Young artists can begin exploring their passion for color, painting, music and more at any age. Foster your child’s interests in the arts through these creative stories that show kids and teens expressing themselves through many different artistic mediums during Youth Art Month in March.
Picture Books
“I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More”
by Karen Beaumont
This New York Times best-selling masterpiece features sing-song rhyming text; humorous, energetic illustrations about a spirited child and outside-the-box creative thinking. When the child gets caught painting everything from the ceiling to the floor, Mama says, “Ya ain’t a-gonna paint no more!” But nothing will keep this artist from painting! The book is written to the familiar tune, “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More.”
“Swatch: The Girl Who Loved Color”
by Julia Denos
In a place where color ran wild, there lived a girl who was wilder still. Her name was Swatch, and color was her passion. From brave green to in-between gray to rumble-tumble pink, Swatch wanted to collect them all. But colors don’t always like to be tamed. This is an exuberant celebration of all the beauty and color that make up our lives.
Electronic Resources
BookFLIX is an online literacy program for children that pairs classic video storybooks with nonfiction ebooks. BookFLIX builds a love of reading while reinforcing early reading skills in English and Spanish. Log in with your library card number to get started. (fcpl.org/downloads/ebooks-kids)
Available on BookFLIX:
“Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin” and “All About Sound”
“Harold and the Purple Crayon and “Where Can Art Take You?”
Early Readers
“The Gray Day”
by Valerie Bolling
In this sparkly, full-color early reader series, Zoya and her puppy, Coco, love to make art—even on a rainy day!
“Making the Band”
by Martha Maker
Maddie, Bella, Emily and Sam create rock star -worthy instruments with found objects in this easy-to-read and illustrated chapter book perfect for emerging readers; part of the Craftily Ever After series.
Middle Readers
“Art Club”
by Rashad Doucet
This graphic novel is inspired by the author’s own childhood and paints a picture of an aspiring young artist on a mission to prove that the arts are worth fighting for.
“Doodles from the Boogie Down”
by Stephanie Rodrigue
A young Dominican girl navigates middle school, her strict mother, shifting friendships and her dream of being an artist in this debut coming-of-age graphic novel inspired by the author’s tween years.
Teen Readers
“Artifacts of an Ex”
by Jennifer Chen
After Chloe Chang is dumped by her boyfriend, she creates an art exhibit out of other teenagers’ break-up boxes and launches a creative partnership and friendship with Daniel. While she learns to work with other artists in a collaborative way, she begins to discover what love can be.
“Ain’t Burned all the Bright”
by Jason Reynolds
A smash-up of art and text for teens that viscerally captures what it is to be Black. In America. Right Now. The book is written by award-winning author Jason Reynolds and illustrated by his best friend, Jason Griffin; available as an eBook and audiobook through Libby (fcpl.org/downloads/ebooks)
These titles are thoughtfully selected by Frederick County Public Libraries. You can find these books and more by visiting fcpl.org.
