Color My World:  Art Books for Kids

Our Summer Reading theme, “Color Our World,” goes hand-in-hand with the abundance of art books in HCPL’s juvenile collection. At the library, your child can delve into the lives and imaginations of artists throughout history, from Audubon to Zurbaran. What’s more, many kids’ art books are filled with illustrations inspired by the artists themselves. And if your child is eager to create their own art, take a look at our books on art technique. Read on for a handful of highlights and how to regularly receive picture book recommendations.

Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuh (also available on Hoopla) - You may have seen classic Mexican drawings of skeletons dancing, eating, playing music, and living their best deceased lives. These skeletal images (called calaveras) are the work of Mexican cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada.  Posada was active during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920), when making direct political statements could land you in jail (or worse!) The author depicts Posada’s life with drawings inspired by ancient Mexican cultures.

The Ultimate Art Museum by Ferren Gipson - What if all the best art in the world was housed under one roof?  Take a walk with your little one through this mythical museum containing works from all times and places.  Wander through the Byzantine, Postmodern, Pacific wings, and more. Then finish up your visit with a wing dedicated to the Louvre, the Prado, and other famous art museums.

Pocket Full of Colors: The Magical World of Mary Blair, Disney Artist Extraordinaire by Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville - Mary Blair was a post-WWII artist who put her unique color sense and artistic stamp on many well-known Disney films.  Her vivid approach to color and line pervades Disney classics such as Peter Pan, Cinderella, and Alice in Wonderland. This book highlights her life and art with illustrations inspired by Blair’s colorful work.

Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell (also available on Hoopla) – This book tells the story of the Urban Art Trail in San Diego’s East Village. The neighborhood was drab, rundown, and economically depressed. Artists Rafael and Candice López invited artists and residents of all ages to design and paint murals, and the East Village became a living work of art and color.  Maybe Something Beautiful is an inspiring testimony to the transformative power of art.

Jake Makes a World: Jacob Lawrence, a Young Artist in Harlem by Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts - Harlem artist Jacob Lawrence is most famous for The Migration series, a dynamic series of 60 paintings depicting the Great Migration of African Americans from the South to the North. This vibrant book follows Lawrence through a day in Harlem as a young artist.

Art Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media by Susan Schwake (ebook only – similar titles by Susan Schwake available on Hoopla) - Divided into 52 lessons, this guide to different art materials and techniques invites you and your child to play together.  Try salt painting, drawing with scribbles, or even painting in the style of your favorite artist.  Each lesson outlines the basic how-to and supplies for each technique and invites you and your child to learn and create your own art.

Interested in more books filled with colorful art? Henrico Public Library has a huge assortment of lovingly illustrated picture books that children and adults can enjoy.  If you and your child want some great reading suggestions, you can subscribe to get our curated lists of picture books right in your inbox.