Books about famous artists and art

Babar and Celeste turn the Celesteville train station into a museum filled with elephant art inspired by master painters

One late spring morning the American artist Jackson Pollock began work on the canvas that would ultimately come to be known as Number 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist).

Award-winning authors Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan use this moment as the departure point for a unique picture book about a great painter and the way in which he worked. Their lyrical text, drawn from Pollock's own comments and those made by members of his immediate circle, is perfectly complemented by vibrant watercolors by Robert Andrew Parker that honor his spirit of the artist without imitating his paintings.

A photographic reproduction of the finished painting, a short biography, a bibliography, and a detailed list of notes and sources that are fascinating reading in their own right make this an authoritative as well as beautiful book for readers of all ages.

It’s visiting night for kitties at the art gallery, and cats have come from all over town. They like paintings, but most of all, they like paintings with cats in them. Alas, there are very few. Then the very talented Felissima Cat steps in. Felissima is sure that something is missing from some very famous works of art. Taking matters into her own paws, she sets out to remedy the situation. Felissima’s gloriously funny, feline-centric reworkings of famous paintings are shown alongside the original masterpieces, delighting cat lovers and art fans of all ages.

Katie's trip to the museum to see Impressionist art leads to a magical journey through the actual paintings. In paperback for the first time.

"This British import pays joyful homage to the world of the Impressionists. When Katie and her grandmother visit an art museum to celebrate the elder's birthday, the girl wanders into a gallery where she admires Claude Monet's The Luncheon.... With a blink of her eyes, Katie is magically transported into the painting... Lovely watercolors emulate the style of the Impressionists... Not only does this delightful fantasy succeed as art education, but it's a charming story as well." --School Library Journal

Bringing classic art to life for children yet again, this newest installment in the hugely successful Katie series has the leading lady focusing on the fascinating works of Monet. Katie is desperate to win an art competition at the gallery, but the judging is at three o'clock—surely she can paint a terrific picture before the deadline, can't she? She must try. Featuring the most iconic paintings by one of the world's most loved artists, the masterpieces visited in the book include Bathers at La Grenouillere, Blanche Monet Painting; Path through the Poppies; The Rue Montorgueil, Paris; and The Waterlily Pond.

The stars in Vincent van Gogh's painting are so beautiful that Katie can't resist reaching in and taking one. But what will she do when all the other stars come tumbling out of the painting, too? Will Katie be able to catch the stars before the gallery guard notices they've floated away? This picture book features The Starry Night, Noon, Vincent's Chair, Fishing Boats on the Beach, and The Olive Grove

Five famous Italian Renaissance paintings come alive for Katie when she steps into the picture frames. What makes the Mona Lisa smile? Katie wants to find out so she climbs into the Leonardo Da Vinci painting. But the Mona Lisa is not really feeling very happy, so Katie tries to cheer her up ...with disastrous results! Includes five masterpieces from five Italian Renaissance artists: Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci, An Angel in Red with a Lute by an associate of Leonardo, St George and the Dragon by Raphael, Primavera by Sandro Botticelli, The Lion of St Mark by Vittore Carpaccio

With a narrative that will entertain art lovers of all ages, this new board book is a fun way to introduce young children to fine art. The sleepy trees, golden haystacks, and juicy fruits of In the Garden with Van Gogh will delight little ones. Playful rhyming texts accompany the artists timeless paintings in this little masterpiece.

This imaginative board book features beautiful paintings by a renowned artist paired with playful, rhyming text. In A Picnic with Monet, Claude Monet's light-filled paintings take children on an enchanted picnic in the countryside. This board book is a fun introduction ot art and an imaginative adventure all rolled into one!

Young Camille befriends a strange visitor to his small town, and one day he brings this man a gift of bright, beautiful sunflowers. The man is the artist Vincent van Gogh, and the sunflowers quickly become the subject of a magnificent painting. This is a title in Barron's Anholt's Artists Books for Children series, in which author and illustrator Laurence Anholt recalls memorable and sometimes amusing moments when the lives of the artists were touched by children. Anholt's fine illustrations appear on every page and include reproductions of works by the artists.

Julie lives in Paris, but she longs to walk in a beautiful country garden. When her mother takes her on a visit to rural Giverny, Julie discovers a beautiful garden and befriends the man she believes is the gardener. In fact, he is the garden's owner, the immortal artist Claude Monet. This is a title in Barron'sAnholt's Artists Books for Children series, in which author and illustrator Laurence Anholt recalls memorable and sometimes amusing moments when the lives of the artists were touched by children. Anholt's fine illustrations appear on every page and include reproductions of works by the artists.

Zoro is a little boy in 17th-century Italy, long before airplanes flew in the sky. But Zoro is also an apprentice to the artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci--and Leonardo is experimenting with a revolutionary flying machine! This is a title in Barron's Anholt's Artists Books for Children series, in which author and illustrator Laurence Anholt recalls memorable and sometimes amusing moments when the lives of the artists were touched by children. Anholt's fine illustrations appear on every page and include reproductions of works by the artists

When Monique, a young visiting nurse, steps into the home of an elderly patient, she finds herself in rooms filled with the most vivid color she has ever seen. Her patient is the artist Henri Matisse, and as Matisse recovers from his illness, he and Monique become good friends. Later, Monique enters a convent where she becomes a nursing nun--and by happy coincidence, she meets Matisse once again. Her religious order is so poor that they don't have a chapel of their own, but Matisse decides that with Monique's help, he can remedy that situation. He develops a sketch drawn by Monique into a brilliant set of stained-glass chapel windows, and then uses his influence to raise enough money for the chapel's construction. This true account of Matisse and the chapel at Vence, in southern France, is the main focus of Laurence Anholt's newest delightful children's story. Anholt's illustrations faithfully reproduce many of Matisse's wonderful artworks in this beautiful storybook.

New board books in the best-selling Mini Masters series feature beautiful paintings from Cassatt and Picasso and rhyming text introducing budding artists to these famous masters.

With a narrative that will entertain art lovers of all ages, this new board book is a fun way to introduce young children to fine art. The little ones will love spending A Magical Day with Matisse in a world full of music, color, bobbing sailboats, and tickled toes. Playful rhyming texts accompany the artists timeless paintings in this little masterpiece.

Linnea has been in Paris. And she has visited the painter Claude Monet's garden! She even stood on the same little Japanese bridge that Monet painted so often in his pictures. In Paris, Linnea got to see many of the real paintings.

Now she can understand what it means to be called an Impressionist, and she knows a lot about Monet's life in the pink house where he lived with his eight children.

Twenty-five years after its original publication, this celebration of the wonder of art is available once again in an enlarged keepsake edition. The joy and inspiration Linnea discovers in Monet's garden will be eagerly embraced by a new generation of readers.

In November 1885, impressionist painter Claude Monet vacationed in Étretat, France, where he spent his days outside, painting scenes of the seaside village. One morning he rose early and carried all of his supplies and half-finished paintings out to the cliffs and rocky beach, finally stopping to paint the arch called Manneporte. Eager to capture the scene before him, and aware that he must work quickly to catch the light, Monet became so engrossed in his work that he forgot to watch the incoming tide. Based on a true incident, MONET PAINTS A DAY introduces readers to the life and nature of this illustrious impressionist. Interspersed throughout the story are excerpts from the painter’s notes and letters, while a second layer of text and back matter includes information about Impressionism as a whole. Lush watercolor illustrations in the Impressionist style give readers a visual for this artistic movement. A bibliography is also included.

“Dad, will you tell me a story?” asks a little girl. “Sure,” artist Piotr Barsony responds. “I’ll tell you a story about a painting. And the Mona Lisa, the most beautiful painting in all the world, will be our subject.” Thus begins the fascinating history of modern painting through what many consider the most famous work in the history of art: the Mona Lisa by Léonardo De Vinci. Piotr acts as the museum guide for his young daughter throughout the book, taking us on a journey through an imaginary museum. He describes famous art movements and artists, including: impressionism, cubism, expressionism, favism, minimalism, surrealism; Monet, Manet, Cézanne, Picasso, Bacon, Pollock, and more. All of the most famous painters of the modern and contemporary art movements are explained with their own Mona Lisa portraits, in their signature styles.

Throughout the book, Piotr acts as a guide, explaining to his daughter (and the reader) each genre of paintings in a clear, simple, and entertaining way. By the end of the book, we discover that he’s actually the artist who’s been painting all those Mona Lisas—and the results are spectacular. The Stories of the Mona Lisa is the perfect book for any child who loves art, history, and a good story.

Instantly recognizable as one of the most iconic images of modern culture, Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night" draws thousands of visitors every day at The Museum of Modern Art. Yet few are familiar with the story behind this unlikely masterpiece, envisioned and executed by Van Gogh during his stay at a mental hospital in Saint-Remy.

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.

This was Giacomo’s chance to prove himself. He gathered his father’s old nets and traps and set out into the fields.

But Giacomo’s quest to impress his father and catch an evasive bird is foiled at every attempt because an old man is freeing every bird Giacomo catches. Finally Giacomo spots the bird he is after, perched in the window of the artist’s studio. In his rush to catch it, the boy frightens the bird away. Then he sees something on the old man’s table and has an idea. A delicious pun and play on words creates a perfect ending. Exploring an unknown aspect of one of history’s great artists, John Winch’s paintings are richly furnished with references to da Vinci’s paintings and inventions, brilliantly evoking the early-Renaissance setting, while his sparse text successfully conveys the increasing desperation of the struggling boy.

When Ben and Gracie visit their mum at the art gallery where she works, they lose themselves in the paintings of colonial artist Frederick McCubbin, venturing back in time to meet with new settlers to Australia. Transported into a raging dust storm before moving on to a forest glade, Ben and Gracie travel with their new friends and see for themselves the difficulties faced in the harsh Australian bush environment. But on venturing deeper into the forest in search of wildflowers, the pair come across fairies and lose their way at nightfall. Will they be able to find their way back to the settlers and the art gallery? Teachers' guide available at www.benandgracie.com.au

When Ben and Gracie go to meet their mum after work at the art gallery, they’re hoping the golden ticket they still have from their previous visit will again transport them into a painting. This time, they find themselves whisked back in time to the world of another colonial artist, Tom Roberts. When the young daughter of a settler family invites the pair back to her parents' farm, not only do they meet Tom Roberts himself and see him at work, but they also witness a robbery when bushrangers ambush a stagecoach. Will Ben and Gracie and their new friend be able to escape the cross-fire when troopers start shooting?

• A lavish introduction to 35 of the world’s best-known, best-loved paintings.
• Includes the Mona Lisa, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and The Scream.
• Simple and engaging text gives fascinating information about each painting, artist and art style.
• Beautifully presented with fabulous reproductions of the paintings and internet links to websites to find out more.

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  This is the story of Albrecht Durer's painting

  
  

  
  

Here is the fascinating story -- based on true fact -- of a world-famous artist and a little girl who became one of his models. Sylvette first met Picasso in 1954, when she was a girl in the southern French town of Vallauris. At that time, she was the shyest and dreamiest girl among her friends, though today, she is a respected artist in her own right. When Picasso set up his studio in a nearby house, he spotted young Sylvette and was taken immediately by her classical profile and her lovely ponytail. When at last he convinced her to pose for what became the first of more than forty works of art, the two gradually became good friends. Before long, Picasso's portraits of Sylvette became famous around the world.

Written and illustrated by Andy Warhol's nephew, this book allows us a glimpse into the artist's personal life and creative process. The illustrations are wonderful and comical!

by Nancy Andrews-Goebel

Using the format of "The House That Jack Built", this book tells the story of Juan, a potter from Mexico. The book has a unique format, in that it has the poem form of the story on the left, and the narrative form on the right. Based on the life of artist Juan Quezada, this book is a great introduction to his pottery and the Mexican culture it arises from.

This book creates a mood from the beginning. The deep blues and purples used in the illustrations draw you in immediately. The story of Vincent vanGogh and his starry night is told through the eyes of a young boy.

When James' mom gets close to delivering the new babies, she sends James to visit his artist uncle Romare Bearden in New Your City. James learns a lot about his uncle's life as an artist and learns a new way of creating his own ar

by Nina Laden

When Pigasso met Mootisse, what begins as a neighborly overture escalates into a mess. Before you can say paint-by-numbers, the two artists become fierce rivals, calling each other names and ultimately building a fence between them. But when the two painters paint opposite sides of the fence that divides them, they unknowingly create a modern art masterpiece, and learn it is their friendship that is the true work of art.