Art Through Literature

Aside from visiting art museums, such as the lovely Milwaukee Art Museum, and galleries, I love to read picture book biographies of famous artists as a way to introduce great works of art to young children.  Then, turn them loose on the art supplies and see if they are inspired to replicate the methods used.  Here's my list of great picture books on art and artists!

Artists

• Frida by Jonah Winter
• Frida Kahlo:  The Artist Who Painted Herself by Margaret Frith
• Diego by Jonah Winter
• Diego Rivera:  His World & Ours by Duncan Tonatiah
• Just Behave Pablo Picasso! by Jonah Winter
• The Magic Horse of Han Gan by Chen Jiang Hong
• The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau by Michelle Markel
• Leonardo da Vinci by Diane Stanley
• Leonardo:  Beautiful Dreamer by Robert Byrd
• Leonardo and the Flying Boy by Laurence Anholt
• Michelangelo by Diane Stanley 
• Vincent's Colors by Vincent van Gogh
• Monet's Impressions by Claude Monet
• Henri Matisse:  Drawing with Scissors by Jane O' Connor
• Matisse the King of Color by Laurence Anholt
• A Bird or Two:  A Story About Henri Matisse by Bijou Le Tord
• Through Georgia's Eyes by Rachel Victoria Rodriquez
• My Name is Georgia:  A Portrait by Jeanette Winter
• Degas and the Little Dancer by Laurence Anholt

Art

• Seen Art?  by Jon Scieszka
• 13 Artists Children Should Know by Angela Wenzel (And several others in this Series)
• Museum ABC by the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art
• The Art Book for Children by the Editors of Phaidon Press
• Touch the Art:  Count Monet's Lilies by Julie Appel
• I Spy:  An Alphabet in Art by Lucy Micklethwait