My mom has been going through boxes of old things. In our recent calls she points the phone at objects and I tell her keep or toss. Yearbooks, keep. Second grade soccer trophy, toss. Love notes from college boyfriends, definitely toss!
But my heart skipped a beat when she held up this item.
I had completely forgotten about this book. If you'd asked me to list my favorite childhood books it would not have come to mind. But seeing it immediately brought back a powerful wave of feelings. Memories of unencumbered imagination, the adventure of discovery, the magic of storytelling and the ecstasy of immersion in a world of beauty and possibility.
My dad brought it with him on a recent visit but it got set aside and only last week did I rediscover it. I blew off the work I’d been planning to do that morning and just inhaled the book and its sweeping story and breathtaking illustrations. Pure bliss.
A parade as part of a festival to celebrate children in Dinotopia
There’s something so sweet about rediscovering the treasures of childhood.
It reminds me of the charming sequence in Amélie where she discovers a tiny toy box hidden behind a loose tile in her bathroom.
“Only the discoverer of Tutankhamen’s tomb would know how she felt upon finding this treasure hidden by a little boy 40 years ago.”
In the movie, she vows to return the box to its owner. When he finds it, seemingly by chance, he is deeply moved.
You can watch the whole delightful sequence here:
I truly believe there is no such thing as an uncreative child.
But I have met multiple people who claim to have no memory of creativity in their childhood.
If that’s you, thinking about the childhood treasures you cherished might be a gateway to reclaiming your creativity. Helping you reconnect with that sense of awe, imagination, play and joy.
Was there a story, perhaps a myth or a fairy tale, that captured your imagination?
Was there a game you could play for hours and never tire of it?
What was your outlet of self-expression?
This wall of portraits from the Young V&A might give you some inspiration.
If you can locate something, great! See if you can find a way to honor that child-like creative energy. Give it a little time and attention.
If you’re still drawing a blank, also great! It just means that your treasures are waiting to be discovered. Like Viking treasure buried to keep it safe, trust it will resurface one day. And stay curious about what it might be. Let your child-self surprise you. Know that your version of Dinotopia is out there waiting to be rediscovered.
PS: If you're curious to learn more about the behind-the-scenes story of Dinotopia, check out this inspiring video from author and illustrator James Gurney's YouTube channel: