ABC Books for the Art Room -

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A collection of children's ABC books related to art, arranged in a colorful display against a white background, ideal for an art room.

I love using children’s books in the Art classroom. Over the years I have collected variety of books related to art, artists, themes we study or simply have inspiring pictures. This blog post is a round-up of several ABC books that I like to use in Art class.

The first one is called B is for Badger, A Wisconsin Alphabet. Kathy-Jo Wargin has a number of other titles in this series that are alphabet books. There are alphabet books for other states as well. There are a few art-related concepts in the book, but most pages focus on sites and things Wisconsin is known for.

Cover of the book "B is for Badger: A Wisconsin Alphabet" featuring an illustrated badger in a natural outdoor setting.

A book open to a colorful illustration of a woman in a field near rocks labeled "Galena" and "Lead," featuring a large deer skull.

There are books for different states and the publisher has other alphabet books similar to this one. For example, D is for Dancing Dragon , a China Alphabet.

D is for Dancing Dragon children's book cover featuring a colorful dragon and performers.

Children joyfully fly colorful kites with vibrant tails in a sunny field, under a bright sky background.

Children joyfully carrying lanterns during a nighttime parade, with a man giving a child a piggyback ride.

2. Another book by this publisher that I LOVE which is perfect for the art classroom is M is for Masterpiece. This one has a lot of great art concepts and artists in it. It is a good book to read at the beginning of the year, because it is an introduction to a lot of topics.

A child in a red beret holds a Mona Lisa painting. Text: "M is for Masterpiece" by David Domeniconi, art by Will Bullas. Great for ABC Books and adding charm to any Art Room.

An open book from ABC Books featuring information on Vincent van Gogh, with an illustration of a hand painting a starry sky.

Illustrated book page featuring a woman with animals, vibrant art, and the letter "K" with text descriptions.

A colorful children's book open to pages featuring farmers in a garden on the left and a bridge scene on the right.

Illustration of an artist painting on a large mural in an art room, with text on the left and right pages explaining the scene. ABC Books

3. Another excellent art ABC book with a lot of art concepts, is An ABC of What Art Can Be. It is published by the Getty museum, so you know it is quality! I love the interesting and layered collage illustrations. If you could only buy one ABC art book, I would buy this one (or the M is for Masterpiece one- those two are my favorites).

Book cover titled "An ABC of What Art Can Be" by Meher McArthur, illustrated by Esther Pearl Watson, ideal for any art room.

Illustrated book pages: "Inspiration" quote on left, "J is for Junk" with patched materials on right.

A children's book page from ABC Books showing an orange origami crane and instructions to fold paper into a bird, boat, or fan.

A book from ABC Books with a picture of a man.

4. Your kids older than Kindergarten might be turned off by the name Baby Einstein, but the book itself has a nice range of interesting artworks! Baby Einstein- the ABCs of Art. The pages also have discussion questions to talk about the art. I would use this for pre-school or kindergarten.

Cover of "The ABCs of Art" by Baby Einstein, featuring a goat holding a paintbrush and palette, with a painting in the background. An engaging art book for young readers.

Picture book showing the letter "I" for ice cream, with text and a dinosaur eating ice cream on one page, and an ice cream cone on the other.

An open book showing a page with text about peacocks and another with an illustration of a peacock on a branch.

5. This book is very similar to the Einstein ones, with the ABCs being objects in the artwork. It also has discussion prompts to get kids looking and talking about art. A is for Art Museum

Book titled "A is for Art Museum" featuring various art pieces on the cover.

B is for bridge" page in children's book, featuring Monet's Japanese bridge over a pond surrounded by greenery.

ABC Books page featuring "M is for music" with an illustration of three men playing musical instruments.

6. The next book is not specifically about ART concepts, but I love the illustrations in this book. Here is a review I wrote about Peanut Butter and Jellyfishes and an art lesson plan I did with 1st graders.

Children's book cover titled "Peanut Butter and Jellyfishes" featuring a green octopus chef and playful sea creatures.

Children's book page: "A is for antelopes forming an arc in the Art Room; B begins birch trees with bubblegum bark" with colorful illustrations.

An illustrated children's book page: A raccoon rafts on a raspberry river in an art room. A quail sits quietly amid tall trees.

7. Dr. Seuss never disappoints with his very imaginative books. Here is a whacky and creative one called Dr. Seuss’s ABCs.

A book cover with "Dr. Seuss's ABC" featuring colorful letters A, B, and C and whimsical creatures.

A hand holding an open book with a yellow creature and large feathers; text reads, "BIG F little f F. . . F Four fluffy feathers on a Fiffer-feffer-feff.

Bear in a white outfit holding a spoon over a jar of jelly. Text reads, "BIG J, little j, What begins with j?".

8. Last, but not least, is Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert. I love Lois Ehlert’s illustrations and everything she collages. Just beautiful! Also, not specifically art concepts, but the pictures are artistic.

Cover of "Eating the Alphabet" by Lois Ehlert, featuring colorful illustrations of fruits and vegetables.

Illustration of various fruits including papaya, plum, pomegranate, and persimmon, labeled with their names.

Did I forget any great alphabet books you like to use in your art classroom? Please share below in the comments! I am always on the hunt for new books to read.

Here are a few art lessons that go along with the alphabet theme!

Alphabet Monsters

Alp habet Art Drawings

Patterned Letters

Letter Painting with Kwik Stix

Painting Over Adhesive Letters

Collograph Prints