Lexile measure AD1610L; Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
For centuries, blue powders and dyes were some of the most sought-after materials in the world. Ancient Afghan painters ground mass quantities of sapphire rocks to use for their paints, while snails were harvested in Eurasia for the tiny amounts of blue that their bodies would release. And then there was indigo, which was so valuable that American plantations grew it as a cash crop on the backs of African slaves. It wasn't until 1905, when Adolf von Baeyer created a chemical blue dye, that blue could be used for anything and everything--most notably that uniform of workers everywhere, blue jeans.

Lexile measure AD620L; Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
Today is a big day--the first time Juanito gets to help his papi on the job as a landscape architect! Throughout the day, Juanito sketches anything that catches his eye: a nest full of baby birds, a nursery with row upon row of plants and flowers, and more. Father and son travel from house to house, pruning, weeding, mowing, and turning overgrown and chaotic yards into beautiful spaces.

Ages 4-8, Gr.1-4; Sydney Taylor Book Award Notable Picture Book, 2022.
As an observant child growing up in Lithuania, Ben Shahn yearns to draw everything he sees-and, after seeing his father banished by the Czar for demanding workers' rights, he develops a keen sense of justice, too. So when Ben and the rest of his family make their way to America, Ben brings both his sharp artistic eye and his desire to fight for what's right.

Ages 5-8; K-Gr.4.
A gorgeously illustrated picture book biography about the fascinating life of surrealist artist Leonora Carrington. Ever since she was a little girl, Leonora Carrington loved to draw on walls, in books, on paper--and she loved the fantastic tales her grandmother told that took her to worlds that shimmered beyond this one, where legends became real.

Lexile measure 660; Ages 8-10; Gr.1-4.
Discover the remarkable true story of NFL star Ernie Barnes--a boy who followed his dreams and became one of the most influential artists of his generation--with this beautiful and fascinating nonfiction picture book illustrated by four-time Caldecott Honor recipient Bryan Collier.

Ages 4-7; PrK-Gr.2.
When a young boy visits his grandfather, their lack of a common language leads to confusion, frustration, and silence. But as they sit down to draw together, something magical happens - with a shared love of art and storytelling, the two form a bond that goes beyond words.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.2.
Raúl Colón's wordless picture book about a visit to the museum. After passing a city museum many times, a boy finally decides to go in. He passes wall after wall of artwork until he sees a painting that makes him stop and ponder. Before long the painting comes to life and an afternoon of adventure and discovery unfolds, changing how he sees the world ever after.

PrK-Gr.2.
In captivating paintings full of movement and transformation, Tamaki follows a young girl through a year or a day as she examines the colors in the world around her. Egg yolks are sunny orange as expected, yet water cupped in her hands isn't blue like they say.

K-Gr.4.
Daria Peoples-Riley's debut picture book is a celebration of individuality, self-expression, and dance.

Lexile measure 740; Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3
A lovely and tranquil celebration of nature The sun has set, the day has ended, but the night hasn't quite arrived yet. This magical twilight is known as the blue hour. Everything in nature--sky, water, flowers, birds, foxes--comes together in a symphony of blue to celebrate the merging of night and day.

Lexile measure AD520L; Ages 4-8
As one artist incorporates accidental splotches, spots, and misshapen things into her art, she transforms her piece in quirky and unexpected ways, taking readers on a journey through her process.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.2.
Meet the claymates: two balls of clay that can become anything--even best friends! What can you do with two blobs of clay? Create something amazing! But don't leave them alone for too long. Things might get a little crazy.

Lexile measure 490; Ages 5-8; K-Gr.3.
An irresistible book of poems about dancing that mimic the rhythms of social dances from cha-cha to two-step, by the acclaimed author of Mirror Mirror.

Gr.1-4; Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor 2018.
Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos, written by Monica Brown and illustrated by John Parra, is based on the life of one of the world's most influential painters, Frida Kahlo, and the animals that inspired her art and life.

PrK-Gr.3.
This masterful wordless picture book blurs the lines between real and imagined. It starts with a simple pencil line that with the turn of a page becomes a skater's trail on a frozen pond. It starts with a sheet of ice on a pond that seamlessly morphs into a piece of drawing paper.

Ages 4-8; K-Gr.3.
In this original retelling, set in New York City during the height of the Harlem Renaissance, one little girl finds her voice as a musician thanks to her enchanting adventures with a magical toy.

Ages 4-8; K-Gr.4.
Amy Guglielmo, Jacqueline Tourville, and Brigette Barrager team up to tell the joyful and unique story of the trailblazing Disney artist Mary Blair. Mary Blair lived her life in color: vivid, wild color. From her imaginative childhood to her career as an illustrator, designer, and animator for Walt Disney Studios, Mary wouldn't play by the rules.

Ages 4-8; Prk-gr.3.
A new holiday classic to add to your collection, this gorgeous wordless picture book by esteemed author-illustrator Elly MacKay celebrates the magic of theater and The Nutcracker as seen through the eyes of a young girl and her grandmother.

Lexile measure AD420L; Ages 5-7
Emma is little. Julia is big. They both love ballet. Emma takes ballet lessons. So does Julia. Emma is learning to be a ballerina. Julia is a professional ballerina. They are both excited about the big performance in the theater tonight.

Lexile measure AD580L; Ages 5-7; PrK-Gr.3.
What good can a splash of color do in a community of gray? As Mira and her neighbors discover, more than you might ever imagine! Based on the true story of the Urban Art Trail in San Diego, California, Maybe Something Beautiful reveals how art can inspire transformation--and how even the smallest artists can accomplish something big.

Ages 4-8; K-Gr.2.
After seeing all the fine portraits of her family in her house in Paris, Josette decides that her stuffed-animal rabbit Pepette needs a portrait of her own. The two of them set off for Montmartre, the art center of 1920s Paris, to seek out an artist to paint Pepette's portrait. They encounter Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Marc Chagall, and Henri Matisse, who all try their hand at capturing the rabbit.

Lexile measure 1050; Ages 8-10; Gr.1-3; Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner, 2017; Caldecott Award winner, 2017.
Somewhere in Brooklyn, a little boy dreams of being a famous artist, not knowing that one day he would make himself a king. Jean-Michael Basquiat and his unique, collage-style paintings rocketed to fame in the 1980s as a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the art world had ever seen.

Lexile measure AD640L; Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.2.
The characters in Henri Rousseau's The Sleeping Gypsy inspired Mordicai Gerstein to create an elegant, beautifully illustrated story about them. A girl, alone in the desert, lies on the sand and sleeps. But she is not alone for long. A lizard, a rabbit, a turtle and other animals come to scrutinize her, and a lion leaps into the scene and claims her for his own.

Ages 5 to 10.
All her life, Beatrix Potter loved to paint. From a young age, she painted the bunnies, mice, and other pets who populated her family home. These characters later populated her stories, which are beloved the whole world over.

Gr.2-4; Ages 5-9.
Introduces readers to Benny Andrews, one of the most important African-American painters of the 20th century.

K-Gr.3.
My pen rides dinosaurs and hides an elephant in a teacup. What can your pen do?' So begins Myers' tale of how to overcome adversity using only what you have available.

Lexile measure AD1100L; Ages 5-8; Gr.K-3.
A young girl growing up in Harlem in the 1950s, whose mother cleans and stitches costumes for a ballet company, dreams of becoming a prima ballerina one day, and is thrilled to see a performance of Janet Collins, the first "colored" prima ballerina.

Ages 4-8; Gr.K-gr.2.
Based on his own childhood, beloved and award-winning artist Raúl Colón's wordless book is about the limitless nature of creativity and imagination. A boy alone in his room. Pencils. Sketchbook in hand. What would it be like to go on safari? Imagine. Draw...

Ages 5-8; Gr.1-3; Coretta Scott King illustrator award winner, 2015.
In her debut picture book, Misty Copeland tells the story of a young girl--an every girl--whose confidence is fragile and who is questioning her own ability to reach the heights that Misty has reached. Misty encourages this young girl's faith in herself and shows her exactly how, through hard work and dedication, she too can become Firebird.

Lexile measure AD240L; Ages 4-8; Gr.K-3
If you were a boy named Henri Matisse who lived in a dreary town in northern France, what would your life be like? Would it be full of color and art? Full of lines and dancing figures? Find out in this beautiful, unusual picture book about one of the world's most famous and influential artists.

Ages 3-6; PrK-Gr.2
Great for toddlers, preschoolers, and early readers to learn about combining colors in a fun and imaginative way. A mess-free way to learn about transforming colors and following directions: Accept Hervé Tullet's irresistible invitation to mix it up in a dazzling adventure of whimsy and wonder.

Lexile measure AD630L; Ages 5-9; Gr.PrK-gr.3.
Vasya Kandinsky was a proper little boy- he studied math and history, he practiced the piano, he sat up straight and was perfectly polite. And when his family sent him to art classes, they expected him to paint pretty houses and flowers-like a proper artist. But as Vasya opened his paint box and began mixing the reds, the yellows, the blues, he heard a strange sound-the swirling colors trilled like an orchestra tuning up for a symphony!

Awards: Pura Belpré Illustrator award, 2012.; Lexile measure 1040; Book level 4.9; Ages 5-10, gr. K-3.
This charming book introduces one of the most popular artists of the twentieth century, Diego Rivera, to young readers. It tells the story of Diego as a young, mischievous boy who demonstrated a clear passion for art and then went on to become one of the most famous painters in the world.

Ages 5-9; Book level 5.3;Gr. 1-3.
This prequel to Eric Velasquez's biographical picture book Grandma's Records is the story of a Christmas holiday that young Eric spends with his grandmother.

Book level 3.6; Ages 6-10, gr. 1-3.
Like a tiny bird in a big city, Frida Kahlo feels lost and lonely when she arrives in San Francisco with her husband, the famous artist Diego Rivera. It is the first time she has left her home in Mexico. And Frida wants to be a painter too. But as Frida begins to explore San Francisco on her own, she discovers more than the beauty, diversity, and exuberance of America.

Lexile measure AD480; Book level 3; Ages 4-8; gr. k-2. We also have this in Spanish.
Hugely entertaining and informative - this is a unique art history lesson given by internationally acclaimed children's book illustrator. Willy's pictures look like great works of art, but not quite...for Willy has added himself and his friends to famous paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Vermeer, Manet and many more.

Guided Reading Level M; Lexile measure 700; Book level 3.3; Ages 6-11
A young boy who loves to dance listens as his father retells the story of the night he was born, which coincided with the opening of the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem.

Guided Reading Level: K; Lexile measure 500; Ages 5-9; Grade level 2.1
With a simple, witty story and free-spirited illustrations, Peter H. Reynolds entices even the stubbornly uncreative among us to make a mark -- and follow where it takes us.

AD520L; K-Gr.3.
When her mother was worn out from caring for her five sisters, her father gave her lessons in brushwork and color. When polio kept her bedridden for nine months, drawing saved her from boredom. When a bus accident left her in unimaginable agony, her paintings expressed her pain and depression - and eventually, her joys and her loves.