15 Wonderful Picture Books About Creating Art
One of the best ways to encourage creativity in young children is through books. Stories about drawing, painting, sculpting, and making art help children see that everyone can be an artist. Even better, creating art builds many of the skills children need before kindergarten, including hand strength, fine motor coordination, following directions, observation skills, and confidence.
Whether your child loves finger painting, coloring, building with recycled materials, or simply doodling on paper, these delightful picture books can inspire hours of creative fun. Read one together, then pull out the crayons, paint, paper, or play dough and let your child’s imagination take over.
1. The Dot
Author: Peter H. Reynolds https://amzn.to/4f2mdsN
Vashti believes she can’t draw until her teacher encourages her to simply “make a mark.” One tiny dot begins a journey of creativity, confidence, and discovering that everyone has something unique to create.
Why it’s great: Teaches confidence, perseverance, and that every child is capable of being creative.
2. Ish
Author: Peter H. Reynolds https://amzn.to/3SDqlYR
Ramon loves drawing until criticism makes him stop. His sister helps him discover that artwork doesn’t have to be perfect—it can simply be “ish.”
Why it’s great: Encourages children to let go of perfection and enjoy creating.
3. Beautiful Oops!
Author: Barney Saltzberg – https://amzn.to/4ggCHQk
A torn page, spilled paint, or accidental scribble becomes something wonderful through imagination.
Why it’s great: Shows children that mistakes can become opportunities.
4. Mix It Up!
Author: Hervé Tullet – https://amzn.to/4vgVPSb
Children are invited to “mix” colors by turning pages, tapping, rubbing, and pretending to blend paint.
Why it’s great: Introduces color mixing in an interactive, playful way.
5. Press Here
Author: Hervé Tullet – https://amzn.to/4bqCtCO
Children press, shake, and tilt the pages to make colorful dots seem to move.
Why it’s great: Inspires playful interaction while encouraging imagination.
6. Sky Color
Author: Peter H. Reynolds – https://amzn.to/4fe7xYR
Marisol wants to paint the sky but discovers there isn’t any blue paint left. She learns to really observe nature and create something original.
Why it’s great: Encourages observation and creative thinking.
7. Art
Author: Patrick McDonnell – https://amzn.to/3SKNrN5
Art the dog creates paintings inspired by famous artists while discovering his own artistic voice.
Why it’s great: Introduces famous art styles in a child-friendly way.
8. Mouse Paint
Author: Ellen Stoll Walsh – https://amzn.to/4gh9WmF
Three white mice discover jars of red, yellow, and blue paint and experiment with mixing colors.
Why it’s great: A wonderful introduction to primary and secondary colors.
9. Harold and the Purple Crayon
Author: Crockett Johnson – https://amzn.to/3QQGt8Q
Harold uses his purple crayon to draw an imaginative world around himself.
Why it’s great: Celebrates imagination and storytelling through drawing.
10. Not a Box
Author: Antoinette Portis – https://amzn.to/4eIqHpD
A simple cardboard box becomes anything a child’s imagination can dream up.
Why it’s great: Encourages open-ended creativity with everyday materials.
11. The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse
Author: Eric Carle – https://amzn.to/4vKXHDP
Inspired by expressionist art, children see animals painted in unexpected colors.
Why it’s great: Teaches there is no single “right” way to make art.
12. The Noisy Paint Box
Author: Barb Rosenstock – https://amzn.to/44PDIrr
A simplified biography of Wassily Kandinsky showing how he experienced colors and music in unique ways.
Why it’s great: Introduces young children to a famous artist while celebrating creativity.
13. The Color Monster
Author: Anna Llenas – https://amzn.to/4xZETlL
A colorful monster learns to organize his feelings using different colors.
Why it’s great: Combines art with emotional learning.
14. Little Blue and Little Yellow
Author: Leo Lionni – https://amzn.to/3SHnhLm
Two friends discover that when blue and yellow hug, they become green.
Why it’s great: Introduces color mixing through a charming story.
15. The Big Orange Splot
Author: Daniel Pinkwater – https://amzn.to/4p2bGT3
A man paints his house to reflect his dreams, inspiring neighbors to express their own creativity.
Why it’s great: Encourages individuality and creative expression.
Fun Follow-Up Activities
After reading one of these books, invite your child to create!
- Paint with unusual tools (cotton balls, forks, toy cars, leaves, or sponges).
- Make a collage using scraps of paper, fabric, or recycled materials.
- Draw a picture using only circles or dots.
- Mix primary paint colors to discover new colors.
- Create a sculpture with play dough or modeling clay.
- Build something artistic from cardboard boxes.
- Display your child’s artwork in a special “family gallery.”
Remember, praise the effort and creativity rather than focusing on making the picture look “right.”
When children create art, they’re doing far more than making something pretty to hang on the refrigerator. They’re strengthening the small muscles they’ll use for writing, practicing problem-solving, expressing emotions, making decisions, and building confidence—all of which are important kindergarten readiness skills.
The next time your child asks for crayons, paint, or paper, say yes whenever you can. A little mess today may lead to a lifetime of creativity, confidence, and a love of learning. And after enjoying one of these wonderful books together, your child just might be inspired to create their own masterpiece.
Read more about Fine Motor Skills
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