Stories and books to introduce children to art 2026

"At the age of twelve I knew how to draw like Raphael, but it took me a lifetime to learn to paint like a child," said Picasso.

Does it seem crazy to you to go to the Prado Museum with your children? Wouldn't it occur to you to take them to see an exhibition at La Casa Encendida or the CaixaForum? Do you think they would be bored at the Thyssen? Wrong! All of these art galleries, museums and galleries have activities designed for the little ones in the house so that they learn to enjoy art from childhood and also have fun. Art teaches children to think creatively to solve problems, it teaches to think leaving open ends; it represents a culture of questions rather than a culture of answers. Art stimulates both sides of the brain. There are studies that show that children who make art read better and get better grades in math and science.

Amazon Essentials by Sofia Grainge - Summer 2026 Promotion

Because any age is good to start in art, don't miss these books that teach us to look, to think, to focus our attention, that make us participate, through games, in the stories that are hidden behind them. Books that awaken our senses and turn us into creators, active viewers, avid readers of stories...

When children are young and interested in art, they must be allowed to express all their creativity because it is very important for their overall development. When a child wants to paint with markers, with crayons, with his fingers, when he molds with plasticine... everything is art for the little ones. Art is a language that will make the child express himself through different elements and creativity and imagination will play a more important role in this entire process. Art for children is a way of life and has many benefits. Some of the most important artists in history review in first person the different creative periods of their lives and reveal the peculiarities of their painting with a pleasant and close tone. We selected a series of books designed for children to experience an approach to art through play and fun.

Beatriz from the parenting blogTigreteando explains that "the time a child can spend in a museum is limited (I always tell families to calculate 10-15 minutes per year of life), but the time we can invest before and after at home can be longer." Taking this into account, the love for art is learned. We can take our children to a museum on weekends, enroll them in the family workshops of the pinoteca themselves, turn them into famous painters through costumes, encourage them to bring out their creative streak with brushes...

My first book about Velázquez

Diego Velázquez is one of the most important painters who have ever existed. Since he was little he already loved painting and stood out for how well he did it. Velázquez was the painter of the royal house and portrayed the entire family and important people of the time. But he also painted popular characters in a very real way. His way of understanding painting changed the history of art forever. This book, Anaya publishing house, will be a perfect appetizer to get to know the great painter.

Recommended age: 5 years

Matisse's garden

«One day, the artist Henri Matisse cut out a little bird from a piece of paper. It was a simple shape, but he liked it and didn't want to throw it away. So he put it on the wall of his house to cover a stain. Thus begins this story about Henri Matisse, an infinitely curious artist who used scissors and wallpaper to create something absolutely new. This book from MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) is a perfect introduction to the world of Matisse and his cut-outs. In it you will find eight works by the artist and three fold-out reproductions. (SM Ed.)

Gaudi for children

Some of the most important artists in history review in first person the different creative periods of their lives and reveal the peculiarities of their painting with a pleasant and close tone. Books designed so that children can experience an approach to art that is not without fun. (Ed. Red Fox Books)

Magritte's Apple

This illustrated album by Belgian designer and illustrator Klaas Verplancke and the editorial team of MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art) explains in a simple way the work of Belgian painter René Magritte. (SM ED.)

30 seconds. Leonardo da Vinci in 30 seconds

Read 30 short, fascinating topics about Leonardo, explore his amazing inventions, discover his incredible legacy, understand his painting method, and learn why he studied science and nature, among many other things. (ed. BLUME)

History of Art. Stories for Children

Take part in a fascinating journey through forty thousand years of art, from cave paintings to the present day, and discover the world's most famous works of art. You will meet artists such as Ai Weiwei, Vincent van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, Henri Matisse, Michelangelo, Jackson Pollock, Rembrandt, Leonardo da Vinci and many more! Immerse yourself in the lives of the artists and enjoy their masterpieces through this beautifully illustrated collection of stories. (ed. Blume)

Why is Art Full of Naked People?

Why is art full of naked people? Why is art so expensive? And why are people so interested in art? Artists ask themselves questions when creating works of art. And we, adults and children, ask ourselves questions when we contemplate them. Art encourages us to observe and provokes sensations in us. This book enters the minds of children, raises the questions they would ask themselves, and encourages them to explore art and find answers in an interesting and fun way. Equal parts provocative and didactic, it addresses the why and how of issues ranging from cave paintings to cubism, from the Renaissance to contemporary art, from the role of art in the past to its value today. (ed. Bookbrooks)

What Degas Saw

Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas was a painter, draftsman, engraver and sculptor who was born in 1834 in Paris. This magnificent illustrated album takes a tour of his art and the city in which he was inspired to create his work. Includes reproductions of the artist's works. (SM Ed.)

Frida Kahlo. A Biography

A beautiful biography of the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo illustrated with the evocative images of María Hesse. (ED. Lumen)

Hieronymus Hieronymus "The Strange Story of Hieronymus, the Cap, the Backpack and the Ball"

Like every day, Hieronymus goes out to play, but this time something unexpected happens. Falling off a cliff, he lands in a world of strange creatures who steal his hat, his backpack and his ball. To recover them, Hieronymus must undertake a journey full of extraordinary apparitions and must arm himself with courage and cunning, because nothing is as it seems? A book without words that, through images, immerses us in the fascinating universe of Hieronymus Bosch. For children and adults of all ages. (Ed. Ekare)

Art! "The Greatest Artists of All Time"

A review of some of the most influential artists in the history of art. Choosing several works of art from each of them, Mary Richards makes us pay attention to their details and characteristics. It begins with a short introduction followed by a very clarifying chronological table from the beginnings of cave painting to the present day. It tells in a very entertaining way the biographies of the following artists Michelangelo, Bruegel, Caravaggio, Velázquez, Vermeer, Hokusai, Friedrich, Whistler, Monet... (ed. Siruela)

Miró's Magical Animals

It contains more than 60 illustrations, including several works by Joan Miró, photographs by Lee Miller and drawings made by children, which were inspired by the artist's work. Can you imagine what it would be like to go to the zoo with a famous painter? This is the extraordinary story that Antony Penrose tells us about the visits he made in his childhood, on the family farm, to the brilliant artist Joan Miró, a man who "dreamed when he was awake" and painted universes brimming with magical creatures. It contains more than 60 illustrations, including several works by Joan Miró, photographs by Lee Miller and drawings made by children, who were inspired by the artist's work. (ed. Siruela)

Art, Leave your Traces

Art, Leave Your Traces is packed with ideas to spark the imagination of young artists. Different and surprising ways to create drawings with your fingers and hands. Create birds, lions and a reindeer with handprints; invent strange creatures by combining fingers and blowing paint; Draw footprints with various shapes, or create your own gallery of aliens and monsters. (ed. Coco Books)

Light bulbs turn on and off

Readers' doubts and curiosities about the creative process of a work of art are answered thanks to this book. The author Ramón Trigo explains, in simple language, that any work related to creation is a constant succession of trials and errors until the desired result is achieved. Painting is the clear example of this dialectical debate of the artist with his own uncertainty. (ed. Faktoria K de Libros)