The Best Living Books for Teaching Art History

Teaching art history can easily get overshadowed in our homeschool plans. In truth, that is how it has been for me! I am an art lover, yet have struggled to incorporate it into our school days between all the other math and writing going on. But once again, great living books to the rescue! Here are the best living books for teaching art history.

I find that it is very easy to get lost in trying to ensure that all our basic subjects are covered in our homeschool. I can be a little too focused on making sure we make it through all the math, writing, or science for the day. And those are important! But we are spreading a feast for our children, as Charlotte Mason said! And art history is a wonderful part of that feast.

Studying art history doesn’t require any formal curriculum. Simply sit down to read a living book about an artist and his or her paintings.

Artist biographies and storybooks are a great way to introduce the artists and their work. I love getting to know the person behind all the art and learning about what drove their creativity. I feel that knowing more about the artists’ life enriches your own experience with their paintings.

These living books could pair well with any artist study you may be doing in your Morning Time! Or they make great stand-alone read alouds. Either way you choose to use them, I know you will enjoy these books as much as your children. The titles in this list are mostly geared for elementary ages, they could be enjoyed by middle school ages as well.

Meeting Cezanne by Michael Morpurgo

Paul Cezanne: A Painter’s Journey by Robert Burleigh

Claude Monet (1840-1926)

First Impressions: Claude Monet by Ann Waldron

Claude Monet: He Saw the World in Brilliant Light by Amy Guglielmo

The Magical Garden of Claude Monet by Laurence Anholt

Claude Monet: The Painter Who Stopped the Trains by P.I. Maltbie

Mary Cassatt (1844-1926)

First Impressions: Mary Cassatt by Susan E. Meyer

Mary Cassatt: Extraordinary Impressionist Painter by Barbara Herkert

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)

The Yellow House: Vincent van Gogh & Paul Gauguin Side by Side by Susan Goldman Rubin

Vincent van Gogh: He Saw the World in Vibrant Colors by Amy Guglielmo

Vincent Can’t Sleep: Van Gogh Paints the Night Sky by Barb Rosenstock

Vincent’s Starry Night and Other Stories: A Children’s History of Art by Michael Bird

Grandma Moses (1860-1961)

The Year with Grandma Moses by W. Nikola-Lisa

Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists: Grandma Moses by Mike Venezia

Frederic Remington (1861-1909)

Artists in our World: Frederic Remington by Donna Baker

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978)

Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists: Norman Rockwell by Mike Venezia

Norman Rockwell: Storyteller With a Brush by Beverly Gherman

Norman Rockwell’s A Day in the Life of a Boy by Will Lach

Willie Was Different: A Children’s Story by Norman Rockwell

Mattie Lou O’Kelley (1908-1997)

From the Hills of Georgia: An Autobiography in Paintings by Mattie Lou O’Kelley

Circus! by Mattie Lou O’Kelley

I hope this list of living books for teaching art history has encouraged you to pick up a book or two (or ten!). I don’t think we should ever underestimate the power of a story to shape our child’s heart. That’s why I love using living books in our homeschool so much! You never what kind of book will capture your child’s imagination.

Need more living book ideas for your elementary students? I have a list here for you.

Do you have any favorite art history books that you would add to this list?

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)

Peter Bruegel (died 1569)

Diego Velazquez (1599-1660)

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669)

Charles Wilson Peale (1741-1827)

George Catlin (1796-1872)

Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)