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Books for Arty Kids (a Gift Guide)
The holiday shopping season is upon us. The writing team and I would like to share some ideas we have for those looking for ideas of books to give. Today I am starting things off with Books for Arty Kids, which is a part of the Ultimate List of Gift Guides for Kids. You can check out the over 50 lists in that link and then head over to check out the Gift Guides for Kids Pinterest board.
Giving books as gifts is a great way to encourage literacy and it can also provide inspiration for hobbies. The kids in my family are pretty in to creating art. I think my favorite gift given last year was the framed watercolor painting my 10 year old gave her Grammy. It’s a family treasure. I hope to encourage this as a lasting family tradition, in my family and yours!
Let’s get started!
Books About Art
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson – A classic art story proving that art isn’t dull and boring.
Linnea in Monet’s Garden by Christina Bjork – Follow along as Linnea experiences the paintings of Claude Monet.
Katie and the Mona Lisa by James Mayhew – Katie visits art museums with her grandmother and learns all sorts of things as she travels through the paintings. James Mayhew has written an entire series of books about Katie for you to enjoy.
Vincent’s Colors by Vincent Van Gogh – Who better to learn about Vincent Van Gogh’s work from than Vincent Van Gogh himself?
The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau by Michelle Markel – Not every famous artist started at a young age, a great story of persevering in what you love even when others say “mean things” about your work.
How To Draw Books
Ed Emberley’s Drawing Book: Make a World – Ed Emberley’s drawing books are a great place to start when learning how to draw.
Ralph Masiello’s Bug Drawing Book – Ralph has a whole collection of drawing books that kids love, including fairies, farms, and Christmas.
Learn to Draw Disney: Favorite Princesses – A drawing book for princess artists.
Learn to Draw Tanks, Aircraft & Armored Vehicles – I may know someone who is receiving this one as a gift soon…
Arty Activity Books
Window Art – Paint it on, peel it off.
Fabulous Flowers: Create Pretty Paper Blossoms
Twirled Paper – An introduction to quilling for kids.
Stencil Art – Using ink and special dabbers, kids make art with stencil designs from ladybugs to aliens.
Garden Party: Flower Designs to Color – Dover makes some of the best coloring books, from farm life to historical architecture to intricate paisley designs.
Doodle Sketchbook: Art Journaling for Boys
Art Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media-For Budding Artists of All Ages – Long title, I know, but this book is a GREAT resource for kids wanting to explore different art mediums. One project for each week of the year.
I found another great book list for arty kids – Story Books for Young Artists.
So there you have it, 17 books for arty kids! Do you have an arty kid on your gift list this year?
About Vicki Arnold
What a fun list. Harold and the Purple Crayon is a classic!
I love this list of books. My arty girl and I have read {or drawn from} many of them.