Last week we shared our top math books for kids, which is a great way to cultivate a positive attitude toward mathematical concepts, logic, and develop critical reasoning skills. Today, we’ll be sharing some of the best art books for kids, which promote creativity, free expression, and compliment other cognitive skills.
More than that, we can argue that art is a form of therapy and an intrinsically enjoyable experience that all children deserve to have. Plus, it’s a natural way to boost their perceptual development and enrich the way kids interact with the world.
We could go on listing other benefits, but instead, we’ll let the art books speak for themselves. Whether you simply want to entertain your child or educate and inspire a little artist-to-be, these beautifully designed and cleverly written books will certainly help out.
Drawing and Coloring Books for Young Children
We’ll start our list with the youngest ones in mind! Instead of learning about art, drawing techniques, or reading inspirational stories about artists, little children first need to experience art. These books will help them doodle, try out different colors, recognize shapes and basic features of things, as well as work with different media.
The Drawing Book for Kids: 365 Daily Things to Draw, Step by Step by Woo! Jr. Kids Activities
Recommended for children from the ages of 5 to 7, “The Drawing Book for Kids” is one of the most comprehensive guides for drawing. It features 365 easy-to-follow diagrams of many different objects. Some of the themes include animals, objects, food, plants, vehicles, sports, holidays, and more. All the diagrams are accompanied by step-by-step instructions further helping kids to improve their drawings. Is there anything we don’t like? No, but this book is probably not suited for kids younger than 5, which is what brings us to our second recommendation,
123 things BIG & JUMBO Coloring Book: Picture Coloring Books for Toddlers, Preschool, and Kindergarten by Salmon Sally
This is the book that you can give to your child the moment they’re able to hold a pencil in their hand. The book is easy, fun, and very resourceful. Parents love it because of the size and type of objects featured. For instance, the large objects with thick lines are perfect for 3-year olds who are developing fine motor skills needed for writing. And, since it develops control and precision, teachers also buy it for their classroom.
The How to Draw Book for Kids: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide to Drawing Cute and Silly Things by Jacy Corral and Modern Kid Press
Another how-to-draw book that was simply too cute to pass. It quickly climbed on top of our list when we learned that it features super fun and incredibly creative themes such as cute creatures (eg. llamas and unicorns), space, rocketships, fairytales, life under the sea, and tasty treats such as candies and muffins. It’s also one of parents’ favorite picks as children can’t seem to put it down. “The How to Draw Book for Kids” will make kids happy and keep their attention for a long time.
Art Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media-For Budding Artists of All Ages by Susan Schwake and Rainer Schwake
Drawing is a big part of art, but it’s not the only art form, which is why we love “Art Lab for Kids.” It’s an awesome book filled with creative and engaging ideas organized into 52 art projects imagined as weekly lessons. While it starts with drawing, the activities include painting, printmaking, building, paper collage, and mixed media. Every lesson has a specific mental/physical goal that aims to promote in young children, which is what impresses most parents and teachers.
Art Textbooks For Practice
Moving onto something more intensive, the following art textbooks are an awesome resource for children who love to draw and want to improve their skills. The books in these sections are a little bit more goal-oriented and educational, but still not too serious or professional – perfect for young children.
Playing with Sketches: 50 Creative Exercises for Designers and Artists by Whitney Sherman
“Playing with Sketches” is a rare versatile book that can easily appeal to young children as well as adults who want to have fun with art and exercise their drawing skills. The book offers a hands-on, fun approach to exploring different art principles and a progressive journey that’s perfect for improving skills. In the beginning, it goes briefly into the philosophy of learning through the process of play, after which it introduces easy warm-up exercises and doodles that are quite relaxing. As soon as your child gets comfortable with the exercises, they can progress to more challenging tasks that include word games, dimensional shapes, sketches, and letterforms.
365 Days of Art: A Creative Exercise for Every Day of the Year by Lorna Scobie
“365 Days of Art” is not just another collection of art exercises for kids. The concept of the book is to serve kids as an art journal which is why it’s one of our favorites. An art journal is a private space where kids can freely and artistically express themselves, explore their feelings, and reflect on the things that are happening daily. At the same time, the book also includes unfinished illustrations and instructions that help kids nurture their creativity.
You Can Draw in 30 Days: The Fun, Easy Way to Learn to Draw in One Month or Less by Mark Kistler
Just like the name suggests, “You Can Draw in 30 Days” is a book for kids who want to improve their drawing skills. We love it because it’s incredibly easy to follow and it teaches that art is an acquired skill, not a talent. This translates into “you can draw too, you just need to tap into your hidden artistic abilities!” It’s an amazing lesson for all kids that spreads to other aspects of life. With hard work, they can achieve all their goals!
Inspirational Art Books for Kids
The third section in our comprehensive list of art books for kids focuses on inspirational stories and uplifting messages that will teach children to embrace their uniqueness and channel it into creative energy, overcome their insecurities that are limiting their personalities, and learn how to change the world from famous artists with revolutionary ideas.
Creative Block: Get Unstuck, Discover New Ideas. Advice & Projects from 50 Successful Artists by Danielle Krysa
Kids, just like adults, feel the pressure of success. They want to get good grades, maintain close relationships with friends, and still have time for playful activities, all of which can be a cause for stress and frustration. And, we all know that stressful situations leave us unmotivated, sometimes even paralyzed, preventing us from moving on. Creative block is one very frequent way in which stress cripples both kids and adults. This book tackles this with unique solutions for overcoming challenges. If you want to motivate your child and get new ideas to flow, this is the right book for that.
Who Was Walt Disney? by Whitney Stewart, Who HQ, and Nancy Harrison
Everyone’s childhood is affected by Disney, one way or another. Disney today is one of the world’s most famous brands and we can argue it’s the best company in the entertainment industry. However, everything that is Disney today began in 1928 when a man named Walt Disney created his most infamous character – Mickey Mouse. But Walt’s road to success wasn’t a smooth process. In fact, his first cartoon projects failed miserably and he went bankrupt. The author Whitney Stewart cleverly uses Walt’s inspirational biography to show kids the importance of not giving up. It’s a perfect read for 2-3rd graders.
The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
The title of this book says it all! This #1 New York Times bestseller celebrates uniqueness by teaching kids how creativity and acceptance can make life meaningful and beautiful. The book tells the story of a couple of kids who decided to make their own hot air balloons, so they can fill the sky with beautiful colors. During this process, they learn new skills, help each other, and realize that they can apply the same point of view in all other aspects of life.
See the Stripes by Andy Mansfield
Unlike the previous three books we’ve covered, this one is inspirational and motivating in a very different way. First of all, let’s just say that “See the Stripes” is one of the most creatively designed books we’ve ever seen. The pages pop up and your child can build a tower of differently colored blocks, they can pull a transparent stripe and change the color of the stroke of paint underneath it, fold the page to compare shades of stripes, and much, much more. It’s insane how much it does for perceptual development and color principles. The only drawback is that it might be a little too difficult for kids younger than 6 or 7 years old to fully use all of its benefits.
Splat! The Most Exciting Artists of All Time by Mary Richards
Finally, the last art book for kids in this category is “Splat!” An amazing work with colorful illustrations and an easy timeline, telling the stories behind some of the greatest artworks of all time. It shows kids both sides of life – the struggles and successes of the artists who’ve created these masterpieces. It’s also incredibly educational as it covers concepts such as Renaissance, Imperialism, Surrealism, and more. We actually debated whether it belonged here or in the history section, but its motivating tones and interesting take on the artists’ life was more prevailing. Either way, it’s a great read for students who want to learn more about art and feel excited about art creation.
History of Art Books for Kids
A big part of art is learning about its development through history. Not only is this educational, but it gives kids more perspective into the complexity and importance of art in our culture. Additionally, it reveals human nature in a way that is not taught through biology, history, or even sociology.
Art and How it Works: An Introduction to Art for Children by Ann Kay and Tomie dePaola
The first book in this section aims to show kids the world of art by teaching them about art history, all the way from prehistoric paintings to what art is today. It focuses on biographies of some of the greatest artists of all time while carefully describing the terminology and jargon usually associated with art. It’s written on a very basic level so kids as young as 6 or 7 years old can easily understand it.
A Child’s Introduction to Art: The World’s Greatest Paintings and Sculptures by Heather Alexander
Heather Alexander is an award-winning writer for his Child’s Introduction books that also include an introductory book to art through the world’s greatest paintings and sculptures. The book features 40 painters and sculptors with entertaining information about each of them and original illustrations showing their best pieces of work. In addition to this, the book includes do-it-yourself art projects related to the style of the time period of the artist. Some of the art projects included are Can You Find It?, Q-tip pointillism, Spatter Paint like Pollock, making a stained-glass window with tissue paper, or coloring some of the masterpieces.
Women in Art: 50 Fearless Creatives Who Inspired the World by Rachel Ignotofsky
History is biased because in the past, women were not allowed to work or study, which also includes art. So when we sum up the 50 greatest art masterpieces through history, most if not all will be works created by men. Does this mean that women were less creative or talented? NO, and it’s important for kids to know this.
Books like “Women in Art” offer some balance and shed light on amazing female artists who are usually overlooked in mainstream history art books for kids. The talented Rachel Ignotofsky illustrated 50 pioneering female artists and their achievements. She wrote about well-known figures such as Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keefe but also included many lesser-known names who might have been overlooked. The pages feature colorful illustrations and playful wiring that engages kids.
Professional Art Books for Older Students
In our final section of this article, we’ll share three art books for kids created for artists-to-be. In other words, these books go in-depth about the process of drawing or creating art in general, which is great for kids who have a passion for art and want to professionally develop their art skills. For instance, these books can help aspiring designers, illustrators, painters, comic book writers, and many other fields that involve art.
Draw With Jazza – Creating Characters: Fun and Easy Guide to Drawing Cartoons and Comics by Josiah Brooks
“Draw With Jazza – Creating Characters” is an awesome teaching resource that shows kids how to imagine and create their own heroes, cartoon characters, or other figures, in an easy, step-by-step manner. The author, famously known as “Jazza,” is an artist and animator who’s followed by millions on his YouTube channel. He makes art fun and relatable, but also devotes 100% of his time and effort to create professional artwork. He breaks down his four-step process that represents a bulletproof plan.
Drawing Lessons of the Great Masters by Robert Beverly Hale
“Drawing Lessons of the Great Masters” is an old book that’s remained popular among professional artists, art students, and hobbyists who want to take their skills to the next level. The book is written by Robert Beverly Hale, an amazing educator who was able to draw the attention of aspiring artists all around the world. In this book, he analyzes 100 drawings from famous artists, such as Leonardo Da Vinci, and breaks them down discussing how the artists solved common art problems such as line, light, position, and anatomy, among many other things. It gives children a very valuable insight into the artist’s head, which can help students to find their own style.
Design as Art by Bruno Munari
Unlike the classic books such as “Drawing Lessons of the Great Masters” that use the past to explore art, “Design as Art” is a futuristic book that explores the artistic possibilities of modern design. Bruno Munari was a famous Italian artist who contributed to many fields, including modernism, futurism, and concrete art, but also non-artistic fields such as game design, didactic method, movement, tactile learning, kinesthetic learning, and creativity. In his book, he teaches students about the fundamentals of visual, graphic, and industrial design, and highlights their role in art today. This is also a book that’s very useful for students interested in graphic design and digital art as its concepts can be easily applied in different media. Starting from lamps and road signs to children’s books, advertising, and cars, Munari cleverly discusses art that’s all around us but that we rarely notice.
Before You Go
It was hard making this article because there was so much we wanted to include, so making a cut-off was definitely a challenge! The reason for this is that art is an amazing tool for growth, develops many aspects of physical and cognitive development, and serves as a therapeutic instrument for mental well-being. And everyone knows this, which is why art books for kids are an endless field of inspiration.
We gave our best to find the greatest art books for kids in five categories. Of course, depending on your child’s preferences, they can also look for something more specific. One way to do this is by visiting our website and looking through our worksheet library. We have several worksheet packs related to arts, but also a coloring section, where you can find free coloring pages and activities on a variety of topics.
Finally, check out our blog, too, and give us a nod by subscribing to our newsletter. We’ll continue to produce high-quality and insightful content, which is why you need to make sure you don’t miss out on anything.
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