As Jess and Leslie swing across the creek, they transform into the king and queen of Terabithia and rule the kingdom from their castle.

Surely you wouldn't think that the world's most famous scientist would have said that imagination was more important than scientific evidence. But most scientists — along with artists, writers, architects, and many others — would agree with Einstein.

What is it about imagination that is so important?

Imagining allows us to go beyond the world we live in and enter a world that has no bounds.

Step back from your world and look at a world that "could be." A blank canvas, an empty page, and a vacant lot are nothing until people use their imaginations to create a painting, a story, or a building.

Terabithia

Leslie creates their kingdom, and the images she crafts fascinate Jess. In this world of make believe, Leslie transforms a level patch of wooded ground into a "castle stronghold" and creates a sacred grove from a pine forest.

	Leslie took a deep breath. "This is not an ordinary place," she whispered. "Even the rulers of Terabithia come into it only at times of greatest sorrow or of greatest joy. We must strive to keep it sacred. It would not do to disturb the Spirits."

Because she is an avid reader, Leslie is able to incorporate the fantasies of many authors into her vision. When she refers to a "magic country like Narnia," she is referring to C. S. Lewis's book series the Chronicles of Narnia. Leslie recounts stories such as Moby Dick and Hamlet to Jess.

Books help Leslie create the kingdom. Through stories and language, Leslie transports herself and Jess out of Lovettsville.

Jess's Vision

When Leslie asks Jess to draw a picture of Terabithia, Jess responds that he "just can't get the poetry of the trees." Poet Joyce Kilmer expands on this metaphor. He writes a poem about trees that shows how nature creates poetry in a tree.

Although he is not the avid reader Leslie is, Jess learns from Leslie and become pretty creative himself. But when he goes to Terabithia alone, he finds that the magic isn't there without Leslie.

Words Count

"When Leslie spoke, the words rolling out so regally, you knew she was a proper queen." We see this by Leslie's choice of words. Their fortress is a "castle stronghold," not a "fort." Prince Terrien is a "guardian," not a "watchdog."

How Leslie Creates the Kingdom: Come explore Terabithia with Leslie and Jess, and create your own fantasy world.

Language gives us a glimpse of worlds we read about and helps set the scene.

Leslie's tone is a second element Leslie uses to make Terabithia come alive. When Leslie proclaims something in her "most Terabithian voice," we can almost imagine how she sounds: very formal, words enunciated perfectly, possibly with the slightest bit of arrogance in her voice as the rs roll off her tongue. How else would a queen in a fantasy world speak?

		Vocal Sounds: The sound of a person's voice can tell us a lot about him or her. What voices would you give to these characters?

That's the power of a good book and of imagination. We can see and hear things so clearly that they become more than just a story. They seem almost real.

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