TeachKidsArt

a resource for teachers & families

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Artist Birthdays
  • SHOP TPT
  • About
  • Contact
  • TIP Vault

How to Choose Famous Artist Books Kids will Love

By Cheryl Trowbridge 2 Comments

Share
Pin
Tweet
Print

There’s no better way to teach art history and cultural literacy to kids than with projects inspired by famous artists. But did you know that how you introduce the artist can make or break the success of your project? This is where famous artist books for kids can save the day.

Kids love stories (who doesn’t?) so you can get their attention right from the start by introducing the artist with a story. I’ve watched kids’ interest levels go from ho-hum to totally engaged simply by sharing a good story.

What makes a good story when it comes to art history for kids? Mike Venezia’s “Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists” series (affiliate link) provides a perfect example.

Look for these 4 qualities when choosing a famous artist book for kids:

1. It makes the artist relatable.

In his books, Mike Venezia always includes a bit about the artist’s growing-up years, something kids can immediately relate to. It might be about the artist’s family, friends, attitudes about school, or parents’ feelings about their child’s interest in art.

There’s something about realizing this person you’re learning about was also a kid once that makes them seem more “real”.

2. It’s long enough – but not too long!

A famous artist book for kids needs to be long enough to share the stuff that matters without being so long that you lose them. These books are right in that sweet spot!

When you introduce a project with a book, make sure you leave enough time to do the project! You may need to plan an extra session to allow time for reading and discussion.

In a large class setting, you may want to choose some pages to read and some to paraphrase. If you’re short on time you could pull out the most relevant parts to share while students are working.

Truthfully, Venezia’s books are best appreciated when you can read them one on one or to a small group. There is so much to enjoy in his clever illustrations you won’t want students to miss any of it.

3. It includes some humor and fun facts.

Did you know that Salvadore Dali once arrived at an event in a limo filled with cauliflower? Or that Diego Rivera used to draw on the walls of his house when he was a kid?

Venezia uses a humorous approach in his writing that makes every one of his books a fun read. Humor also helps to make these stories memorable.

4. It has plenty of pictures.

Each of Venezia’s books are filled with photos of the artist’s work along with entertaining depictions of their life. If the artist’s style changed over time, he shows examples of that, too. So much to look at here!

You’ll find most of your art heroes in these books.

At last count, I think there were around 50 of these titles available on Amazon. They may not be the “newest kids on the block” in this genre, but the information covered won’t be changing!

If you think your students are too old for these famous artist books, I recommend reading them for yourself. It’s amazing how much we adults can learn about artists and art history from these delightful children’s books! They’ll leave you with lots to share about famous artists your students may have more in common with than they thought.

Share
Pin
Tweet
Print

You may also like...

Default ThumbnailWishing You a “Perfectionism-Free” New Year a quote: "What if We Treated Driving Like We Treat the Arts?" ~ Danny Gregory“What If We Treated Driving Like We Treat the Arts?” Default ThumbnailHow Full Is Your Bucket? Should we take the "ART" out of Art Education?Should We Take the “ART” Out of Art Education?

Filed Under: Art Education, Book Reviews, Books, Famous Artists, Inspiration, Old Masters, Quotes & Stories Tagged With: famous artist books, humor

Comments

  1. Holly's Magical Fairy Tale Christmas says

    at

    Mike Venezia often adds a section about the artist’s childhood in his books, which children may relate to. It could be about the artist’s family, friends, school attitudes, or parents’ reactions to their child’s interest in art. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Cheryl Trowbridge says

      at

      Yes, I love how he does that! He has a great way of making the artists seem like “real people”!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow Me

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Never Miss a Post - Follow by Email

Find a ** FREE ** Lesson (Below):

  • Lessons Inspired by Famous Artists
    • Britto, Romero
    • Burch, Laurel
    • Calder, Alexander
    • Carle, Eric
    • Cezanne, Paul
    • Chagall, Marc
    • Chihuly, Dale
    • Dali, Salvadore
    • Da Vinci, Leonardo
    • Delaunay, Robert & Sonia
    • Escher, M.C.
    • Goldsworthy, Andy
    • Haring, Keith
    • Johns, Jasper
    • Kahlo, Frida
    • Kandinsky, Wassily
    • Klee, Paul
    • Klimt, Gustave
    • Matisse, Henri
    • Miro, Joan
    • Mondrian, Piet
    • Monet, Claude
    • O’Keeffe, Georgia
    • Old Masters
    • Picasso, Pablo
    • Pollock, Jackson
    • Pompon, Francois
    • Posada, Jose
    • Remington, Frederick
    • Renoir, Auguste
    • Seurat, Georges
    • Seuss, Dr.
    • Van Gogh, Vincent
    • Van Honthorst, Gerard
    • Wood, Grant
  • Lessons by Holiday
    • 100th Day of School
    • Chinese New Year
    • Christmas
    • Day of the Dead / Dia de los Muertos
    • Earth Day
    • Easter
    • Father’s Day
    • Halloween
    • International Dot Day
    • Memorial Day
    • Mother’s Day
    • New Years
    • Other
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Lessons by Culture
    • Africa
    • America
    • Chile
    • China
    • Europe
    • Haiti
    • Japan
    • Mexico
    • Middle East
  • Lessons by Process
    • 3D / Sculpture
    • Bookmaking
    • Calligraphy
    • Collage
    • Drawing
    • Embossing
    • Folding
    • Lettering
    • Micrography
    • Mosaic
    • Origami
    • Painting
    • Paper Cutting
    • Paper Folding
    • Printmaking
    • Quilling
    • Recycling with Art
    • Sketching
    • Stitching / Embroidery
    • Weaving
  • Lessons by Medium
    • Acrylic
    • Clay
    • Colored Pencil
    • Crayon
    • Digital / Computer
    • Fabric / Fiber
    • Markers / Pen and Ink
    • Mixed Media
    • Oil Pastel
    • Paper
    • Pencil
    • Tempera
    • Watercolor
  • Lessons by Style
    • Abstract (Non-representational)
    • Abstract (Representational)
    • Cartoon
    • Cubism
    • Expressionism
    • Fantasy
    • Impressionism
    • Op Art
    • Orphism
    • Pointillism
    • Pop Art
    • Post Impressionism
    • Realism
    • Surrealism
  • Lessons by Subject
    • Abstract Design
    • Animals
    • Birds
    • Buildings
    • Butterflies
    • Cityscape
    • Color / Color Mixing
    • Creatures / Monsters
    • Cross
    • Faith
    • Elements of Art
    • Fish / Marine Life
    • Flowers
    • Greeting Cards
    • Hearts
    • Imagination
    • Landscape
    • Mandalas
    • Masks
    • Math with Art
    • Misc. Subjects
    • Names
    • Nature
    • Ocean / Seascapes
    • People
    • Portraits / Self-Portraits
    • Religion
    • Quilts
    • Scripture
    • Seasons
    • Sky
    • snow
    • Stars
    • Still Life
    • Trees
    • Words / Letters
  • … and More!
    • Bulletin Boards & Displays
    • Classroom Management
    • Elements of Art
    • Imagination
    • Inspiration
    • Middle School Art
    • News & Announcements
    • Philosophy
    • Portfolios
    • Product Reviews
    • Quotes & Stories
    • Supplies / Products
    • Teacher Workshops
    • Tips for Teaching Art

Follow me on
Teachers Pay Teachers

Support Teach Kids Art When you shop Amazon.com

TEACH KIDS ART IS AN AMAZON AFFILIATE. I earn a small commission when you visit Amazon.com by clicking through my site and make a purchase of any kind. This supports Teach Kids Art at no extra cost to you.

Click here to shop Amazon.com!

Related Posts

  • TIP #65: 12 Positive Affirmations for Creative Kids
  • Review the Elements of Art with a Beachball Scavenger Hunt
  • Make a Crazy Crown Craft
  • Use Art Postcards to Teach or Review
  • How to Have an Elements of Art Scavenger Hunt in a Painting

Copyright © 2023 Cheryl Trowbridge / Teach Kids Art · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Design by Laugh Eat Learn



We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT