Art Books for the Younger Set

Renoir. Van Gogh. Degas. Think these names are a little out of your child's repetoire? Think again. There is no better time to learn about these great artists than during burgeoning youth, when imagination is ripe, and the eyes fresh. That's the idea behind Barron's series of art books for kids. With titles like Camille and the Sunflowers, Leonardo and the Flying Boy and Degas and the Little Dancer (all written by Laurence Anholt), these stories paint a picture of the artist through the eyes of the real children who knew them.

In Picasso and the Girl with a Ponytail, also written by Anholt, a shy teenager named Sylvette has the good fortune of meeting the most famous artist in the world, becomming his model for a summer, and going on to paint great works herself. This remarkable true story of developing self-confidence was told to Anholt by Sylvette herself. Anholt found similar real life accounts for his books about other artists. In Camille and the Sunflowers, Camille and his father give a strange newcomer furniture, sunflowers and a room in which to paint. Leonardo and the Flying Boy introduces science and art history through the story of Zoro and Salai, Da Vinci's real life apprentices. Degas and the Little Dancer tells the story of Marie, who must work as a model to pay for her ballet classes. When she models for a famous sculptor, her dreams of being a famous ballerina become reality.

By highlighting the children that helped in the creation of great works of art, the world of art becomes identifiable to kids. Studies have shown that kids connect to stories with characters that look like them, act like them, and face the same challenges as they do. This series, written for ages 4-8, takes that concept and runs with it. This accessibility is enhanced even more by Anholt's colorful illustrations, which render famous pieces like Van Gogh's Sunflowers in a more child-friendly manner.

So, if you want to introduce your child to art, while getting in a little reading practice, check out this series. You may just inspire a trip to your area art museum!