're at the center of the creative process. That same spirit of collaboration and imagination carries directly into every page of this book.
It's hard to find activity books that keep kids genuinely engaged, but whether it's a long airplane ride, a family road trip, or a screen-free afternoon at home, Imagination Lab delivers 80+ pages of writing prompts, STEAM experiments, poetry challenges, art activities, and storytelling adventures.
- Perfect for summer vacation, road trips, and camp downtime. No screens required.
- Fights summer slide while keeping kids genuinely engaged in creativity, reading, and writing that builds real literacy skills
- Writing, art, cooking, poetry, and STEAM projects: 80+ pages that never feel like homework
- Exclusive writing tips from 10 diverse, bestselling children's authors — including Jason Reynolds
- Praised by Wirecutter/NYT, Good Housekeeping, VeryWell Family, Parents Magazine, and Common Sense Media
Here's How It Works
Podcasts offer screen-free time for children: pure audio storytelling that builds comprehension, vocabulary, listening skills, and empathy. Imagination Lab harnesses those benefits and channels them directly into hands-on creativity.
Step 1—Scan a QR code to listen to The Story Seeds Podcast Ten unique QR codes each link to an episode of The Story Seeds Podcast, named 2020 Podcast of the Year by The Week Junior and featured in Wired, The New York Times, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Each episode matches a child and their story idea with a diverse, bestselling author—including Dan Gutman, Chris Grabenstein, Veera Hiranandani, Tracey Baptiste, Carlos Hernandez, and Jason Reynolds—who helps grow it into an original story, with a storytime read-aloud and an original theme song by MGMT's Andrew VanWyngarden.
Step 2—Download the podcast episode once, then create anywhere. Since Wi-Fi is no longer needed, this activity book blends podcast listening with reading + writing so is perfect for planes, road trips, and anywhere adventure takes you. Then kids write, draw, cook, build, and imagine entirely on paper. Each chapter is designed to flow from the listening experience. The podcast is the spark, and the book is where the creativity catches fire.
What's Inside (80+ Pages)
- Exclusive writing tips from 10 diverse, bestselling children's authors
- Writing prompts, flash fiction, journaling, and storytelling activities
- STEAM projects and makerspace challenges
- Poetry prompts and art activities
- Cooking and hands-on experiments
- Curriculum connections for writing craft, poetry, science, art, and storytelling
- Perfect for summer learning, travel, and homeschool
What Readers Are Saying
"An activity book to inspire curiosity, inventiveness, and storytelling." — Wirecutter/The New York Times
"Diverse, portable, open-ended, screen-free, creative & cool! Packed with open-ended activities perfect for homeschooling." — Karen Alexander, mother of three
"For reluctant readers or those who crave engagement, try this innovative activity book." — VeryWell Family
Sandhya Nankani is the creator and executive producer of The Story Seeds Podcast(TM). An award-winning producer, she is also the creator of award-winning literacy app HangArt, which was selected Best of 2016 EdTech by Common Sense Media. She is a member of the Education Committee of the Museum of Arts and Design and was a founding member of KIDMAP (Kids' Inclusive and Diverse Media Action Project), an interdisciplinary group that has developed best practices toolkits for children's media producers, in an effort to make products that are more equitable, diverse and inclusive.Her studio Literary Safari produces and publishes inclusive media children and adults inspired by the 4 C's of 21st century education-Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Collaboration. It is deeply committed to creating products that celebrate authentic voices, diversity, multiculturalism, global citizenship, and real-world learning.
Alicia Zadrozny is a literacy educator, curriculum designer, and children's writer, and former editor of Writing for Teens and Current Health magazines for middle schoolers.
