In today’s schools, there’s always a push for literacy integration, and I find stories to be amazing teaching tools in the art room. I use picture books to supplement my lessons, introduce art history in kid-friendly ways, and begin discussions about creativity, defining art, art concepts, or art careers. A story is going to stick with students longer than a list of facts, because it’s easier to remember and appeals to them on a positive, emotional level. Below is a list of books that can be appreciated and embraced for their enduring messages, creative inspiration, encouragement to be a unique, confident artist, and inspiration for numerous projects
- by Barney Saltzberg – I LOVE this book, and so do my students. It encourages young artists to embrace their mistakes and make them into something beautiful…a “beautiful oops”. This is a great message for all ages. Throughout the year, many catastrophes were avoided as my students acknowledged their mistakes as beautiful oops’. This book also has the hidden moral gem that teaches the valuable lesson of adapting and using critical thinking skills to endure and achieve success.
- and by Peter H. Reynolds – Okay, I cheated by naming two, but no art room (or art teacher) is complete without these two stories. Both stories are about young artists learning to express themselves and overcoming hurdles in the creative process. The Dot’s simple phrase, “Make a mark, and see where it takes you” stuck with my kiddos throughout the year. More cheating: also check out by Susan Verde, Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds.
- by Herve Tullet – A very cute ‘interactive’ book that’s a real crowd pleaser! I encourage you to read it through yourself first, so you know the actions you have to take as the narrator in order to “move” the dots in the book. It’s also a fun book to pair with a primary colors lesson. Herve Tullet just came out with another book,
- by Antoinette Portis (and also) Your essential guide to warming up creative thinking skills, brainstorming, and introducing a lesson requiring imagination and innovation. Not a Box follows a cute bunny through his imaginary adventures with a cardboard box: It’s a rocket ship, it’s a fire truck, it’s a robot, etc.
Not a Stick further encourages its audience to “think outside the box”, developing different uses for shapes, forms, and objects. I usually pair this with my Not a CD lesson that requires my students to transform this circular shape into another object. (Not a [Popsicle] Stick works just as well!) - by Elizabeth Rusch – A book about creating all kinds of art without crayons! A great introduction to a found object project, or discussing all the different materials and tools that can be used to make art.
- by Drew Daywalt – The crayons have had it! They’re sick of being used for the same old things: yellow for the sun, green for the grass, gray for an elephant. Great for conversation about color association, and inspiration to use color in unusual ways. This would also be a perfect sub lesson: no hassle...
