Books About Painting · 145 titles considered

The Best Painting Books for Kids

Looking for our other guide?

Explore our editor-reviewed guide to Art Books, featuring 15 favorites and recommendations by age.

Looking for excellent children's books about painting? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

Series

Series

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Painting

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 10–12 · 2010

The Shadows

By Jacqueline West · Book #1 in the The Books of Elsewhere series

A girl discovers a sinister world within paintings, facing a dark power that threatens her new home.

Cybils Award (2010)

272 pages· 45,710 words· Est. 5 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 10,649 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Eleven-year-old Olive moves into a mysterious mansion filled with eerie paintings and talking cats. When she finds antique spectacles, she can enter the paintings, uncovering a sinister world. With only the cats and a peculiar boy as allies, Olive must unravel the dark mystery threatening to consume her home. Can she save the house from the shadows before it's too late?

Sale price

$1895

Picture Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019

My Big Book of the World's Greatest Art

By Louise Lockhart

Explore 10,000 years of art history, from ancient pigments to modern masterpieces.

48 pages

5.8/7 Bookroo·4.0/5 Goodreads · 18 ratings

$19.95Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Journey through 10,000 years of art with a vibrant guide that introduces young readers to the evolution of creativity. Discover how ancient artists mixed pigments, how religion shaped medieval art, and how scientific breakthroughs inspired the Renaissance. Witness artists' roles in revolutions and explore a modern museum to see today's creations. This interactive book offers a fresh perspective on art's impact throughout history, sparking curiosity and appreciation in every budding art enthusiast.

Sale price

$1697

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2012

The Magical Life of Mr. Renny

By Leo Timmers, Bill Nagelkerke (Translator)

A painter's creations spring to life, but at what cost?

40 pages· 518 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud

5.6/7 Bookroo·3.9/5 Goodreads · 144 ratings

$17.95Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Struggling artist Mr. Renny faces hunger and despair until a mysterious man offers him a chance to bring his paintings to life. As his art transforms into reality, Mr. Renny must navigate the consequences of his newfound power. Will his dreams come true, or will they become his nightmare? Discover the magic and peril of a world where art and reality collide.

Sale price

$1597

Picture Book · Ages 4–6 · 2019

Little Frida

By Anthony Browne

A young Frida Kahlo's imaginary friend transforms her pain into art.

32 pages· 585 words· Est. 5 min read-aloud

5.5/7 Bookroo·3.6/5 Goodreads · 200 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: After polio leaves young Frida Kahlo with a limp, her vivid imagination conjures a friend who dances without pain. This ethereal companion becomes a muse, inspiring Frida's future art. Journey with Frida as she navigates loneliness and dreams, finding solace in her creative world. Will this imaginary friend help her transcend her struggles and shape her destiny? Discover the early flights of fancy that foreshadow the iconic artist she is destined to become, beautifully illustrated in a style reminiscent of Kahlo's own work.

Sale price

$1498

Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 2012

Sky Color

By Peter H. Reynolds · Creatrilogy series

Can Marisol paint a sky without blue? Discover her creative journey.

32 pages· 310 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud

5.5/7 Bookroo·4.3/5 Goodreads · 3,135 ratings

$15.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Marisol loves painting and is thrilled to create a mural for her school. But there's a problem—no blue paint for the sky. As she watches the world transform from day to night, Marisol learns to see beyond the ordinary. Will her imagination find a way to paint the sky? This whimsical tale invites readers to explore creativity and inspiration in unexpected places.

Sale price

$1797

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2019

Hi, I'm Norman

By Robert Burleigh, Wendell Minor (Illustrator)

Discover the life of an artist who captured the American spirit.

48 pages· 2,437 words· Est. 19 min read-aloud

5.5/7 Bookroo·4.0/5 Goodreads · 119 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Explore the life of Norman Rockwell, an artist who painted the essence of America. Through vivid illustrations and personal stories, this biography reveals how Rockwell chronicled pivotal moments in history, shaping his legacy as a beloved cultural icon. What inspired his iconic works, and how did he capture the heart of a nation? Dive into the episodes that defined his career and the American experience.

Sale price

$1697

Picture Book · Ages 6–11 · 2017

If Picasso Painted a Snowman

By Amy Newbold, Greg Newbold (Illustrator) · Reimagined Masterpiece series

Imagine snowmen through the eyes of famous artists.

36 pages· 232 words· Est. 2 min read-aloud

5.5/7 Bookroo·4.5/5 Goodreads · 377 ratings

$17.95Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Explore a whimsical world where snowmen are reimagined by iconic artists. From Picasso's abstract forms to Monet's serene landscapes, each page transforms a simple snowman into a masterpiece. Guided by a playful hamster, discover how creativity can turn the ordinary into extraordinary. What would your snowman look like?

Sale price

$1697

Picture Book · Ages 4–6 · 2017

Claudia & Moth

By Jennifer Hansen Rolli

A girl discovers winter's beauty through art and a tiny moth.

40 pages· 388 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud

5.4/7 Bookroo·3.8/5 Goodreads · 159 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Claudia adores painting vibrant butterflies, capturing their beauty on canvas. But as winter arrives, her colorful muses vanish, leaving her art uninspired. Just when hope seems lost, a little moth appears, revealing the hidden wonders of the cold season. Can Claudia find inspiration in unexpected places and embrace the magic of winter? Discover how a simple moth transforms her world, offering a new perspective on nature's seasonal dance.

Sale price

$1597

Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 2008

Willow

By Denise Brennan-Nelson, Rosemarie Brennan, Cyd Moore (Illustrator) · Willow series

A strict teacher meets a student who colors outside the lines, challenging her view of art.

32 pages

5.3/7 Bookroo·4.2/5 Goodreads · 539 ratings

$16.95Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: In a classroom where order reigns, Miss Hawthorn meets Willow, a student who sees the world in vibrant, unexpected colors. Willow's imaginative approach to art defies Miss Hawthorn's rigid rules, painting pink trees and blue apples. As Willow's creativity unfolds, Miss Hawthorn faces a challenge: can she embrace a new perspective on what art can be? Discover how one child's imagination might just transform a teacher's world.

Sale price

$858

Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 2008

Katie and the British Artists

By James Mayhew

A gallery visit sparks Katie's imagination and unexpected adventures with art.

32 pages· 934 words· Est. 8 min read-aloud

4.3/5 Goodreads · 136 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Katie's indecision about her future leads her to a gallery, where she embarks on whimsical adventures with characters from five famous paintings. Can she help a shepherd boy from Constable's 'The Cornfield' with his unruly sheep? As art comes to life, Katie discovers inspiration in unexpected places. Join her on a journey where imagination knows no bounds and every painting holds a new adventure.

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