5 Awesome Children's Books That Will Inspire Your Kids to Be Creative

I’ve been interested in art for as long as I can remember. Ever since I could hold a pencil, or a crayon in this case, I’ve loved to draw and color and create. But I never really knew about any famous artists. I probably didn’t even know about any until middle school. My view on creativity was limited to only what I knew. 

Now that I’m raising my son, I want to make sure I teach him about art and about artists that can inspire us. I really hope he’s artistic and creative like his momma. I’d love to be able to share that with him. One way I can teach him about art is by reading books to him about famous artists. 

So here are 5 awesome children's books about different artists that you can share with your kids to inspire them. 

1. Pigskins to Brushes - The Story of Football Playing Artist Ernie Barnes by Don Tate

If your kid loves sports and art, then this is the book for them. It’s about a young African American boy named Ernest Barnes who grew up in the 1930s. He was not very athletic, which was really pushed onto young boys in his community. But he was really into art and drawing. This and the lack of athletic ability got him bullied a lot. The story goes on to tell about how he eventually worked hard to become better at sports and ended up playing football for the American Football League. But due to an injury, he had to say goodbye to his football career. Throughout all of this, he never forgot about his love for art and he decided to use his injury to open up new artistic opportunities for himself. It’s a very inspiring story and one that I think your kids will enjoy.

2. Dr. Seuss - The Great Doodler by Kate Klimo

I think everyone has pretty much read at least one Dr. Seuss book in their life. Heck, we even celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday every year in March by encouraging kids to read. Rarely do we ever focus on his love for art though, as well as reading. Have you ever read one of Dr. Seuss’ books and wondered, “What was he thinking when he drew these creatures?” Maybe it's just me? Well, this book tells about his life and how he got the ideas for all these amazing and silly books he has written. His real-life events actually inspired a lot of his books! 

3. Bob Ross by Maria Correa

Who remembers those happy little trees? I sure do! Bob Ross is famous for showing his audience on TV how to paint beautiful and serene landscapes. He believed that anyone could learn to paint like him if they just took the time to practice. He didn’t always start off painting though. He was a contractor and even joined the Air Force at different times of his life, but he had always had a love and passion for nature. He loved seeing the beauty that nature can hold. So if you’ve got a kid that practically lives outside or loves being out in nature, then try giving this book a read. It even explains how Bob Ross got his hair so big!

4. I am Leonardo da Vinci by Brad Meltzer

Teaching your kids about Leonardo da Vinci may not excite them, because let’s be honest; he was alive like a bajillion years ago. I’m totally kidding, but if our kids think we’re old, then they probably think Leonardo da Vinci was prehistoric. HAHA. Leonardo da Vinci was not only an artist, but he was an inventor! And he drew up early blueprints for a lot of the inventions we have today! It’s amazing to see how he contributed to society in so many ways. So if your kid is turning into a little tinker, give this book a read.

5. The Journey That Saved Curious George by Louise Borden

Who doesn’t love that cheeky little monkey Curious George? He’s always getting himself into something. But do you know how he came to be? This story tells about the colorful journey that authors, illustrators, and married couple Margaret and H.A. Rey went through. They lived in many different countries, drawing people, animals, and landscapes. It also tells of the difficult times they faced living through World War II. But through it all, they kept on creating and drawing and came up with a story about a monkey that was very curious. 

I love reading and learning about artists from our past who have created amazing stories, works of art, and more. It’s so inspiring to know that these people were not born into special lives or had magical starts to their art careers. They were everyday people like you and me. I hope when you read these stories to your children, that they feel inspired, and even feel seen as little budding artists. I hope it awakens a new or even deeper love for the arts in them and that they get excited about creating new things!