An illustration of a contemporary boy with pencil in hand stands in front of a blank piece of paper, invites readers to “Imagine…you were born before the invention of drawing…” And so starts Gerstein’s exploration of the boy who created the first drawing, created with a charred stick on a cave wall.
The First Drawing
Inspired by an actual artist, Wu Daozi’s brush created images that seemed to come alive. Travel to ancient China to meet Daozi as he grows from a boy into a muralist for the Emperor. When the mural is finished, legend says that Daozi walks into the paradise he painted. Brief text combines with brush and watercolor illustrations for a memorable look at a legendary Chinese painter.
Brush of the Gods
In a worthy companion volume to Heart to Heart (opens in a new window), poetry and the varied pieces of art from around the globe that inspired it are presented.
Side by Side: New Poems Inspired by Art from Around the World
Poets respond in writing to a piece of art to create a unique fusion of image and literature. Rich imagery is presented visually and textually, prime to share aloud.
Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth-Century American Art
Andy Warhol became well-known as an artist whose impact on pop culture continues to be felt. Many facets of his life and work are introduced in this comprehensive, well researched, and accessible biography.
Andy Warhol: Prince of Pop
George Ohr was a talented potter whose patience paid off — quite literally — for his heirs. Now better known than when he lived, George Ohr’s work is now highly valued and prized for its unique glazes and shapes.
The Mad Potter: George E. Ohr, Eccentric Genius
Orange fabric created The Gates which unfurled in New York’s Central Park to temporarily brighten a dreary winter. It — and other huge, stunning outdoor art projects are the work of a husband-wife team, chronicled here in striking photographs and engaging language.
Christo & Jeanne-Claude: Through the Gates and Beyond
Horace Pippin was born in Pennsylvania in the late 19th century to become a talented — and ultimately recognized — 20th century artist. Mixed media illustrations and simple text present an overview of Pippin’s life and times, including overcoming a disability.
A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin
Benign-looking, cheerful creatures love playing with color as they lend red, blue, and yellow to make new colors for gray monsters. Energetic lines and lively language swirl and dance across the pages of this spirited homage to color and creativity.
Monsters Love Colors
Works by many artists uniquely depict people from many parts of the world. No words are needed to view varied portraits, in many styles from many places all of which are identified.
Faces for Baby
A cumulative poem (in the cadence of “The House that Jack Built”) chronicles the work and life of Mexican potter, Juan Quezada. Words could center around the culture, the potting process, or art & artists.
The Pot that Juan Built
The child of hardworking immigrants, the narrator tells her tale of growing up and how the family vacations at New York City’s shores inspired her affinity for art. Handsomely hued illustrations evoke family life during an earlier period in this fond family story.
Hattie and the Wild Waves
A former slave and sharecropper Bill Traylor moved to the city after his wife’s death. Though he stored up memories of farm life and family, Traylor only began creating art in his 80s when he was homeless. Another artist, Charles Shannon, championed Traylor’s work. Traylor is now considered among the most significant of self-taught folk artists.
It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw
With the help of a little bit of magic, Mr. Renny’s paintings come to life, literally. But when his friend Rose wants a painting, how will the floppy-eared canine artist reverse the charm? A touch of traditional tales is sure to delight adult sensibilities but the book is sure to charm children.
Magical Life of Mr. Renny
Making a mark is easy, just do it! literally. Beginning with tools of the trade (paper, pens, etc.), children are encouraged to explore the language and techniques of drawing. From basic to sophisticated, the brief text and black/white illustration are sure to engage while they inform.
Make Your Mark: The Drawing Book for Children
A red-shirted boy is pursued by boys angered when their soccer ball winds up in a fountain. He takes refuge in an art museum which begins a fantastical adventure involving paintings-come-to-life, a wicked butcher, a dog, and lasting friendship — all through expressive, comic illustrations.
The Hero of Little Street
Count along in English and Spanish with a Mexican folk artist as she sculpts her world from clay. Inspired by Josefina Aguilar, an artist who continues to create painted clay figures in the village of Ocotlán, Mexico, this colorful tale is profound in its beauty and simplicity.
Josefina
Nothing suggests Halloween like a picture of a fierce or funny Jack-o-lantern, a sky full of bats or ghosts. What would a Halloween night be without a witch, a haunted house or a graveyard? Readers can create these and other signs of the celebration line by line, perhaps individualize them, and read other “spook-tacular books”.
Ralph Marsiello’s Halloween Drawing Book
When the story-loving small white dog – the owner of a bookstore (first introduced in Dog Loves Books (opens in a new window)) — receives a blank book, he’s puzzled. Inside, there’s a note from Dog’s aunt saying that “the lines [Dog] draws open a door to some wonderful adventures.” His imagination and creativity sparkle as Dog tells a story with line and color. Dog’s engaging story within a story is sure to inspire art and artists.
Dog Loves Drawing
Meet Magritte who “One bright day in the dark of the night,” saw a “marvelous hat” that became his inspiration and friend. Johnson’s illustrations are inspired by the 20th century surrealist painter Rene Magritte (though here the artist is a canine). This visually sophisticated book introduces young artists to a unique master.
Magritte’s Marvelous Hat
Jeremy preferred no disturbances when he was drawing but the unexpected return of his blue monster causes Jeremy to think of a creative and highly satisfying solution. Similar in style to Jeremy Draws a Monster (opens in a new window), this stand-alone is equally enjoyable.
The Monster Returns
Through original artwork by the renowned artist Tomie dePaola — a longtime aficionado of Frida Kahlo’s work — as well as beautiful reproductions of Kahlo’s paintings, this latest Smart About book explores the creative, imaginative world of Mexico’s most celebrated female artist.
Frida Kahlo: The Artist Who Painted Herself
Animal sculptures on carefully composed pages with the color words provide a fine introduction to colors, color words in Spanish and English, and Mexican folk art.
Colores de la Vida
Aspen Colorado Kim Chee Lee finds a cure for her writer’s block in a unique pottery class. Child-like illustrations and text are presented in calendar-like orientation.