BOOK MARKED
16 Great Reads
for Artsy Kids
March is Youth Art Month,
and this year’s theme is
“Art Connects Us.”
Children and teens can further
connect to art through literature,
so here’s a selection of fiction
and non-fiction books celebrating
the visual arts for young people.

BY AMY K. ALAPATI,
HEAD OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES AT THE DAMASCUS BRANCH
OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES
PICTURE BOOKS
textured drawings in two styles elevate the
layered story.

Illustrated by Grace Helmer,
edited by Jocelyn Norbury,
designed by Jack Clucas
“The Chalk Giraffe”
What better way to introduce math than
through fine art? Joyous animals leap off
these board pages in homage to various
styles of renowned artists. From Monet
to Kahlo to Lichtenstein, the youngest
children will delight in the details while
learning to count.

When a chalked giraffe comes to life and
demands an increasingly elaborate chalk
world, the exasperated artist rubs him out
with her shoe. The next day, filled with regret,
she uses her empathy (and her chalk!) to fix
her mistake. Vibrant colors make the lush
world pop off the black pages.

“Kahlo’s Koalas:
1, 2, 3, Count Art with Me”
“The Pencil”
Written by Susan Avingaq and
Maren Vsetula,
illustrated by Charlene Chua
EARLY ELEMENTARY
Living in an igloo means being thrifty with
resources, so three children are astonished
when their father lets them use their only
pencil to draw pictures on their only sheet of
paper. What will their mother say when she
returns? This celebration of creativity draws
on the author’s life in Nunavut, Canada.

Bea Garcia’s best friend moved to Australia,
and a monster moved in next door. Bea copes
with the rambunctious bully by drawing in her
journal, until a teacher recognizes and helps
resolve the situation in an unexpected way.

This early chapter book is a charming blend of
text and doodles. First in a series.

“Drawn Together”
“Radiant Child:
The Story of Young Artist
Jean-Michel Basquiat”
By Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat
A boring day turns magical when a boy and
his grandfather discover a shared love of
drawing. They might not speak the same
language, but sometimes people don’t need
words to communicate. Elaborate, richly
32 Washington FAMILY MARCH 2021
Written by Kirsty Paxton,
illustrated by Megan Lötter
“My Life in Pictures”
Written and illustrated by Deborah Zemke
Written and illustrated by Javaka Steptoe
Once there was a boy who couldn’t stop making
art. Sometimes it was sloppy or weird, but it
was always beautiful and full of life. Lyrical text