Art Supplies and Kids Books as Gifts
All kids need to have a supply of resources they can use to create. Pens, pencils, crayons, textas, paper, glue, scissors, and paints are open-ended resources that can help kids get ideas out of their heads and out into the world. A new set of art supplies inspires creativity and gives kids the feeling of possibility. Below I have made some suggestions for books that would pair really well with a particular category of art supplies: crayons, pencils, or paints.
A superb book for any budding artist (or perfectionist) is Beautiful Oops, by Barney Saltzberg. Barney uses art to demonstrate that with a growth mindset and creativity, beauty can be found even in mistakes, spills, and scraps. This is such an important message for a generation growing up in a world where too many people curate the image of their lives to conform to what is ‘on-trend’.
Crayons
The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Came Home, by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
These have become classics thanks to Drew Daywalt’s witty text and Oliver Jeffers’ distinctive illustrations. Duncan doesn’t really treat his crayons very well, they are disgruntled and taking action. Funny and clever, kids will love these books.
Andrew Draws, by David McPhail
A humble crayon, hard work, and imagination take Andrew on a journey all the way to the top. There are some kids who just want to draw, and Andrew is one of them. When he finds a crayon he just starts right there. Luckily his grandmother gifts him some paper and from then on he is unstoppable.
Pencils
Niko Draws a Feeling, by Bob Raczka and Simone Shin
Niko loves to draw, but his art is more abstract. When he shows his work to others and tells them what it is, they don’t understand. He draws the hard work of a mother robin building a nest, but there is no nest and no robin, he has drawn the hard work.
One day Niko meets Iris as she is moving house and she is interested in Niko’s drawings. Will she be able to see what it is that Niko has drawn? This is a beautiful story about a creative, expressive soul who is misunderstood by those around him and how he finds someone to appreciate his art.
Louise Loves Art, by Kelly Light
Louise wants to create, draw and make art, non-stop. She wants to get it right and make her masterpiece. She can’t stop to listen to Art, her doting younger brother, she has to get ready for her show. A touching ending sees the siblings understand each other and create together.
There is a clever use of colour in this sweet picture book. Ideal for 3-8-year-olds.
I Don’t Draw, I Color, by Adam Lehrhaupt and Felicita Sala
The narrator of this book is not a traditional artist, he doesn’t draw, but he does use colour. This book is a great way to begin discussions about how feelings can be linked to colours, about abstract artwork, how we can express ourselves, and how we see ourselves.
Cat Kid Comic Club series, by Dav Pilkey
I started this series with Toby just last week and we both loved it. Dav Pilkey’s universe appears to be wild and wacky on the surface, but underneath there is so much to discover and enjoy. His books are so recognisably his and I think that has made it easy as Toby has moved through each of Pilkey’s series. I’m not sure you have to read the series or the books within a series in order, but I think it would help a little bit.
By way of explanation for newcomers. Pilkey started with The Captain Underpants series, this was illustrated chapter books featuring main characters, George and Harold. The next series is Dogman, which George and Harold ‘write and draw’. This Cat Kid is a further spin-off from Dogman and is set up to teach kids how they can create their own comics and drawings.
Toby and I have made our way through all the books (I think, there are a lot). After we’ve read one he will often sit down and ‘re-read’ it to himself laughing out loud at the jokes. And while I’m excited for the day when Toby can read them himself, I get a kick out of the joy he feels when we share them together.
Paints
The Great Paint, by Alex Willmore
Often, creative people are misunderstood, especially in their own time and space. That is the crux of this story about an artistic frog who just doesn’t seem to be appreciated by his friends. Luckily, creative people are also determined, persistent and energetic.
Sandi Wooton and Pat Kan
In rhyming text, the narrator paints a colourful underwater world full of creators. Somewhat whimsical and fantastical, this book will encourage creativity and expression. The colours in the illustrations are vibrant making this a very readable book for young children.
The Magical Life of Mr. Renny, by Leo Timmers
Mr. Renny, a struggling, down-on-his-luck artist, has his life changed by a stranger who ensures that everything Mr. Renny paints comes to life. With such a blank check he begins living the life he wants with food, trips, and possessions. His friend Rose comes to ask him to paint her a picture, but now that is the one thing he can’t do.
I loved this book from the first time we read it. The pictures blew me away and started me on a little obsession of my own with Leo Timmers and his work. Aimed at 3-8-year-olds, but this is one that parents will love to read again and again, just for the images.
Tiggy and the Magic Paintbrush series, by Zanni Louise and Gillian Flint
This series for newly independent readers has been well thought out and put together. Perfect for a child who is reading Billie B Brown or the Ella and Olivia books and is not ready to move on to longer chapter books. Tiggy is a daydreaming girl whose magic paintbrush brings her imaginings to life. Each book is a separate story, so no need to read them in order. My girls absolutely loved them.
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