Creativity is everywhere and everyone is creative.
Our brains and bodies are built to make and innovate, and that instinct is as old as humanity itself. Starting when we're babies, we draw, tell stories, invent, dance, perform, make music, among dozens of other creative acts. Did you know that our ancestors were weaving 12,000 years ago and using pigment to make paintings 17,000 years ago? Today, creativity is all around us, in public and private spaces and places all over the world. From graffiti and flash mobs to music class and TV screens, Creatively Human encourages young readers to look at the world with a creative eye. Explore the origins and impact of ideas and inventions, arts and technology, and learn about the developments and advances that change and improve the lives of everyone. It's time to recognize and celebrate how everyone--including you--contributes to our world in so many creative ways!
The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
A bird's-eye view of the concept of creativity and how it is expressed in the arts. Peterson gives an overview of many forms of art, organized by sections, such as "What Is Creativity?" "Brains and Bodies," and "Tools and Technology." The text is accompanied by both illustrations and photography. Yee's art is soft, warm, and inviting. Spot art and full spreads show young people and adults of different skin colors and with different cultural markers beautifully engaged in creative endeavors, heightening the reading experience. Peterson has taken care to explore every aspect of how creativity can be expressed, even discussing how specialized tools can help people with disabilities express themselves and touching on the historical discrimination that has made certain groups underrepresented in art history. However, this book may be more popular with art teachers seeking inspiration, facts, and quotes to share with students than it will be with the students themselves. The wide coverage of so many topics means that no single topic is discussed in depth, and hands-on activities are few and far between. Readers who are pursuing a specific creative topic may prefer more specialized titles. VERDICT Hand this book to a favorite elementary or middle school art teacher.
Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
From advertising to yodeling, a running alphabetical list includes traditional and unconventional forms of expression.
Lois Peterson writes articles and short stories and is the author of one writing book for adults. This is her 10th children's book with Orca Book Publishers and her second nonfiction, after Shelter: Homelessness in Our Community. When she is not writing, teaching writing or walking on the beach, she makes art with all kinds of paper, pencils and paint. She lives on Vancouver Island.
Madeline Yee is a Chinese Canadian illustrator with a background in design and science, and a passion for bringing unique stories to life through visuals. She graduated from the Illustration program at the Ontario College of Art and Design University in 2023. Her practice is currently based in Edmonton.