Magnifique! 5 Inspiring Children’s Books about Artists and Musicians!

Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters, by Michael Mahin and Evan Turk
McKinley Morganfield, better known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician whom many consider to be one of the greatest  musicians that has ever lived. In Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters author Michael Mahin tells the tale of Muddy’s life and introduction to blues music, from his sharecropper beginnings in Mississippi to the fast streets of Chicago. It was named as one of the best illustrated children’s books of 2017 by the New York Times, and Evan Turk’s electric illustrations are a perfect counterpart to the energy and exuberance Mahin brings to telling the story of the renowned Blues legend.

Sonia Delaunay: A Life of Color, by Cara Manes and Fatinha Ramos
Sonia Delaunay: A Life of Color manages a pretty awesome feat. It serves as an introduction to the renowned painter and textile, theater, and fashion designer, while simultaneously introducing little readers to the artistic process. Even better it takes them on a magical adventure with the artist and her young song Charles as they travel into one of Delaunay’s paintings.  Drawn with vibrancy and featuring some of Delaunay’s own art, Sonia Delaunay: A Life of Color is an engaging and informative read.

Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos, by Monica Brown and John Parra
Renowned artist and cultural icon Frida Kahlo was well known for her love of her pets, including a spider monkey and a parrot.  And Author Monica Brown uses Frida’s pets to illustrate different aspects of Frida’s personality; just like her turkeys, Frida was intelligent and sensitive and much like her dogs, she could be warm and loving.  Brown also illustrates how Frida’s art was the key to her perseverance even during the toughest times in her life. Illustrator John Parra paints a warm and intimate portrait of Frida, using a folk-art style that adds perfectly to the books’s cozy, intimate feel.

Trombone Shorty, by Troy Andrews and Bryan Collier
A 2016 Caldecott Honor Book and Coretta Scott King Award Winner, Trombone Shorty is an engaging and beautifully drawn autobiographical story of Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews.  In Trombone Shorty, Andrews details his life, from receiving the nickname “Trombone Shorty” because he carried a trombone much bigger than him as a child, to headlining the legendary New Orleans Jazz festival. The city of New Orleans also serves as a wonderfully vibrant companion and backdrop to Andrews as he learns what it takes to become a legendary jazz musician.

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, by Javaka Steptoe
Author Steptoe takes young readers on a journey to learn more about a legendary artist and his collage-style paintings in this exciting and entertaining tale of  Jean-Michel Basquiat as a child. Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat follows Basquiat as he discovers that art doesn’t always have to be perfect and learns to appreciate beauty where he finds it, from street corners to poetry. With an emphasis on self-discovery, Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat will delight young readers as they learn more about an important artist, through words and beautifully rendered art that pay homage to his inspirational talents.