BOOK MARKED
Art Is Powerful
Books Inspire Readers To Unleash
Their Creativity
BY MARANDA L. SCHOPPERT, HEAD OF CHILDREN & TEEN SERVICES
GERMANTOWN BRANCH OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES
The power of art is undeniable. Through art,
children and teens can express emotions big and
small. They can soar through creation and find
connection through expression. March is Youth Art
Month. Explore the power of art through literature.

PICTURE BOOKS
“Anna at the Art Museum”
by Hazel Hutchins and Gail Herbert,
illustrated by Lil Crump
Going to the art museum with her mom is anything
but exciting. Everything is old, dusty, boring and
full of rules. When Anna gets a behind-the-scenes
look at one special painting, she makes a big
discovery that helps her find the joy in art. This
book is perfect to read with children before a first
visit to an art museum.

“Hey, Wall: A Story of Art and Community”
by Susan Verde, illustrated by John Parra
In the middle of a neighborhood full of life and love
is a big, ugly wall. One day, a young boy decides to
bring the wall to life, but he’ll need help to get the
job done. This picture book celebrates community
and the power of art in bringing people together.

“Milo Imagines the World”
by Matt de la Peña,
illustrated by Christian Robinson
On a long subway ride with his sister, Milo observes
the people around him and draws pictures of what
he imagines their lives are like. When Milo makes
assumptions about a boy his age, he realizes that
everyone has a story. You can’t really know someone
by looking at them. Any book by this award-winning
author-illustrator duo is sure to inspire.

“My Favorite Color”
written and illustrated by Aaron Becker
How can you choose only one favorite color
when the world around us is home to so many?
36 Washington FAMILY MARCH 2022
Young children will love exploring this visually
stunning approach to color. With cutout squares,
translucent inserts and layering, this board book is
a work of art itself.

“Parker Looks Up: An
Extraordinary Moment”
by Parker and Jessica Curry,
illustrated by Brittany Jackson
When 6-year-old Parker Curry visits the National
Portrait Gallery in Washington, she is captivated
by a portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama. In Amy
Sherald’s painting of the first lady, Parker sees hope
and the promise of a better tomorrow. She sees a
“queen.” Inspired by one candid photograph that
swept the internet, this book is the perfect example
of how art can evoke feeling.

EARLY-ELEMENTARY BOOKS
“Anya’s Secret Society”
written and illustrated by Yevgenia Nayberg
Using her left hand, Anya makes beautiful art
but only in secret. In Russia, being left-handed
is frowned upon, and Anya must hide her talent.

While hiding her art, Anya learns about famous
left-handed artists and decides to imagine her own
secret society of lefties. This little book has a big
heart and relates the lesson about being true to
yourself and overcoming societal expectations.

“The Crayon Man: The True Story of the
Invention of Crayola Crayons”
by Natascha Biebow,
illustrated by Steven Salerno
Who doesn’t love opening a new box of crayons?



Today, colors like Purple Mountains’
Majesty, Sunset Orange and Lemon
Yellow are widely known and used, but
this selection wasn’t always the case. In
this fun, illustrated biography, readers
follow inventor Edwin Binney on his
journey to create the much beloved
Crayola crayon.

“We Are Artists: Women Who
Made Their Mark on the World”
by Kari Herbert
Offering stunning illustrations, “We Are
Artists” provides a snapshot into the life
of 15 female artists around the world.

These bite-sized summaries are perfect
for children interested in art and looking
for a little inspiration. Through a blend
of portraits and text, this book is sure to
catch the eye.

MIDDLE-GRADE BOOKS
“Art and How It Works: An
Introduction to Art for Children”
by Ann Kay,
foreword by Tomie dePaola
From cave paintings to graffiti art and
all that lies between, this book will take
readers on a ride through history. With
eye-catching text and simple prompts,
“Art and How It Works” is perfect for
children who are dipping their toes
into the art world and encourages kids
to think about and appreciate the art
around them.

“Doodleville” written and illustrated
by Chad Sell
When Drew’s art literally jumps off
the pages of her sketchbook, it will
take all her art club friends to save
Doodleville. This graphic novel looks
at the therapeutic power of art as an
outlet for dealing with big emotions.

This emotional, action-packed read
originates from the author of “The
Cardboard Kingdom.”
“Many Points of Me”
by Caroline Gertler
Georgia’s father was a famous artist,
known for the asterisms, or the patterns
of stars that filled his paintings. Since
his death, Georgia has lost her way and
is determined to find it again before
she misses her chance to participate
in a prestigious art competition. This
coming-of-age novel blends art history
and self-expression in a way that is part
exploration and part treasure hunt.

“Truly Tyler”
written and illustrated
by Terri Libenson
Tyler has always been a sports guy. When
he starts hanging out with Emmie and
her art friends, his teammates give him
a hard time. When pressured to make
a choice, Tyler must decide between
playing it cool or being true to himself.

Part of the “Emmie & Friends” series,
this graphic novel is perfect for fans of
Raina Telgemeier.

YOUNG ADULT BOOKS
“Blue Period 1”
by Tsubasa Yamaguchi
Everyone knows the expression a
“starving artist,” which is why Yatora
can’t understand why anyone would want
to choose art as a career—that is, until
he is captivated by a single painting that
changes his world forever. This manga
is all about the ups and downs of the art
world from the perspective of a teenager.

“Slay” by Brittney Morris
Seventeen-year-old Kiera Johnson isn’t
only one of the few Black kids at her
school. She’s also the secret creator of
the massively popular online role-playing
card game, Slay. When the lines between
virtual and real life blur, Kiera must
fight to save her game, all while keeping
her identity a secret. This book packs
a punch with themes such as gaming,
cyberbullying, inclusivity and activism.

“Starfish” by Akemi Dawn Bowman
With her freedom on the line, Kiko is
crushed when her dream of getting into
the art school, Prism, is denied. Longing
to escape a rocky homelife, Kiko jumps at
the chance to tour art schools on the West
Coast with a childhood friend. Starfish is
a story about identity, overcoming anxiety
and learning to express oneself.

“Vincent and Theo:
The Van Gogh Brothers”
by Deborah Heiligman
Would Vincent van Gogh have achieved
the acclaim he has today without the
support of his younger brother, Theo?
Drawing from 658 letters Vincent wrote
to Theo throughout his life, this book
examines the extraordinary bond between
two brothers. This nonfiction book would
be great for any teen interested in art and
art history. P
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