My daughter has always been interested in art. From a young age, she has loved watching Disney’s Little Einsteins, and frequently repeats the names of artists she has seen on there. As an art lover myself, I encourage this interest and try to share lots of books about artwork with her. I love when children’s books (or television shows) weave classic art into their storytelling, because it gets kids interested and encourages them to learn more. So today I wanted to share some of the children’s books about classic art that we have been enjoying lately!

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Anna at the Art Museum

Written by Hazel Hutchins and Gail Herbert and illustrated by Lil Crump

In this story, a little girl named Anna goes to the art museum with her mother. At first, she finds the museum very boring. She isn’t allowed to touch anything, and the artwork is old. However, when she is allowed to enter a secret room where artwork is restored and cleaned, she discovers that she may have more of a connection to the artwork than she originally thought. The story is relatable to young kids who may not feel a connection to classic artwork, and they will enjoy following her on her journey to learn more about it.

The illustrations in this book are wonderful. Not only do they contain real pieces of art in the illustrations, but they also bring the artwork to life. Some of the famous pieces are mirrored in the other characters wandering around the museum. Kids will enjoy comparing the artwork to the illustrations and finding the surprises within. The back of the book also includes information on each piece of art shared in the book.

A Colorful Tail: Finding Monet at Giverny

Written by Joan Waites

This story follows a small red fox who lives in Monet’s garden in Giverny, France. As the seasons fade into one another, the fox is frustrated that his favorite colors are always disappearing. He tries to create different representations of the colors, in hopes of making them last, but all his efforts are destroyed by nature.

One day, he comes across a man sitting by the pond and using paints to create a picture of the colors. He follows his lead and starts to create his own painting. Together, they create paintings of the beautiful colors, which last into the winter season. The text is simple, sharing lots of fun ways that the fox tries to keep the colors alive. The illustrations are full of beautiful colors and nature scenes, with fun details hidden throughout.

Vincent Can’t Sleep: Van Gogh Paints the Night Sky

Written by Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by Mary GrandPre

This story introduces readers to Vincent Van Gogh and the creation of one of his most famous pieces of art. The story follows Van Gogh from childhood into adulthood. He is unable to sleep as a young boy because his mind is full of questions and creative energy. So he runs into the night and stares at the stars. As he grows, he studies and finds work, but he is still determined to create the images that he sees in his head. When he is finally able to portray the night sky in his most famous painting, he can finally rest.

The story is a great introduction to the famous artwork, encouraging kids to learn more about Van Gogh. The illustrations are beautiful, using incredible textures and colors to mimic Van Gogh’s paintings.

Check out the fun Van Gogh activities that we paired with this book here!

Goodnight, Starry Night

Written by Julie Appel and Amy Guglielmo

This fun board book pairs a soothing rhyming text with classic pieces of art to create a fun introduction to art for little ones. The text is reminiscent of Goodnight Moon, lulling little ones to sleep, while the illustrations use die-cuts to focus on one element of the famous paintings. There aren’t any illustrations other than the chosen paintings, encouraging little ones to notice the details in each piece of art. The rest of the book uses brightly colored backgrounds and fonts to entice the reader. The back of the book includes details about each piece of art included in the story.

Related Post: Books to End the Bedtime Battle

I (Heart) Art: The Work We Love from The Metropolitan Museum of Art

By the Metropolitan Museum of Art

This small book is full of 150+ pieces of popular artwork featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The book is cleverly divided up into themes, including sports, animals, family, and more. Each piece of artwork is paired with a brief blurb about the artwork and the artist who created it. This is a fun introduction to artwork for little ones who will be drawn in by the familiar themes in each section. It is also a great jumping off point for introducing kids to famous artists and pieces of art.

What are your favorite children’s books about classic art? Share in the comments below!

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