My arty daughter helped me create two arty gift guides for kids. This is the first one: 10 Inspirational Art Books for Arty Kids. I basically collected the art books over the past few years that my daughter and son enjoy. Grasshopper and Sensei also created a list of art supplies for VERY SERIOUS arty kids that I will be posting on soon.
I accumulated this list of 10 arty books for kids. I have picture books for arty kids here: Top 10 Best Books for Young Artists. I also have a gift guide for Gifts for Kids Who Hate Art and Reading.
p.s. More Art Gift Ideas for Kids here:
45 Art Gifts for Seriously Arty Kids by my daughter
Our Art Gift Kits for Arty Kids
Inspirational Art Books for Arty Kids
Goodnight, Starry Night by Julie Appel and Amy Guglielmo
There is this trend in board books to expose preschoolers and toddlers to adult themes. Sometimes it works, other times it feels like the reader is really the adult who is reading aloud. In this case, there is a nice balance. The design of the book with peek-a-boo holes makes this an interactive, fun experience for the littles. Simple nouns are highlighted and illustrated through works by the great masters: Vincent Van Gogh, Berthe Morisot, Henri Rousseau, Franz Marc, and Diego Rivera. Details for the adult are in the back. I wish there were more female artists represented, but it’s more the result of the art world during this period, which was a patriarchy, than the selection of work by the authors. [board book, ages 2 and up]
Pippin Paints A Portrait by Charlotte Mei
Pippin the dog (and artist) takes the reader on a short art history lesson comparing many artists, and he creates his own self-portrait. The artists included are Edgar Degas, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Georges Seurat, Henri Matisse, Chris Ofili, Yayoi Kusama, and Mark Rothko. [picture book, ages 3 and up]
My Favorite Color by Aaron Becker
Aaron Becker takes his favorite colors and color mixing to subtly introduce color theory. What’s amazing about this board book is the clear panels of colors that overlay the page to show different hues of color. This is the perfect introduction to color for toddlers and will be appreciated by artists of all ages. [board book, ages 1 and up]
Oh No, Ojó! by Àlàbá Ònájìn
Little Ojo is an enthusiastic artist, but he doesn’t realize that there are some things that are off-limits to draw on. When he draws on Mama’s shopping list, Papa’s newspaper, his big sister’s uniform, the fruit vendor’s table, and his own sheets, he gets his markers taken away. Luckily, his big sister has a good solution. This is a great book for the budding artist who is always doodling. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Drawing Outdoors by Jairo Buitrago, illustrated by Rafael Yockteng, translated by 
Elisa Amado
A school located in the middle of nowhere seems to have nothing beyond a blackboard and a few chairs. But if you look more closely, there is a wonderful teacher who inspires the kids’ imagination as she takes them outdoors to draw and observe the local prehistoric wildlife. It’s a day to remember! [picture book, ages 5 and up]
Learn about Art History, Illustrators, and Illustration
Vincent’s Starry Night and Other Stories: A Children’s History of Art by Michael Bird, illustrated by Kate Evans
This is a beautiful art history book with works by major artists and really interesting stories about their lives, with particular detail to the work featured. If you want one art history tome for your kids, use this one. Enjoy it cover to cover, or just flip around as the art catches your eye. [art history chapter book, ages 6 and up]
Artist to Artist: 23 Major Illustrators Talk to Children by Eric Carle and the Eric Carle Museum
Renowned illustrators — Mitsumasa Anno, Quentin Blake, Ashley Bryan, Nancy Ekholm Burkert, Eric Carle, Tomie dePaola, Jane Dyer, Mordicai Gerstein, Robert Ingpen, Steven Kellogg, Leo Lionni, Petra Mathers, Wendell Minor, Barry Moser, Jerry Pinkney, Alice Provenson, Robert Sabuda, Matthew Reinhart, Maurice Sendak, Gennady Spirin, Chris Van Allsburg, Rosemary Wells, and Paul O. Zelinsky — share their illustration process, their advice, and a glimpse into their studio with children. They take the mystery out of what it takes to become a picture book illustrator/author in this beautiful child-friendly anthology. [nonfiction anthology, ages 5 and up]
Picture This: How Pictures Work by Molly Bang
Caldecott honor illustrator and author Molly Bang breaks down how to show emotions through simple shapes. This is a book for anyone interested in illustration, from professionals to students studying illustration. [art drawing theory nonfiction book, ages 15 and up]
Fun Arty Books to Get Kids Drawing
Tangle Art & Drawing Games for Kids by Jeanette Nyberg
My blogger friend Jeanette from Craftwhack has this wonderful book with 46 drawing games for kids. Her open-ended drawing games are fun and provide structure for kids to do themselves, with friends, and with the entire family. From drawing to mixed media, she has activities that can be done over and over again, making this a creative drawing book to take on the road, in restaurants, or when you want the screens turned off. [art activity book, ages 4 and up]
Dream It! Draw It! Think It! Do It!: Activities to Ignite Creativity by Courtney Watkins
This is like a Klutz book in that each page is an assignment with space to draw and doodle; sketchbook diary style. The topics include drawing and writing assignments like slam poetry, decoding, and creating a creature from a kitchen utensil. It’s fun stuff for the kid who likes a challenge and wants to scribble in a book. This book would appeal to girls in particular. [activity book, ages 6 and up]
Draw Like an Artist: A Self-Portrait Sketchbook by Patricia Geis
Using famous self-portraits by artists including Dürer, Frida Kahlo, Mondrian, Picasso, Van Gogh, and others, this book has the reader sketching a self-portrait side by side with each master’s work. Readers who will enjoy this drawing challenge will thrive on emulating the masters and won’t be afraid to jump right in. [art history book with drawing pages, ages 6 and up]
The Drawing Lesson: A Graphic Novel That Teaches You How to Draw by Mark Crilley
This is a graphic novel that covers the principles of drawing from perspective to shading and everything in between. It’s a great learning tool for kids who like to read graphic novels, but the story is really based more on learning how to draw. [graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
The Pursuit of the Pizza Pirate (Doodle Adventures) by Mike Lowery
This is a fun concept: it’s a graphic novel where the reader draws part of the story, filling in the blanks on each page. With Carl the Duck as narrator and reader armed with a pencil, embark on a mystery adventure to figure out who is stealing all the pizza in town. [graphic novel that you draw in, ages 6 and up]
Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith
For kids who like subversive drawing instructions, try this drawing journal that encourages destruction in creating art! For the rebellious artist in all of us! Try one or buy the set. [drawing journal, ages 6 and up]
To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.
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p.s. More about Art Colleges from our college tours:
Visiting Emily Carr Art + Design University in Canada
Visiting California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)
Applying to Art School: School of Visual Arts
Visiting West Coast Art Schools & Foodie Stops Nearby
Applying to RISD: Advice from Antonio Peters in Admissions
Tips for National Portfolio Day
Xtreme Week at Mass College of Art
and some fun stuff …
If you are visiting New York City, here are our cheap foodie finds.
45 Art Gifts for Seriously Arty Kids (by my arty daughter)
Art Competitions for Kids and Teens
Our Art Gift Kits for Arty Kids
10 Inspirational Art Books for Arty Kids
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.
My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Gold Award
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
- ⭐ Starred review from Kirkus Reviews!
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
The Traveling Taco:
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Silver Award
- Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
- ALSC Notable Children’s Book
- 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree
- Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
- 2024 Julia Ward Howe Prize for Children’s Literature Winner
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025
- Recommended Reading for the Social Justice Literature Award 2025 (International Literacy Association)
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
- Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
These look great!! Thanks so much, Mia!
I’m collecting arty books for my two arty kids Maria! Getting quite a big collection now over the years! 🙂
These all look fabulous. We’ve never read (or even heard of) these.
Hi Mother of 3,
If I had to choose just one, it would be that Art History one with the stories about how the paintings were created. It’s a beautiful book in every way and easy to read one story at a time at bedtime or even flip around.