We do our best to let our children experience art first hand. We take them to museums, put art that we enjoy on our walls, and give them art supplies to use on their own. We give them basic instructions on how to use watercolor paints, or how to draw a house. But we can’t give them that spark of imagination that flares into creativity. That’s something that happens through a child’s interaction with art and ideas. Here are some great picture books about art and artists that could spark the artistic flair in your child’s life.
Henri’s Scissors by Jeanette Winter (2013)
Based on the life of artist Henri Matisse, this book enters into the artist’s process of creating art from paper cutouts. These beautiful and beloved works of art were designed when Matisse was ill and limited to his wheelchair. It’s important to know that beauty can be created no matter how limited the artist is.
The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art by Barb Rosenstock (2014)
Can you hear colors the way Vasya Kandinsky did when he began mixing up the colors in his paint box? His colors sounded like an orchestra. He was expected to draw proper paintings of houses and flowers, but Vasya heard something else. This book is a great introduction to the concept of abstract art.
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt (2013)
Your children will love the funny notes from the crayons to their owner, Duncan. Yellow and Orange are fighting over who should color the sun. Blue needs a break from too much coloring. And Black would like to do more than the outlines. What is Duncan going to do about his unhappy crayons? Give your children something to think about the next time they open up their crayon box.
The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken (2017)
One mistake in a drawing leads to a different work of art altogether! Follow the mistakes in this book and open up a whole new world that grows through inspiration and keep going on your project.
Katie and the Waterlily Pond by James Mayhew (2015)
Walk right into some of Monet’s famous paintings with Katie as she tries to paint something for an art contest at the museum. Which painting inspires you the most? The parade? The boats? Or is it the waterlily pond? James Mayhew has written several other wonderful Katie books that also explore the world of art.
Degas and the Little Dancer by Laurence Anholt (2007)
To earn money to take ballerina lessons, Marie becomes a model for the sculptor, Edgar Degas. Degas may be a strict taskmaster and have a fiery temper, but his sculpture of Marie puts beauty into more than one heart.
I Spy: An Alphabet in Art by Lucy Micklethwait (1996)
Spy the different objects that begin with each letter of the alphabet in these 26 paintings. Timeless art is not too grand for children, as Lucy Micklethwait proves. This author has written other art books for children that are worth spying out!
The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse by Eric Carle (2011)
Franz Marc is an artist who saw the world as a child might see it: blue horse, purple fox, and red crocodile. Explore this tribute to an imaginative artist with your children, and see if they want to paint a horse (or dog) of a different color!
The Great Wave by Veronique Massenot (2011)
Dive into a great Japanese woodcut with this story about a boy who was swept away by a great wave. The lovely illustrations in this book are inspired by Hokusai’s artwork. This is a great way to introduce some non-Western art to your child.
We hope that when you’re finished reading one of these art books, you and your child will be inspired to make art yourself!
