6 Gorgeous Picture Books Published by Famous Museums

A Lion in Paris, by Beatrice Alemagna
This is one of my all-time favorite picture books. Courtesy of Tate Publishing and written and illustrated by Beatrice Alemagna, this book is a perfect ode to the City of Light. Alemagna uses a combination of collage and illustration to capture Paris’s singular charm. Tate Publishing is also behind other Alemagna marvels, including What Is a Child? and Little Big Boubo.

Matisse’s Garden, by Samantha Friedman
A vivid look into Henri Matisse’s process of “drawing with scissors,” readers will delight in the artist’s iconic cut-outs. Reproductions of Matisse’s brilliantly colored shapes and figures are featured throughout the book. The story’s illustrations, created by Cristina Amodeo, pay great respect to the artist. Each of Amodeo’s collages both mirror and honor Matisse’s playful and vibrant style. Matisse’s Garden is published by MoMA, New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

The Book With a Hole, by Hervé Tullet
Hervé Tullet, the French author of Mix It Up! and Press Here, is famous for his interactive picture books. The Book with a Hole, another stellar book from Tate Publishing, is typical Tullet: imaginative and completely unique.
True to its title, this book does indeed come with a large hole. On each page, the hole represents something different. It is a child’s open mouth, a man’s gigantic stomach, a swimming pool, and a bullseye. Many pages call for responses from young readers. When the hole is shown in the middle of an elephant’s face, children can complete the scene by using their arms to represent the elephant’s trunk. When the hole becomes a basket, children are asked to crumple up paper and shoot through the book’s “hoop.”

Vincent’s Colors, by Vincent van Gogh
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is behind this charming look at Vincent van Gogh’s greatest works. Each featured painting is accompanied by a few words from the artist himself. Taken from letters to his brother, van Gogh’s descriptions of his own works are simple and affecting. Van Gogh describes Starry Night Over the Rhône as “stars sparkling, greenish, yellow, white” and Olive Orchard as “leaves of silver turning green.” A lovely first look at one of painting’s greats.

Juanita, by Leo Politi
Originally published in 1948, Juanita was reprinted by the J. Paul Getty Museum in 2009. Leo Politi’s book follows Juanita, a young girl living in Los Angeles. Celebrating the vibrant Latino culture of downtown Los Angeles, the story follows Juanita on the day before Easter. Politi’s book includes music and lyrics for Las Mañanitas, the Mexican birthday song, and Duérmete Niña, a lullaby. Getty Publications has also reprinted other books by Politi, including Pedro: The Angel of Olvera Street and Song of the Swallows, winner of the Caldecott Medal.

Young Charlotte, Filmmaker, by Frank Viva
Charlotte is a young girl who prefers life in black and white. She adores the limited palette of inky spiders and monochromatic penguins, but feels very much alone in her grayscale world—until she meets a kindred spirit at MoMA. Frank Viva authors and illustrates this lively picture book. For others in this series, check out Young Frank, Architect.