What is creativity, anyway? Emma wondered, swinging her feet as she sat on the porch steps. Her grandma was inside, humming a happy tune as she baked cookies.
“Grandma!” Emma called. “What’s creativity?”
Grandma came to the door, wiping her hands on her apron. “Well, it’s like magic, but you use your imagination! Like, these cookies? They started with just flour and sugar, but I used my creativity to make them delicious!”
Emma giggled. “But how did the flour and sugar become a cookie? That IS like magic!”
Grandma winked. “Want to see something amazing? Let’s go to the beach!”
At the beach, everything sparkled. The sand was warm, the water was blue, and the sky was full of puffy white clouds. Grandma laid down a big blanket and pulled out…a giant box of crayons?
“Grandma,” Emma said, “These are for coloring, not magic.”
Grandma chuckled. “Not quite! We’re going to draw a door, a very special door, right here in the sand.”
And she did! It was the most colorful door Emma had ever seen, with swirls and sparkles and even a shiny doorknob. Emma gasped.
“Now,” Grandma said, “Close your eyes tight, and imagine the most creative place ever!”
Emma squeezed her eyes shut and thought of rainbows and glitter and unicorns painting with their tails. When she opened her eyes, the door was glowing!
Grandma threw open the door. “Welcome to…the Beach of Infinite Creativity!”
It was like stepping into Emma’s dream! Sparkly sand stretched as far as she could see. The water shimmered with every color of the rainbow. And floating in the air…were the most amazing creatures Emma had ever seen!
They were round and squishy, with giant eyes and bright, swirly patterns all over their bodies. Some were big as beach balls, others small as seashells.
“What ARE they?” Emma whispered.
“They’re the Creative Creatures!” Grandma said. “They come from Planet Imagination, and they just LOVE new ideas!”
One of the creatures, bright orange with purple polka dots, bobbed closer. It made a happy, squeaky sound and changed shape right in front of Emma’s eyes! First it was a starfish, then a sandcastle, then a giant cupcake!
Emma giggled. “That’s SO creative!”
The creature squeaked again and nudged a big, sparkly shell towards Emma. It was filled with shimmering paints, unlike anything Emma had ever seen before.
“Wow!” Emma exclaimed. “Thank you!”
All afternoon, Emma and Grandma played with the Creative Creatures. They painted with the magical paints, built castles out of light, and even had a tea party with talking seashells.
Finally, as the sun began to set, it was time to go.
“Bye-bye!” Emma called to the creatures. “Thank you for the most creative day ever!”
The creatures waved goodbye, changing into all sorts of silly shapes.
Back in their own world, Emma and Grandma walked home hand-in-hand.
“Grandma,” Emma said, “I think I understand creativity now. It’s like…anything is possible if you just use your imagination!”
Grandma smiled. “That’s exactly right!” she said. “Now, how about we use some of that creativity to finish those cookies?”
Emma laughed and raced Grandma all the way home, her head brimming with colorful ideas.
