There is an art teacher at my elementary school, and I have a lot of contact with her. One of the main reasons we work together is because we are friends and our workspaces are close to each other. The natural pairing of art and books is the most important one. Art and books go together like peanut butter and jelly. An easy way to say this is that they're comfortable and look good. So, I've put together a list of art books for kids that I've found while making lessons and others I've found to give to kids of all ages.

The reason you want to buy art books for kids could be any one of a number of things. Is there a budding artist in your house that you want to help? A lot of people start holiday shopping early. Wondering about things as a child might be making you feel like a new person again. Children are natural artists, and the books I've chosen for this list all touch on the magic that happens before inhibitions and doubts set in and we start to doubt ourselves. If you want to learn about famous artists or learn how to become a famous artist, this list has something for you.

Art Stories For Kids

Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy, Teresa Howell, and Rafael López

In this beautiful book, Mira is a young girl who lives in a beautiful place called the Land of Oz. Her own art and paintings inspire the whole community to decorate their neighborhood with beautiful murals. It will be a lot of fun to look at these beautiful pictures.

Anywhere Artist by Nikki Slade Robinson

Everywhere you look, there's art to see or make. As a young artist, they make art from things they find around them. This is a simple story.

Swatch: The Girl Who Loved Color by Julia Denos

An exuberant burst of color and a celebration of the wildness of art are what this is. This story will be a hit with kids who love to make art and their parents, too.

Art Biographies for Kids

The Met Georgia O’Keeffe: She saw the world in a flower by Gabrielle Balkan and Josy Bloggs

This newer series, which was made with the help of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, talks about different artists and their work. In this part, we learn why Georgia O'Keeffe was so interested in looking at and painting nature.

The Met Faith Ringgold: Narrating the World in Pattern and Color by Sharna Jackson and Andrea Pippins

This book comes from a series put out by The Met. It introduces young people to the powerful work of Faith Ringgold. By reading about Ringgold's fabric illustrations, young artists who like to sew or make scrap art will be interested in what they have to say.

Zaha Hadid (Little People, BIG DREAMS) by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Asun Amar

There are many great books in the Little People, Big Dreams series. This one about an architect named Zaha Hadid is one of the best.

Art Activity Books for Kids

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

Want to teach a child art for a whole year in one book? This book is for you. Interaction, easy-to-follow lessons are organized by medium and give students a chance to try out all kinds of art projects with their own hands.

Stone Painting for Kids: Designs to Spark Your Creativity by F. Sehnaz Bac

If you've never tried rock painting before, this book will show you how to make small, portable works of art that you can put in your home or leave out in the woods to surprise your friends.

What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Principles Activity Book by Laleña Garcia and Caryn Davidson

An art book with a purpose! Educators who have worked with kids for a long time wrote this book about the 13 Black Lives Matter movement principles in a way that is easy for kids to understand. Each principle has a place to think about it and a beautiful coloring page.

All the Things: How to Draw Books for Kids by Alli Koch

This book has easy-to-follow lessons that teach kids how to draw everything. One of the best gifts you can give someone who always draws, or an adult who misses being young and drawing.

Art Books for Babies

Goodnight, Starry Night by Amy Guglielmo and Julie Appel

The first art book that your baby will have is called? You can learn about class art with this board book, which is made to stand up to any slobber or slime.

Art for Baby

It's time for Baby to meet some new artists after they've learned about the classics first. This board book is made up of black and white images that are easy for babies to see. They were made by modern artists. The contrast is for the kids, but the adults will love it, too, because it is so different.

Pantone: Colors by Helen Dardik

You can find many board books that teach the colors. Pantone has given the idea a new look. Punchy graphics that match the Pantone color being taught will be a hit with everyone who sees them.

Art Reference Books for Kids

The Ultimate Art Museum by Ferren Gipson

People go to this book to learn about history. Think about the cafe, the lobby, the tourists, the galleries, the narration, and how this book is like a museum. This book is about a museum. As a gift for someone who likes art, this is a great idea.

Women in Art: 50 Fearless Creatives Who Inspired the World by Rachel Ignotofsky

This encyclopedic book, which is full of interesting information, includes everyone from the world's most famous artists to lesser-known heroes. It shows work from different time periods and different types of art. A new favorite artist will be found thanks to the dreamy and quirky illustrations: author Rachel Ignotofsky.

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