If You Like Art…

Looking for some resources to use to teach art to your students or kids? Start with these visually stunning picture books about art, artists, art museums, and art techniques.

Picture Books About Art for Preschoolers and Elementary Students

Below I’ve listed 28 different books you can use when teaching your child or your student about art. For preschoolers, we can start off by introducing colors and observation books while we can introduce different art terms and what you can expect to find at an art museum for older students.

Books About Colors

A World Without Color by John Amos and Dustin Warburton: A story about a young boy's journey to discover empathy and kindness in a world that has turned entirely gray.

Lots of Dots by Craig Frazier: Explore the world of dots and all they can be.

The Crayon Box that Talked by Shane Derolf: A box of crayons cannot get along until they learn the value of diversity and collaborative work.

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert: Follow along as a mother and child plant a rainbow of color in their garden.

The Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle: The story of a bored chameleon that decides to match every animal he sees until he becomes a very mixed up chameleon. This one is a favorite for me because Eric Carle's art is always so fun and interesting, and young kids love how silly he looks at the end.

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt: Duncan finds letters from his disgruntled crayon box; can he find a solution to invite them back into creating art with him?

Books About Creativity

Anywhere Artist by Nikki Slade Robinson: Forrest, beach, rain, sky artist- ways you can see nature and create art anywhere you go.

More Than Meet the Eye: Seeing Art with All Five Senses by Bob Raczka: This book helps you do more than see a picture but to also hear, feel, smell, and taste them with your artistic senses. Paired with beautiful art works from around the world, this is a great introduction to children on how to view art.

We're All Works of Art by Mark Sperring: This book celebrates the differences in all of us, showing we are all works of art.

ART and MAX by David Weisner: Two friends share an interest in painting but with different ideas of how to paint. Art is experienced; Max is a beginner. The story celebrates artistic experimentation and the creative process. Young kids

Not a Box  by Antoinette Portis: An ode to cardboard boxes everywhere

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson: A boy draws his own world with his one purple crayon and his big imagination. Young kids and early elementary

Books About Artists

13 Art Mysteries Children Should Know by Angela Wenzel: In this book, young children are introduced to great masterpieces and the unsolved mysteries behind them. Each masterpiece is presented in a double page spread with stunning reproductions, biographical information about the artist, historical context and the pressing questions themselves

The Art Book for Children by Editors of Phaidon Press: An introduction of 30 famous artists and their most famous work for grade school kids. From the publisher: The book encourages children to look closely and use their imagination to understand why artists choose to create the work they do and in the way that they do it.

Picaso for Kids by Margaret E. Hyde: A board book introduction to the famous artist Picaso

Katie Meets the Impressionists by James Mayhew: A clever story of a girl who is magically transported into all the impressionist paintings at the art museum. Elementary children

Introduction to Art Concepts

Opposites Abstract by Mo Willems: Introduce young readers to abstract concepts with art.

Look! Look! Look! at Sculpture by Nancy Elizabeth: An young child's introduction to sculptures at the museum with a bonus activity to make your own sculpture at the end of the book.

Hippopposites by Janik Coat: A board book introducing kids to opposite pairs of words and fundamental art concepts through minimalistic yet engaging graphics.

Books About Visiting Art Museums

Fancy Nancy at the Museum by Jane O'Connor: Our favorite fancy friend goes to the art museum with her school class. While perhaps not specifically all about art, it introduces a few museum and art vocabulary words to younger children and takes a child through the types of galleries they might see at a museum. As always, Fancy Nancy is always a win for our fanciest littles.

Museum Trip by Barbara Lehman: What if a boy suddenly became part of a museum exhibit? In this wordless book, Barbara Lehman demonstrates the magic and mystery of being engrossed in intriguing displays.

Museum ABC by the MET: This book shows four pieces of art for different cultures and periods of history for each letter of the library. A fact section at the end of the book provides more details about each piece of artwork.

Babar's Museum of Art by De Brunhoff : There's a new art museum in town, and it is full of famous artwork…except in Barbar's world, all the humans are now elephants. Grown-ups help the children interpret and think about the art, helping them appreciate each piece.

Tales About Art

Brush of the Gods by Lenore Look: An introduction to the man known as China's greatest painter, Wu Daozi, this book is both beautiful and powerful in its message. When Wu Daozi's brush doesn't seem to want learn the art of calligraphy, the old monk corrects and scolds. Wu Daozi, though, paints and paints and paints until his art comes to life. A story of inspiration and creativity for elementary children.

The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco: The true story of a Russian-American Jewish family that turned family memories into a beautiful quilt that helped keep their family stories alive through the years.

The Boy Who Drew Cats by Abushka Ravishankar: A Japaneze fairy tale about a boy who spends his time drawing cats everywhere on everything.

Art Outside the Box

I See the Rhythm by Michele Wood: A lyrical history and celebration of African American music with context to how the musical movement started and grew. All ages

In the Garden with Dr. Carver by Susan Grigsby: A story based on the history of Dr. George Washington Carver and his writing, encouraging the study of nature.

Books to Inspire Art Projects

 Art Around the World by Heather Leonard: Story and illustrations of the different art and craft projects and products from around the world