Reading to Young Artists

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." - Charles William Eliot

We grow and learn when we stay curious during our everyday experiences. One of my personal favorite everyday experiences is to read.  I love being immersed in a story and getting to know characters with an entirely different perspective than mine. I remember skipping through the library when I was little (there was that annoying no-running rule!) to get to the children’s picture book section as fast as I could. I’d pull out a load of books, arrange them on the floor, and pour through the pages so I could make the exciting and very important decision about which books to check out. What fun I had “reading the pictures” before I could read words, making up grand stories about the dinosaurs, unicorns, and children in those books.

Reading (and being read to) is an important part of a child’s development. Reading helps children develop important social and emotional skills such as empathy and perspective-taking. A study from the Child Mind Institute explains that when children are read books about other people's stories they begin to comprehend the emotions of others. When characters in books share similar emotional experiences, kids begin to develop self-awareness around their emotions and understand that their feelings are normal. (Child Mind Institute) 

Another important learning experience that books and stories can support is teaching children about the beauty of diversity. Books can help children embrace their uniqueness and appreciate it in others. An article from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt educational company(HMH), explains that showing people with varying abilities in books helps kids recognize that their identity is multi-dimensional and their passions are achievable no matter their identity (Prescott). An example from HMH highlights a character who is in a wheelchair, but the story is focused on the character's passion for music. Books like these can affirm a child’s identity yet not define it by their ability. 

Books also provide an outlet for children to explore interests that are not at the center of the traditional school curriculum, such as ART. When children see characters being free and curious in the exploration of their interests and making mistakes in those explorations, it builds their confidence to do the same as well.  Here are some of my favorite children's books to demonstrate to your little one that we are all artists.

#1 Dear Unicorn

Dear Unicorn, by Josh Funk and Charles Santoso, is one of my all-time favorite picture books. Through cheerful illustrations and a fun storyline about two very different characters, this story shows that the true joy of art is in experiencing artistic freedom during the creation process. It follows the story of a set of pen pals, Connie the human and Nic the unicorn, who build a friendship through sharing letters and art.  At the start of the book Connie has a narrow-minded perspective and is skeptical about the idea of having a pen pal. She believes that art should be in a museum and her first art piece is a bit restrained. Her initial letters to Nic have a negative tone. She writes about being upset that she lost the championship soccer game and that she was not assigned to the same class as her best friend. However, upon receiving letters from Nic the unicorn who has an overwhelmingly positive outlook on life, she sees his colorful, fun, and unconventional art, and Connie begins to grow her mindset and learn to appreciate art as a tool to have fun. Eventually, when the characters meet at the end of the book and discover that one is a human and one is a unicorn, neither is bothered by the fact that they are different, rather they are excited to create art together!

#2 The Artist

The Artist by Ed Vere follows the story of a dinosaur known as The Artist who leaves Dinosaurland for the big city to pursue artistry. Upon arriving in the city The Artist learns that mistakes are part of the creative process. Through the encouragement of a little girl, The Artist finds the courage to paint “wild and free” and discovers that her heart is full when she forgets about painting in the lines. This story teaches children that art is about exploration and freedom of expression, and is not defined by lines. 

#3 Magic Trash

Magic Trash by J.H. Shapiro and Vanessa Brantley-Newton is a true and inspiring story about artist Tyree Guyton. It illustrates how a single person can foster healing and repair in a community by finding the courage to take initiative in their imagination. Tyree Guyton is a Detroit-based artist, upset with the state of Detroit’s communities. Guyton transforms the trash of Detroit into pieces of art, demonstrating that we can create beauty when we take initiative in our creative ideas. This book is great for families with older children to teach lessons about social justice through art, in addition to relaying messages about seeing the potential for beauty in unexpected places. 

#4 Niko Draws A Feeling

Niko Draws a Feeling by Bob Raczaka and Simone Shin is a book that follows the story of a young boy who loves to draw pictures of things that can’t be seen. Niko is inspired by the colors and sounds of the world around him and creates abstract art depicting the way he feels. Not everyone understands Niko’s art, but then he meets a girl named Iris who relates to his artistic methods and gets what he is trying to convey. This book celebrates the diversity of expression and is perfect for teaching your little one that art is multi-dimensional and a tool for expressing emotion.

#5 Beautiful OOPS

Beautiful OOPS by Barney Saltzberg is an interactive board book for young children that delivers the message that mistakes and imperfections are an important part of the creative process. It contains easily accessible flaps and folds to keep your little one intrigued throughout. Each page highlights a different “oops” like spilled paint or a ripped piece of paper that is used as an opportunity to create something beautiful. This book demonstrates that there is no right way to create art and that sometimes the best and most spectacular art is created by adapting to mistakes or using unconventional materials.  A fun project to pair with the reading of Beautiful OOPS could be to provide your little one with some odd and imperfect materials and challenge them to create something imaginative.

References:

“Why Is It Important to Read to Your Child? - Child Mind Institute.” Child Mind Institute, 27 Oct. 2023, childmind.org/article/why-is-it-important-to-read-to-your-child/. Accessed 23 Dec. 2023.

Prescott, Jennifer. “The Importance of Diversity in Books.” Hmhco.com, 9 Sept. 2022, www.hmhco.com/blog/importance-of-diversity-in-books. Accessed 23 Dec. 2023.