World Art Day is an international celebration of fine arts held by the International Association of Art. The first World Art Day was held on April 15, 2012, a date chosen to honor Leonardo Da Vinci’s birthday. To learn more about World Art Day, check out this page from the International Association of Art.

To celebrate World Art Day, I will highlight some wonderful art books that are biographical, educational, and delightful. Among these books young readers will learn about different art movements, such as impressionism, visit museums, and read about creative children and creative crayons! Art is a wonderful way to express yourself and explore your personal view of the world. Think of Van Gogh’s Starry Night or Monet’s Water Lily series.

Also, if you and your child are interested in art, please join us in welcoming author and award-winning illustrator Amalia Hoffman on Thursday, April 15 at 11:00 a.m. as she shares her art-filled new book, My Monsterpiece. More information on the program and how to access it can be found here.

Art & Artists Week Grab&Go Kit
In addition, starting on Monday, April 12, pick up a Pre-K “Art and Artists” Grab & Go: Kit, while supplies last. The Kit features a Color Wheel watercolor painting activity and an Henri Matisse collage activity, among other activities. When you are outside the front doors of the Library, call 422-1490 and let them know you're there to pick up a PreK Grab&Go Kit!  For more information on how to use our Grab & Go service, read this blog post.

World Art Day Reads

Paint It by Mari Bolte
Library Catalog
Do you have a creative child who loves to experiment with shapes and colors? If so, Paint It is a wonderful book that includes 45 step by step projects for kids of all ages. The first few pages introduce children to colors, different types of brushes and painting techniques like glazing and graded wash. Next, explore the world of positive and negative shapes with shapely stars or personalize the cover of your cell by painting flowers. You can even try to reproduce your unique version of The Scream by Edward Munch. A wonderful book that introduces children to a vocabulary of art such as watercolor, palette and acrylic and oil paints.

The Day The Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
Library Catalog
OverDrive
What is the difference between surrealism and Dadaism? What influenced the impressionist era? What are some of the components of romanticism? Not everyone cares about the distinction between Gothic cathedrals and Romanesque cathedrals; but everyone can enjoy a book like The Day the Crayons Quit. In this witty story, a boy named Duncan finds a stack of letters from his crayons. Each crayon tells him why they have quit. Red is tired of filling in Santas and firetrucks. Purple is upset that he is used outside the lines, Gray doesn’t want to draw such big animals, and Yellow has stopped talking to Orange, because both insist they are the color of the sun! How can Duncan make all his crayons happy? Read to find out!

All Colors by Amalia Hoffman
Library Catalog
All Colors is a fun and easy introduction to the concepts of creativity and color. This wonderful board book explores different colors and illustrations in a way that might ignite a child’s imagination. Each page introduces a specific color. With each turn of page, the colors join in the fun to create a person, who then surprises the readers with new friends. A joyful art book that shows the excitement in exploring ideas. All Colors is witty and a fun book for the entire family.

Women in Art by Rachel Ignotofsky
OverDrive
Read about the fearless ladies who have shaped the world of art. Women in Art does a wonderful job of depicting the lives of female artists, including one of my favorites, Yayoi Kusama. The portrait of Yayoi shares her distinctive style–the use of polka dots on her clothes and in her art–along with a wonderful quote about the infinite possibilities of the polka dot. Did you know that Kusama pursued art even though her mother tore up her drawings to discourage her? Learn more about Yayoi Kusama and other fearless creatives such as Georgia O’ Keefe, Faith Ringold, and Amrita Sher-Gil. All of these wonderful women have inspired the world of art!

Great Artists: Salvador Dali by Adam G. Klein
Library Catalog
Growing up, I admired artists such as Van Gogh, Monet, Cassat, and Degas. I was obsessed with impressionism and spent hours in the library admiring these artists. At some point, I also learned about surrealism, in which absurdity and illogical imagery becomes the key element. Salvador Dali was an extraordinary artist; he defined absurdity and surrealism in his paintings, photographs, and costumes. Dali even worked with the surreal filmmaker Bunel on The Exterminating Angel, a film about the absurdity of class and wealth. Dali’s life and some of his paintings define the surreal movement: melting clocks, experimentation with cubism, and a burning giraffe behind a figure. Salvador Dali’s complex life comes alive in this installment of the Great Artists series. A wonderful introduction to surrealism and Dali.

Meet the Artist: Leonardo da Vinci by Patricia Geis
Library Catalog
Leonardo Da Vinci was born on April, 15, 1452, in a small town in Tuscany, Italy. His family led a humble life, and Leonardo learned everything from his uncle, Francesco. Leonardo had a basic education but his thirst for knowledge propelled him to sketch all that he saw. Leonardo’s father showed his drawings to Andrea del Verrocchio, a famous artist. Verrochio took Leonardo under his wings in his workshop. This wonderful pop-up book revives Leonardo’s world for young curious minds. Did you know that Leonardo was left-handed and wrote from right to left with backward letters? His writing can only be read correctly if reflected in a mirror! This book also presents Leonardo’s sketches and portraits and even a soldier robot! A must-read for those interested in the Renaissance and STEAM.

 

More World Art Day Titles

• Watercolors by Mari Bolte
• Maybe Something Beautiful by F. Isabel Campoy and Rafael Lopez
• Hand-Print Animal Art by Carolyn Carriero
• DK Great Artists by Robert Cumming
• Princess Arabella at the Museum by Mylo Freeman
• Henri Matisse by Patricia Geis
• Vincent van Gogh by Patricia Geis
• Impressionism 13 Artists You Should Know by Florian Heine
• Gustav Klimt by Stephen Koja
• Caribbean Canvas by Frané Lessac
• If Picasso Painted a Snowman by Amy and Greg Newbold
• Mary Cassatt: Family Pictures by Jane O’ Connor
• Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds
• Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera by Carol Sabbeth
• Monet and the Impressionists for Kids by Carol Sabbeth
• My First Frida Khalo by Sanchez Vegara
• Monet by Jude Welton
• Edgar Degas: Dance Like a Butterfly by Angela Wenzel

Helpful Websites

• Ten Art Activities for Kids
• Impressionism Art Ideas for Kids
• Surrealism for Kids
• Abstract Expressionism for Kids
• Mexican Folk Art Projects for Kids
• The Whitney Museum for Families
• The Whitney Museum Art Challenge
• The Louvre for Kids
• Met Kids
• The Guggenheim for Kids and Families
• Basquait
• Mary Cassat
• Salvador Dali
• Harlem Renaissance
• Leonardo da Vinci
• Amalia Hoffman
• Vincent Van Gogh
• Yayoi Kusama