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A few weeks ago now, my friend Jennifer Karin Sidford gave me a copy of her new children’s book. It looked like a winner then, and it looks like a winner now that it’s out in the shops.

The DreamStarter Book contains 50 pages of story beginnings … as in, Jennifer starts the story and the kids, with their parents, with whoever or alone, figure out where it goes from there.

In the first beginning, for example, a little boy looks in the mirror while brushing his teeth and sees a key inside the mirror. He reaches for the key, grabs the key and … whee! You’re off! (Her lead up is more expansive and literary than this, of course.)

All of the beginnings childhood imaginings and ‘fears’ … castles, wolves, pirates, unicorns, dragons, Ninjas. The Wolves of Scotland brought back memories of a book I read as a young adult, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, so when I read it, I actually started concocting a storyline to finish the story.

I think it’s a great way to stimulate a child’s imagination and maybe stimulate some future writers, as well as obviously interacting with your child(ren) in a meaningful way.

This is Jennifer’s third published work.

The DreamStarter Book Cold Tree Press Softcover; 63 pages (including ideas on how to use the book for activity time and as a game) $12.95