This year's statewide summer theme is "Get Creative." Check the 2009 New Jersey Summer Reading website for more great artsy and creative companion reads!
Stories about Art
The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau by Jon Agee
When the duck he paints begins to quack, Clousseau becomes the most sought after artist in Paris - until his pictures begins to cause all sorts of problems.
The Pencil by Allan Ahlberg
A lonely pencil draws a boy and then more and more objects. When the pencil's creations demand changes, the pencil draws an eraser and the real trouble begins.
Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle
A boy is asked to draw a star. The star than asks him to draw a sun, and the story continues when the artist is asked to draw a new object by all his creations. The language is rhythmic and the illustrations are stunning, following the artist as he strives to create beauty through his whole life.
Simon's Book by Henrik Drescher
When Simon puts his pen down and falls asleep in the middle of his drawing, strange things begin to happen and the artist ends up running away from a monster with the help of his inks and pens.
A Piece of Chalk by Jennifer A. Ericsson
A young girl creates an entire world on her sidewalk with her box of colored chalk.
Scribble by Deborah Freedman
Lucy likes to draw kittens, but her big sister Emma draws only princesses. When Lucy draws a "scribble cat" on her sister's newest princess creation, Lucy follows the cat into the picture to see if she can fix things.
Doodler Doodling by Rita Golden Gelman
This is a combination of visual and verbal images. A girl sits with her pencil, thinks "teachers teaching," and draws a picture. But her imagination soars and soon she is creating connections with all her creations. So her teachers begin to teach flying fliers, and then the fliers are flying teachers, and the doodles just keep getting more humorous and exuberant.
When a Line Bends, a Shape Begins by Rhonda Gowler Greene
With lively rhyming text, the author describes how many different shapes are created from just one simple line.
Art Dog by Thacher Hurd
A canine named Arthur leads a double life: museum guard by day and artist by night. When artwork is stolen from the museum, Art Dog is hot on the trail.
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
This now-classic tale shows how Harold uses his purple crayon to get himself through some unusual adventures during his moonlight walk.
Drawing Lessons from a Bear by David McPhail
A bear cub that loves to draw grows into an artist and encourages children to express their artistic side.
The Squiggle by Carole Lexa Schaefer
On a walk to the park, a young girl uses her imagination and a piece of string to create a tightrope, a snaky dragon, and even fireworks.
Seen Art? by Jon Scieszka
A boy who is looking for his friend named Art, wanders through the Museum of Modern Art and discovers some of the world-famous masterpieces housed in that museum. This is a delightful visual introduction to some of the best modern artists and their creations, but would be best appreciated by slightly older children.
Once Upon a Picture by Sally Swain
This picture book extends the stories in four well-known artworks: Van Gogh's "Starry Night," Renoir's "The Umbrellas," Rousseau's "Tiger in the Tropical Storm (Surprised!)" and Klee's "Twittering Machine." Four additional pictures by the artists are reproduced in the book and children are invited to create their own visual stories.
Squeaking of Art: The Mice Go to the Museum by Monica Wellington
Ten mice follow a cat through the various galleries in an imaginary museum. On their trip they view over seventy different pieces of art. Questions are posed throughout the book to help parents and children create a dialogue about the art.
Go to Bed, Monster by Natasha Wing
Trying to avoid bedtime, Lucy uses her crayons to draw a monster to play with her before she goes to bed. The only problem is that, when Lucy finally does get tired, the monster still wants to play.
Books on Art Techniques and Exploration
I Love to Draw! by Jennifer Lipsey
This "how to" book offers clear and detailed instructions on drawing everyday things, such as dogs, flowers, and people. Also available from the same author is I Love to Paint!
I Spy: An Alphabet in Art by Lucy Micklethwait
In this puzzle book each letter offers a clue to something hidden in the painting. The author has also created a counting book that introduces children to various artists, I Spy Two Eyes: Numbers in Art.
Museum 123
Created by the staff at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this book combines a creative way to practice counting with a fascinating look at some of the world's most renowned art.
Drawing and Painting by Isabel Thomas
These two books offer a basic general introduction encourages creativity and are geared for very young children.
You Can't Take a Balloon in the Museum of Fine Arts by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman
This book follows a family as they explore many of the works of famous artists found in the galleries of the Boston museum, as well as many of the famous landmarks in this historic city. Also available: You Can't Take a Balloon in the Metropolitan Museum and You Can't Take a Balloon into the National Gallery.
Books on Word Play
Max's Words by Kate Banks
Max's brothers each have great collections, but they both make fun of Max when he begins to collect words, until they realize the power of words and stories.
Book! Book! Book! by Deborah Bruss
The farm animals are bored until they discover the library. But they have trouble getting the librarian to understand them until they let the hen speak for them.
Word Wizard by Cathryn Falwell
Anna helps a lost boy by using her magic spoon to change the letters in words to help him find his way home.
The King Who Rained by Fred Gwynne
This humorous book uses illustrations to point out some of the confusion that homonyms can cause in the English language. Many of the examples will have even primary grade children giggling over the confusion. They may not know the meaning of the word "reigned" for example, but the picture of floating king with rain streaming from this body is clearly funny. Also available by the same author: A Little Pigeon Toad.
The Surprise Party by Pat Hutchins
Rabbit's secret message gets mixed up as it is whispered from animal to animal.
Don't Say that Word by Alan Katz
The humor in this book may not be for everyone, but older children will laugh over the rhyming text that stops just short of saying one of "those" words.
Toni's Topsy-Turvy Telephone Day by Laura Ljungkvist
Based on the old-fashioned game of "telephone" this book has each guest to a potluck supper bringing something odd to the dinner because of what they thought they heard. The line-drawing art plays right into the do-it-yourself feeling in Art.
