Photo by
Melody Weintraub
When was the last time you introduced a new art lesson by reading a children’s book to your students? They are never too old to listen. Some of them even miss that no one reads to them anymore. When I taught Art Ed. at the university, I often began or ended a lesson by reading one of my favorite children’s books. One of my students told me it was her favorite part of the class. It was mine too. Listening to stories helps us relax and visualize. It feeds our imagination and imagination feeds creativity. Find a book that matches your unit of study. Begin the unit with a book. Read the book aloud to yourself several times before reading it to the children. Don’t skip pages. Show them the pictures. Point out how it relates to something you have already taught them. For my middle school students, I read to them sometimes while they are drawing. I know that you may have already started building a library of art books in your classroom, but here are some of my favorites. You can find most of them on used and out of print book websites. Enjoy!
Tar Beach, Faith Ringgold (1991) Crown Publishers
The Little Engine that Could, Watty Piper (1930) Platt and Munk, Publishers
The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush, Tomie dePaola, Penguin Putnam Books
I Aint Gonna Paint No More!, Karen Beaumont /Illustrated by David Catrow (2005) Harcourt, Inc.
Degas and the Little Dancer-A story about Edgar Degas, Laurence Anholt (1996) Barrons
Picasso and the Girl with a Ponytail-A story about Pablo Picasso, Laurence Anholt (1998) Barrons
Camille and the Sunflowers-A story about Vincent Van Gogh, Laurence Anholt (?) Barrons
Art, Patrick McDonnell (2006) Little, Brown and Company
Not a Stick, Antoinette Portis (2008) Harper Collins Publishers
Not a Box, Antoinette Portis (2007) Harper Collins Publishers
The Dot, Peter H. Reynolds (2003) Candlewick Press
Ish, Peter H. Reynolds (2004) Candlewick Press
What Do You Do With an Idea? Kobi Yamada, Mae Besom (2014) Compendium, Incorporated, Publishing & Communications
The Day the Crayons Quit, Drew Daywalt, Oliver Jeffers (2013) Penguin Young Readers Group
Drawing Lessons from a Bear, David McPhail (2000) Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
When Clay Sings, Byrd Baylor (1987) Aladdin Publishers
The Wonderful Little Boy, Helen Elizabeth Buckley (1970) William Morrow
The Little Bluebird, Melody Weintraub (2001) LeBonheur Club.