If..

What the Story is About

First published 25 years ago, If... has become a quiet classic - passed across classrooms, families, and generations. Now in its anniversary edition, it continues to enchant readers with surreal and playful possibilities:
What if toes were teeth? What if caterpillars were toothpaste?

Each page is a visual surprise that nudges children to dream beyond the possible and delight in the absurd.

Why This Book Matters

There’s something quietly radical about this book. It doesn’t offer answers. It offers space - space to wonder, invent, flip things upside down, and find joy in the nonsensical.

This kind of imaginative play isn’t just fun - it’s foundational. It helps children:

• Think flexibly

• See things from different perspectives

• Imagine new solutions to real-world problems

After all, to change the world, we must first imagine that it could be different.

Before You Begin

Let children know: This is not a book with right or wrong answers. This is a book for curious minds and playful thinking.

You might begin with:

“Have you ever imagined something really strange or silly, just for fun?”

Allow laughter, quiet wonder, or even confusion. All responses are welcome.

Deeper Reflections

Books like If... build creative confidence. They invite us to loosen our grip on “what is” and explore “what if.” And that’s where innovation begins.

Even the most serious inventors and thinkers began as children who played with impossible ideas.

Discussion Starters

(There’s no need to ask all - let the conversation unfold naturally.)

• Which “If…” idea made you smile or think differently?

• If you could add a page to this book, what would it say?

• What’s something ordinary that you wish could be magical?

• Do you think it’s okay to have silly thoughts? Why or why not?

Activities to Try

1. Create Your Own “If…” Page
Invite each child to write and draw their own surreal “If…” idea. Display them in the classroom or collect them into a class book.

2. Walk-and-Wonder
Take a walk around the school or garden and play:

“If that tree could move… where would it go?”
“If the sky could whisper, what would it say today?”
Let the children's ideas guide the walk.

3. Imagination Circle
Sit in a circle. One child begins: “If…”
Each child adds to the story.

• Child 1: “If books could fly…”

• Child 2: “…they’d gather near the clouds to read quietly.”

• Child 3: “…and the clouds would underline their favourite parts.”

A Note for the Teacher

Not all children will jump into surreal thinking easily. That’s okay. Create gentle invitations. Let silence be part of the process.

Let this book be a doorway - not to answers, but to wonder. You don’t need to teach it. Just explore it - with them.