The Paper Dragon
 | author: Marguerite W. Davol rating:  asin: 0689319924 binding: Hardcover list price: $21.95 USD amazon price: $18.66 USD |
Mi Fei is a humble painter of scrolls. Between each day's sunrise and sunset, he paints scenes of the gods and their festivals' portraits of heroes and their deeds. Although the scrolls bring him fame, Mi Fei is content to live in his village, surrounded by people he loves.
But one day a messenger enters the village with terrible news: the dragon Sui Jen has awakened from its hundred years' sleep and is destroying everything in its path. Someone must find a way to return Sui Jen to its slumber. To the villagers, only one among them is wise enough to confront the scaly beast -- Mi Fei.
The power of the artist's vision and the ever-sustaining nature of love are brought together in Marguerite W. Davol's beautiful story, strikingly interpreted by Robert Sabuda in a series of gatefold illustrations that convey the storytelling majesty of the Chinese narrative scrollmaker's art.
Hokusai: The Man Who Painted a Mountain
Our girls were captivated by this book, especially Ella (then 6) who wanted me to read it again (even though it took 25 minuets to read through just once)!
 | author: Deborah Kogan Ray rating:  asin: 0374332630 binding: Hardcover list price: $18.00 USD amazon price: $13.50 USD |
A tribute to an artist unafraid to break with tradition.
In her own glowing paintings and lucid text, Deborah Kogan Ray tells the fascinating life story of the Japanese artist Hokusai (1760-1849). He rose from poverty, taught himself to draw, became the promising pupil of a great master, and then defied tradition to become one of the most important and influential artists in the world.
Ray's paintings are rich with period and biographical detail. The endpapers show drawings from Hokusai's sketchbooks. Also included is one of his famous Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.
Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
 | rating:  asin: B000GT36U6 binding: Paperback |
Croco'nile
We were studying ancient Egypt (through Story of the World - another great book) and this was one of the book recommendations. The illustrations are so detailed and fascinating, and the text is poetic. It's a story of a brother and sister who raise a crocodile, become stowaways on a ship, and discover that they are *quite* talented at carving stone and painting in the classic old Egyptian style. An exciting adventure that I have read countless times to the delight of my children in the past 2 weeks.
 | rating: asin: 0374416117 binding: Paperback list price: $6.95 USD amazon price: $6.95 |
A romp through ancient Egypt, with hieroglyphics, too!Set sail for adventure with Hamut and his sister Nekatu as they stow away on a sailboat, paint a pyramid, and win the favor of a pharoah. But when conniving kidnappers threaten the pair, they discover that a crocodile in need is a friend indeed!
Christina Katerina and the Box
What a fun book about all the things a girl can do with a refrigerator box! Christina Katerina's imagination is inspiring
 | author: Patricia Lee Gauch asin: 0698116763 binding: Paperback list price: $7.99 USD amazon price: $7.99 |
A huge cardboard box becomes a castle, a clubhouse, a racing car and more for Christina and her friend Fats. In it they swear undying friendship, wage furious battles--and drive Christina's mother crazy. You won't believe how much fun a cardboard box can be!
Amelia's Notebook (Amelia)
This book was a hit in our home, we read it several times through and both Laurel and Ella (then 9 and 6) became inspired to write and draw in their journals. It's a truly wonderful book to show how fun it can be to keep a "notebook".
 | rating: asin: 1416909052 binding: Hardcover list price: $9.95 USD amazon price: $9.95 USD |
When Amelia's mom givs her a journal for her ninth birthday, Amelia has a place to share her truest feelings at last!
Lives of the Artists: Masterpieces, Messes (and What the Neighbors Thought)
This book is full of fascinating stories that make these artists come alive. Another wonderful book in the series! My only complaint is that as it talks about all this art, there aren't any real illustrations of it. You will want to have another book with the actual works of art for it to all come together. Also, if you are reading this to younger kids, prepare to edit some things out, such as Leonardo's homosexuality. Nevertheless, it's definitely worth the read.
 | author: Kathleen Krull Kathryn Hewitt rating: asin: B000C4T01Y binding: Hardcover list price: $20.00 USD amazon price: $9.99 USD |
In this entertaining, informative collection, readers discover the idiosyncrasies-sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic-of twenty famous artists, including Michelangelo, Cassatt, van Gogh, Kahlo, and Warhol. “Fresh, spirited, and unconventional.”--Kirkus Reviews
The Pencil
This book is similar to the Harold and his purple crayon books, but we really enjoyed it so much more. Ella (then 7) has selected this book and checked it out from the library on numerous occasions.
 | author: Allan Ahlberg rating:  asin: 0763638943 binding: Hardcover list price: $16.99 USD amazon price: $15.95 USD |
The creators of THE RUNAWAY DINNER and PREVIOUSLY team up to imagine the comical world that comes to life when a lonely pencil starts to draw.
"One day that little pencil made a move, shivered slightly, quivered somewhat . . . and began to draw."
Welcome back Banjo, the boy from THE RUNAWAY DINNER! Once a pencil draws him, there's no telling what will come next — a dog, a cat, a chase (of course), and a paintbrush to color in an ever-expanding group of family and friends. But it's not long before the complaints begin — "This hat looks silly!" "My ears are too big!" — until the poor pencil has no choice but to draw . . . an eraser. Oh no! In the hands of Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman, can anything but havoc and hilarity ensue?
The Big Orange Splot
 | author: D. Manus Pinkwater rating: asin: 0590445103 binding: Paperback list price: $4.99 USD amazon price: $4.99 USD |
Ish
 | rating: asin: 076362344X binding: Hardcover list price: $14.00 USD amazon price: $11.20 USD |
A creative spirit learns that thinking "ish-ly" is far more wonderful than "getting it right" in this gentle new fable from the creator of the award-winning picture book THE DOT.Ramon loved to draw. Anytime. Anything. Anywhere.
