Photography provided by Joanna Kosinska and Aaron Burden

Artists love books. We just do. They provide inspiration, encouragement, and education for readers of all ages.

Best Art Books For Kids

Scroll down to see our top 9 picks to inspire a young artist.

1. Children’s Book of Art by DK children

Recommended for readers grade 4 and up, this book is not designed for instruction but is a great introduction to art history and art concepts. It would work best as a book that could be explored with a parent or older sibling.

2. Let's Make Some Great Art by Marion Deuchars

This book is made for the 9 to 12 year-old range and offers a combination of learning and drawing. It's an interactive activity book that can help jumpstart a kid suffering from a little bit of "artist's block."

3. Art by Patrick McDonnell

A great book with beautiful illustrations, perfect for a younger audience (5 to 6 years-old). Definitely a book that can be discovered independently or shared with a parent.

4. Drawing Animals Shape by Shape by Christopher Hart

Christopher Hart is one of my favorite authors for how-to-draw books and he makes content for a broad range of ages. This one is for the 4 and up age range but would be good for anyone who loves animals and knows their shapes.

5. 642 Things to Draw: Young Artists Edition by 826 Valencia

Just to be clear, this book does not teach you how to draw 642 things. Instead, it gives you a prompt, like "a squirrel in a shopping mall," and your young artist has a blank page to fill up. This book can be used as a creative warm-up or a fun way to draw with a friend.

6. The Dot (Creatrilogy) by Peter H. Reynolds

The first book in a trilogy, The Dot tells a great little story about a reluctant artist. It's made for ages 4 and up but the message of the book applies to artists of any age.

7. Draw Paint Print Like the Great Artists by Marion Deuchars

Similar to Let's Make Some Great Art, this is a fun addition to the collection. Artists and kids learn in different ways but with this book, kids get to learn about and from the great artists while making great art of their own.

8. Supercute Animals and Pets by Christopher Hart

Another recommended book by author Christopher Hart, this guide is for children around 9 or 10 and up. The instructions are easy to follow and show how to draw cute, manga-inspired animals. I'd say this is really more like an expansion book that could follow up Manga for the Beginner.

9. Ed Emberley's Complete FUNprint Drawing Book

I have a soft spot in my heart for any Ed Emberley book because I used to check them out of the library every month in elementary school. The instruction is simple and can be learned by young artists of any skill level.

Bonus: Sketchbook for Kids

The best teacher is practice. If you're not sure what to get for a kid who wants to be an artist, it's hard to go wrong with a sketchbook and some gentle encouragement.