It seems like you’re always out of watercolors. And glitter. Oh, the glitter! Your creative kiddo is all about making art and after-school crafts — and you’re loving it. The world is one giant rainbow to them, and taking your toddler to the museum is 100 percent you and your little one’s favorite thing to do on a Saturday afternoon. Keep the artsy enthusiasm going in the book nook or during bedtime with these six cool (and kinda kooky) reads that your crafty kid will find absolutely fab.
1. When Pigasso Met Mootisse by Nina Laden ($13): Get it? Pigasso-Picasso, Mootisse-Matisse? Okay, so it’s not exactly an art history anthology, but it does bring the world of modern art to your child (in a completely adorable way), and even teaches a lesson in friendship and getting along with others. Art and social skills? Win-win.
2. I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont and David Catrow ($14): If you have a creative kid, you’ve probably been at the “my kid just painted his entire self” place before. This fun find puts self-expression in the spotlight. It’s rhyme-y, it’s funny and it’s artsy to the max.
3. The Art Book for Children by the editors of Phaidon Press ($14): Introduce your child to 30 of the most famous artists and their artwork before you take them on a mommy-kiddo day-date to the museum. This isn’t exactly — or anything — like that blank art history textbook that your college professor required you to buy. Nope. This is an intro to art that’s totally on kid-level.
4. Emily’s Blue Period by Cathleen Daly and Lisa Brown ($14): You might know about that special way art can take you to another place, let you release emotions or help you through a not-so-great time. But, your child may not yet understand that art is much more than paint on paper. This read helps kids understand the emotional connection that art allows us to make, and the way that it can help both adults and kids to deal with challenging times. Not to mention the obvious connection to the uber-famous Picasso.
5. Iggy Peck, Architectby Andrea Beaty and David Roberts ($10): Art doesn’t just hang on walls. Those buildings that your little one sees every day are 3D, structural works of art too. In this hilarious book, Iggy Peck looooves architecture, but faces an architecture-hating nemesis (AKA his second-grade teacher). What’s he to do? This rhyming story will get your kid interested in the world of buildings, and teach them an important lesson about pursuing their dreams.
6. Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni ($12): You can’t really have a kid’s art book lit list without including this standard. Originally published in 1959, this may have been a favorite of yours growing up — or even your own mom’s favorite. Tangling color theory with friendship, this oldie (but extreme goodie) teaches lessons that go way beyond the paint palette.
What’s your favorite children’s art book? Tweet us and share your choice @BritandCo!
(Featured photo via Getty)
