Color Our World

Recommendations for Summer Reading Theme "Color Our World"

Updated May 27, 2025
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Monsters love colors
Austin, Mike 1963-
Paper Book
An explosively bright and colorful picture book with lots of kid appeal Did you know that monsters love to scribble, scribble, mix, dance, and wiggle?! Why? Because monsters love to make new colors! Celebrate along with the hilarious monsters in this wild and energetic...
I ain't gonna paint no more!
Beaumont, Karen.
Paper Book
Bailey at the museum
Bliss, Harry 1964-
Paper Book
Join Bailey on a school trip to the Museum of Natural History! Bailey is very excited about the school trip to the Museum of Natural History. After all, he loves to dig up bones even more than an archaeologist! And besides bones, there's lots of fun to be had with tepees, totem...
Maybe something beautiful : how art transformed a neighborhood
Campoy, F. Isabel
Paper Book
In this exuberant picture book about transformation through art, Mira lives in a gray urban community until a muralist arrives and, along with his paints and brushes, brings color, joy, and hope to the neighborhood. What good can a splash of color do in a community of gray? As Mira and her...
The artist who painted a blue horse
Carle, Eric
Paper Book
A brilliant new Eric Carle picture book for the artist in us all Every child has an artist inside them, and this vibrant picture book from Eric Carle will help let it out. The artist in this book paints the world as he sees it, just like a child. There's a red crocodile, an orange...
Oh, Olive!
Cho, Lian
Paper Book
"Irrepressible. Joyful. Vibrant and full of oomph!" --Andrea Beaty, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Rosie Revere, Engineer "A stunning, energetic story full of clever humor, heart, and a reminder that art has no boundaries." --Ruth Chan, author...
Art club
Doucet, Rashad
Paper Book
An ALA Best Graphic Novel of 2024 Inspired by the author's own childhood, this contemporary graphic novel paints a picture of an aspiring young artist on a mission to prove that the arts are worth fighting for.  Dale Donavan...
Pablo the artist
Kitamura, Satoshi.
Paper Book
Pablo the elephant has a problem. His art club is holding an exhibition, and all he has is an empty canvas. Plagued by artist's block, Pablo sets out for the country, in hopes of finding fresh ideas. But when he finishes his landscape, Pablo still isn't satisfied. It may just take the ingenuity of...
Art
McDonnell, Patrick 1956-
Paper Book
A rhyming tribute to a budding young artist from bestselling, award-winning children's book author and illustrator Patrick McDonell, creator of the beloved comic strip MUTTS.   This is Art. And this is Art. Art and his art...  
Izzy paints
Miller, Tim 1972-
Paper Book
"Izzy's happiness at creating something of their own and the simple but lively text make for a delightful and engaging read-aloud. A charming stroll through the imagination and a testament to the joys of creativity." --Kirkus Inspired by a museum visit, a young koala...
Fancy Nancy at the museum
O'Connor, Jane.
Paper Book
Nancy's class is going on a trip to the museum. Even after a bumpy bus ride, Nancy finds a way to make the day extra-fancy in this Fancy Nancy story from the beloved New York Times bestselling author-illustrator team Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser. Nancy's class is going on a...
Bob Ross and Peapod the Squirrel
Pearlman, Robb
Paper Book
Bob Ross paints a stunning home for his squirrel friend, Peapod, in this delightful nod to a painter icon. This is the sweet story of a painter (Bob Ross) who helps his squirrel friend, Peapod, find the perfect home to live in. Bob paints an actual Ross painting, "Meadow...
Curious George and the dinosaur
Rey, Margret.
Paper Book
While visiting the museum with Jimmy's class, Curious George can't resist climbing onto one of the exhibits. The director of the museum isn't very happy about that, but George sure knows how to make a field trip interesting!
The dot
Reynolds, Peter H. (Peter Hamilton) 1961-
Paper Book
With a simple, witty story and free-spirited illustrations, Peter H. Reynolds entices even the stubbornly uncreative among us to make a mark -- and follow where it takes us. Her teacher smiled. "Just make a mark and see where it takes you." Art class is over, but...
Sky color
Reynolds, Peter H. (Peter Hamilton) 1961-
Paper Book
The sky’s no limit as the author-illustrator of The Dot and Ish winds up his Creatrilogy with a whimsical tale about seeing the world a new way. Marisol loves to paint. So when her teacher asks her to help make a mural for the school library, she can’t...
Cartooning : the only cartooning book you'll ever need to be the artist you've always wanted to be
Roche, Art
Paper Book
Any child who can make a stick figure can learn to create funny cartoons--and this enjoyably illustrated guide tells them exactly how. Written by professional cartoonist Art Roche, it gives kids lots of hands-on opportunities to turn their creative ideas into delightfully drawn reality. The...
The noisy paint box : the colors and sounds of Kandinsky's abstract art
Rosenstock, Barb
Paper Book
A Caldecott Honor Book Vasya Kandinsky was a proper little boy- he studied math and history, he practiced the piano, he sat up straight and was perfectly polite. And when his family sent him to art classes, they expected him to paint pretty houses and flowers-like a proper artist...
Art lab for kids : 52 creative adventures in drawing, painting, printmaking, paper, and mixed media-for budding artists of all ages
Schwake, Susan.
Paper Book
A refreshing source of ideas for creating fine art with children, Art Lab for Kids encourages the artist's own voice, marks, and style.
The artivist
Smith, Nikkolas 1985-
Paper Book
An inspiring picture book about how children can combine art and activism in their daily lives. "They say I'm an artist. They say I'm an activist." When a young boy realizes the scope of inequities in the wider world, he's seized with the urge to do more. He...
Frida : my first Frida Kahlo
Sánchez Vegara, Ma Isabel (María Isabel)
Paper Book
Picasso
Venezia, Mike.
Paper Book
Presents a biography of Picasso
The artist
Vere, Ed
Paper Book
A brave little artist goes on an epic adventure to share her creativity with the world in this picture book from New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Ed Vere. It's an inspiring exploration of the creative spirit, perfect for fans of What Do You Do with an Idea? and The...
Mouse paint
Walsh, Ellen Stoll.
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Lois Ehlert and Press Here, this charming picture book gently explores the world of color and celebrates the joy of creativity. One day three white mice discover three jars of paint--red, blue, and yellow. But what happens when they splash in the colors...
Art & Max
Wiesner, David
Paper Book
Max and Arthur are friends who share an interest in painting. Arthur is an accomplished painter; Max is a beginner. Max's first attempt at using a paintbrush sends the two friends on a whirlwind trip through various artistic media, which turn out to have unexpected pitfalls. Although Max is...
Frida
Winter, Jonah 1962-
Paper Book
This long-awaited companion to Jonah Winter's acclaimed DIEGO features the paintings of young Spanish artist, Ana Juan. This stunning picture book is the perfect gift for art enthusiasts of all ages.When her mother was worn out from caring for her five sisters, her father gave her lessons in...

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