Picture Book Suggestions for May 📚

they're mostly related to creativity

We always value creativity around here, but this month’s focus is a bit extra, so here are some suggestions you might want to request from your library! There are so many more I could’ve included; I would love to hear what some of your favorite books about creativity are.

Picture Book Suggestions

Art & Max by David Wiesner is about two lizard friends who get in a paint fight. His books are so wild and fun.

Pocket Full of Colors by Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville and illustrated by Brigette Barrager is a gorgeously illustrated book about Disney legend Mary Blair and how she “collected” colors from around the world to help her create beautiful things.

Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts is part of a cute and inspiring series that might be especially helpful for kids who feel like they don’t fit the mold of what others expect of them.

What To Do With a Stick by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Paola Domeniconi is a lovely invitation to see all the potential of what a stick could be if you use your imagination. She also wrote What To Do With A Box and What To Do With A String.

Who Loves the Little Lamb by Lezlie Evans and illustrated by David McPhail is an awesome rhyming book about loving your kids no matter what and being there for them when they misbehave.

Chopsticks by Amy Krause Rosenthal and Scott Magoon is an especially great story for a month when your kids have to come to term with friends leaving for summer…when apart, you might find things you like on your own so you’re even stronger when back together!

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill and illustrated by Bryan Collier tells the inspiring true story of a slave who used incredible strength, grit, and creativity to make beautiful clay pieces with what he had. I actually got to see his pottery in person at a museum once!

Poetree by Shauna LaVoy Reynolds and illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani is about a girl who made her neighoborhood better by inviting others to write poems and attach them to a tree. It’s a lovely story about how poetry can bring us together.

Neo Leo by Gene Barretta shows us through very compelling, fun illustrations how Leonardo da Vinci’s ideas were way ahead of his time. (The other books in that series are great too and might be worth buying used: Now & Ben and Timeless Thomas.)

Katie and the Impressionists by James Mayhew is part of a lovely series about a girl who enters famous paintings and interacts with the artists and their subjects. Check out all of them!

For Older Kid

I encourage you to to find a book that could help your kids learn an art form that they enjoy! The amazing thing is you don’t have to be good at it or even have a clue how to do it. So many good books exist that can spark a fire for your kids and all you have to do is cheer them on. Here are some favorites in our home, most of which you could find at the library:

• Kawai Doodle Class by Zainab Khan

• 15-Minute Watercolor Masterpieces by Anna Koliadych

• Gouache in 4 Easy Steps by Anna Koliadych

• Sewing School by Amie Petronis Plumley

• America’s Test Kitchen Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs

• The LEGO Ideas Book by Simon Hugo

BookOutlet’s “Crafts and Hobbies” and “Activity Sets” sections usually have some steeply discounted gems; their inventory changes all the time so it’s good to check in every once in awhile.

For Grown-Ups

I love the book Rembrandt is in the Wind: Learning to Love Art through the Eyes of Faith by Russ Ramsey. It’s obviously a faith-based book, but I think anyone could appreciate the stories of art history and the deep-dive in the lives of several master artists. There’s a life application element to each artist’s story, too. The author is clearly an art nerd and he’s really good at connecting all the information in a beautiful way; I think you’ll like it.
I also got a lot out of Culture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common Life by Makoto Fujimura. Artists shape the culture more than we realize! (This book is also faith-based but I think anyone could get a lot out of it.)

TV Show

Great British Baking Show: Juniors (on Netflix) is a wholesome delight to watch with your kids. I didn’t expect a competition between young bakers would be so hilarious, but the chaos had us cracking up. The best part, though, was how good-natured the kids were. They kept going even when they made big mistakes, and they weren’t afraid to present their imperfection. They cheered each other on even though it’s a competition. They didn’t seem to be motivated by a prize other than the honor of a job well done. (Very different than high-octane, reward-driven American game shows 😬) Plus, it’s just fun.

I hope this is helpful!

Warmly,

Hope from Family Scripts