10 of the best childrens art history books | Ruth Millington

Do you want to introduce the history of art to children? It’s never too early to start and there are some great art history books for kids that can help. art history is made up of stories: about why, when and how great (and often eccentric) artists have made wonderful creations. here are 10 of the best art history books for kids, that bring those tales to life. invite children to spot colors, symbols, and signs in artwork, meet artists, lift flaps for answers, and travel back in time, making art history fun and fascinating.

1. modern art explorer: discover the stories behind famous works of art

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“Modern Art Explorer” introduces children to the modern by discovering the stories behind 30 famous works of art from the Pompidou Center collection in Paris. It is filled with entertaining illustrations of artists and their materials, along with color reproductions of artwork. each page is a wonderful surprise. Author Alice Harman cleverly invites children to look at art in different ways, asking questions and offering detailed information about what really motivated artists, including Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso, and Amish Kapoor. encouraging curiosity, it turns art history into an adventure.

ideal for: introducing and explaining modern art to children aged 8 to 12. It would also be suitable for a larger audience, including teenagers and even adults who want to understand modern art a little better for themselves

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2. national trust: step inside homes through history

In this beautifully detailed book, kids can travel back in time and explore homes from 7 different eras: Late Middle Ages, Tudor, Georgian, Victorian, 1920’s, 1960’s and present day. laser cut windows allow children to look through the windows and see family members, who are wearing different fashions from that period. there’s a delightful array of arts and crafts houses, highlighting the movement’s focus on the handmade. i want my house to look like the one pictured, with william morris wallpaper, a handmade fireplace, and pre-raphaelite paintings on the wall!

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Ideal For: Ages 6-10 who will enjoy traveling through the houses of history and aspiring fashion designers

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3. the children’s art book

This is the children’s edition of phaidon’s best-selling ‘art book’, offering a guide to 30 great artists and their most famous works. It has been designed for both adults and children to enjoy and talk together. it is approachable and clear, without being condescending. each sheet is illustrated by one or more works by the artist and accompanied by a fun and engaging text. introduces the reader to the artist and invites children to take a closer look at each of the artworks through open-ended questions. you’ll soon have an art historian on your hands!

Best For: 6-10 years old, like an encyclopedia of art to immerse yourself in and out of

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best children’s art history books

4. Famous Artists Sticker Book

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From Rothko and Rembrandt to Manet and Matisse, explore the lives and works of the world’s most famous artists with this captivating sticker book. Did you know that Frida Kahlo turned the plaster casts of her body into art? or that j.m.w. turner once tied himself to a ship’s mast to experience a storm at sea?

Ideal For: 5-10 year olds stuck (pardon the pun) in art history

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5. good night stories for rebellious girls

What if the princess didn’t marry Prince Charming but became an artist or an astronaut? Illustrated by 60 female artists from all corners of the world, “Goodnight Stories for Bad Girls” features 100 remarkable women and their extraordinary lives, from Frida Kahlo and Yoko Ono to Michelle Obama. empowering and inspiring, these are true fairy tales of heroine artists, writers, and inventors.

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Best for: sharing feminist bedtime stories with 5-10s

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6. lift flap questions & answers about art

This book is a fun introduction to the history of art throughout the centuries, from ancient Greece to the present day. turns art into a game, with 60 people raising their flaps answering questions like “who were the impressionists?” and “why do artists paint fruit?”.

Ideal for: 9-12 year olds who need an interactive introduction to art

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7. why is art full of naked people? and other vital questions about art

This book asks and answers 22 questions. Are stick men art? is it backwards? why do I have to be quiet in a gallery? each of these excellent questions is found alongside reproductions of relevant artwork. for example, ‘do artists copy each other?’ It shows Francis Bacon copying the composition of a portrait by Diego Velázquez, with images of both paintings side by side. there’s enough detail to spark different ways of thinking about and seeing art.

Ideal For: Anyone afraid of asking “dumb questions” about art, especially ages 8-12

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8. we are artists: women who left their mark on the world

This colorfully illustrated book celebrates the lives and work of 15 women artists from around the world. Presented as a collection of compelling biographical narratives, ‘We Are Artists’ reveals how each artist’s unique approach and perspective provided the art world and society at large with a new way of looking at things. puts the spotlight on women painters, sculptors, engravers, illustrators, designers, and craftspeople, who are too often left out of art history and its children’s books. Artists include Faith Ringgold, Kenojuak Ashevak, and Yoayoi Kusama.

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Ideal for: 9-12 year olds who love to learn through stories. an excellent book for homeschooling and expanding art historical knowledge beyond the usual artist names we all know

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9. miffy in the gallery

who doesn’t love miffy? In this charming book, she convinces her parents to take her to an art gallery. it is very exciting: miffy sees paintings, a mobile and even a stone statue. at the end of the day, miffy decides that she wants to be an artist when he grows up. the rhythmic reading and simple illustrations should inspire his son to want to visit a gallery and find art there for himself. It remains one of the best art history books for children.

best for: introducing 4-8s to the concept of an art gallery as a place for exciting adventures

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10. Meet an Artist: The Inspiring Connections Between the World’s Greatest Artists

‘I know an artist’ is a collection of 84 illustrated portraits that reveal the fascinating connections between the world’s most famous artists. either through teaching, as in the case of Paul Klee and Anni Albers; a mutual muse, as seen in the flowers of georgia o’keeffe and takashi murakami; Or an inspiring romantic couple like Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock. Illustrated in a contemporary tribute to each artist’s unique style, it should appeal to teens.

Best For: Ages 12+ who want to learn about art through artist biographies

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I hope you enjoy exploring these art history books as much as the children in your life!

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