The ArtCurious Guide: Books for the Kiddos
Do you want gift recommendations for the young, artsy ones in your life? Here are some of our favorites.
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Vincent's Starry Night and Other Stories: A Children's History of Art
Michael Bird and Kate Evans
An enthralling journey through the story of world art, from early cave paintings right up to the present day. Discover artists and their art around the world, in 68 exciting and imaginative tales about artists and the way they created their work.
Written by educator and art historian Michael Bird, and beautifully illustrated by Kate Evans, the book also features reproductions of the famous artworks discussed, a comprehensive timeline of events, and extra feature spreads on places connected with art.
Little People, Big Dreams: Zaha Hadid
Maria Isabel Sánches Vegara
I mean, how can you argue against this series? I actually feature it every year because it’s just that great. For the littlest art fans on your list, you’ve got a ton of great options here. I’ve highlighted one of my favorites—on the incredible architect Zaha Hadid—but you’ve got other visual artists to choose from (and musicians! athletes! inventors! scientists!), including ArtCurious faves Georgia O’Keeffe, Louise Bourgeois, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Andy Warhol.
Draw Paint Print like the Great Artists
Marion Deuchars
Marion Deuchars is a favorite of mine, and even I—a full-blown adult— can’t wait to get my hands on this one. In this imaginative new activity book, Marion Deuchars makes learning about art fun. Young readers are introduced to more than thirty great artists, then encouraged to try out the techniques that lie behind their greatest works.
Short and accessible facts about each artist's life and works are followed by creative projects that Marion has devised based on the artist's particular techniques.
Take your pencil for a walk in the spirit of Paul Klee, experiment with color like Joan Miró, or create your own surrealist-inspired artwork.
Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood
F. Isabel Campoy, Theresa Howell, and Rafael Lopez
In this exuberant picture book about transformation through art, Mira lives in a gray urban community until a muralist arrives and, along with his paints and brushes, brings color, joy, and hope to the neighborhood.
What good can a splash of color do in a community of gray? As Mira and her neighbors discover, more than you might ever imagine!
Based on the true story of the Urban Art Trail in San Diego, California, Maybe Something Beautiful reveals how art can inspire transformation—and how even the smallest artists can accomplish something big. Pick up a paintbrush and join the celebration!
Making a Great Exhibition
Doro Globus and Rose Blake
I received a copy of this book and shared it with my son, and we both loved it. It’s a fascinating way to learn about the many, many different folks who come together to produce a museum exhibition— and whether you’re interested in a history installation, a science exhibit, or an art show, this will be insightful and delightful for both you and your little one.
Faith Ringgold: Narrating the World in Pattern and Color
Sharna Johnson and Andrea Pippins
Have you ever wondered exactly what your favorite artists were looking at to make them draw, sculpt, or paint the way they did? In this charming illustrated series of books to keep and collect, created in full collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you can see what they saw, and be inspired to create your own artworks, too. In What the Artist Saw: Faith Ringgold, meet inspiring American activist Faith Ringgold. Step into her life and learn what led her to mix different media and craft powerful stories into quilts. Travel with her from Harlem, New York, to Europe, Ghana, and Nigeria. Pick a cause that you care about and try combining it with fabric or sculpture to make your own artworks!
Goodnight, Starry Night
Julie Appel and Amy Guglielmo
Need a calming and beautiful bedtime book to soothe your little ones? This one is gorgeous and teaches about art. Win! Combining a soothing bedtime lullaby with vibrant colors and peek-through pages, this board book provides a gentle look at some of the most beloved, accessible, and well-known artwork in history. A die-cut on every spread gives an exciting clue to the art on the next page, keeping little ones (and caregivers!) curious as each page becomes a magical, peek-through reveal.
Women in Art: 50 Fearless Creatives Who Inspired the World
Rachel Ignotofsky
Women make masterpieces! Through fifty fascinating profiles, Women in Art highlights the achievements and stories of fifty notable women in the arts—from well-known figures like painters Frida Kahlo and Georgia O'Keefe, to lesser-known names like nineteenth-century African American quilter Harriet Powers and Hopi-Tewa ceramic artist Nampeyo.
Covering a wide array of artistic mediums, Women in Art also contains infographics about artistic movements throughout history, statistics about women’s representation in museums, and notable works by women. This fascinating book celebrates the success of the bold female creators who inspired the world and paved the way for the next generation of artists.
Babar’s Museum of Art
Laurent de Brunhoff
Another ArtCurious family fave. I had a copy of this in my household years before my son was born because, come on, who doesn’t love Babar? And who doesn’t love Babar and his family enjoying elephant-centric re-creations of Michelangelos and Leonardos? Also, there’s a solid burn thrown at the Abstract Expressionists, which is fun.
