Imagination Time!
In this episode — the first in Season 3! — three kids (Shaelan, Sameia and Hunter) discuss the power of imagination with host Todd Loyd. Then they journey together to the Land of Qook-a-lackas at the invitation of the Qook-a-lacka Mayor, who needs help imagining a new playground for the Qook-a-leekies.
The role of the Mayor is played by Nadiyah Dorsey. a veteran of stage and screen. The original song, “You Can Use Your Imagination!” is written and mixed by composer and educator Benjamin Weiner. Sound design and mixing is by Ahmed Ashour, and the ukulele music you hear is by actor and composer Bill English.
Bonus: Imagination Interview with "Not a Box" Author/Illustrator
Our host, Todd Loyd, was lucky to explore the power of imagination with Antoinette Portis, the award winning author/illustrator of “Not a Box” and many other modern classics in children’s picture books. This conversation with Antoinette will help parents and caregivers learn more about where imagination and inspiration come from. It will help them think about how to learn FROM kids about using their imaginations to change the world.
This season, in addition to our regular episodes with and for kids, we are including bonus interviews with luminaries like Antoinette to dive into the social and emotional topics we explore on Little Kids, Big Hearts. We hope parents and caregivers love 
these conversations as much as we do.
Guest Star: Nadiyah Dorsey
The role of the Qook-a-lacka Mayor is played by Nadiyah Dorsey, a veteran of stage and screen! Nadiyah also sings the song “You Can Use Your Imagination” that you hear in the episode!
Bonus Interview Guest: Antoinette Portis
Antoinette made her picture-book debut with the New York Times best-selling Not A Box, an American Library Association Seuss Geisel Honor book, and one of the New York Times Ten Best Illustrated Books of the Year. She was a recipient of the 2010 Sendak Fellowship.
Antoinette got a BFA at the UCLA School of Fine Arts and then spent years in the world of design and advertising. She was a creative director, then a VP, at Disney before she took a flying leap to pursue her sixth-grade dream of writing and illustrating picture books.
Learn more about Antoinette and her amazing books on her website.
Original Song: You Can Use Your Imagination
The original song, “You Can Use Your Imagination,” which the Mayor shares with the children in the Land of Qook-a-lackas, was composed by Benjamin Weiner, a NYC-based writer, composer, and educator. It is performed by Nadiyah Dorsey.
Educator Resources
In the educator resources, you’ll find two fun activities to continue flexing your children’s education muscles after listening to the episode (and the bonus interview with author/illustrator Antoinette Portis).
- Design a Playground for Qook-a-leekies
- Object Improv inspired by Antoinette Portis’ Books