Leonardo da Vinci

By Jane Kent, Illustrated by Isabel Munoz

Why could Leonardo da Vinci paint the human form so accurately in all its beauty? How was he educated and trained as an artist? What inspired his most famous works, including The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa? And what fun machine did he invent? Find out about this unique artist and the many areas, from architecture to flight, he drew on and influenced.  

Leonardo Beautiful Dreamer

By Robert Byrd

Famous in his time as a painter, prankster, and philosopher, Leonardo da Vinci was also a musician, sculptor, and engineer for dukes, popes, and kings. What remains of his work, from futuristic designs and scientific inquiry to artwork of ethereal beauty, reveals the ambitious, unpredictable brilliance of a visionary, and a timeless dreamer. 

Who Was Leonardo da Vinci

By Roberta Edwards, Illustrated by True Kelley

Leonardo was a gifted painter, talented musician, and dedicated scientist and inventor. He designed flying machines, submarines and even helicopters.  Yet, he had a hard time finishing things, a problem anyone can relate to.  Only thirteen paintings are known to be his. As for the illustrated encyclopedia he intended to create, all that he left were thousands of disorganized notebook pages.  Here is an accessible portrait of a fascinating man who lived at a fascinating time—Italy during the Renaissance. 

The Science and Technology of Leonardo da Vinci

By Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan, Illustrated by Micah Rauch

During the Renaissance, inventors and other creative thinkers designed and constructed many new things. It was a time of discovery, wonder, and exploration. And one of the people on the forefront of that awakening was Leonardo da Vinci. Readers explore the life of one of the world’s most amazing minds. They discover what it might have been like to live in the fourteenth century, when work, entertainment, medicine, travel, and food were very different. They ponder the same kinds of questions that drove Leonardo to tinker and experiment endlessly, even while creating artwork that influenced entire generations who came after him. What is the inside of the body like? How might humans fly? How can geometry be used to design stronger buildings?

His dedication to invention, experimentation, and art, along with his insatiable curiosity, gave the world new insight into anatomy, botany, engineering, and much more. Kids gain these same insights through hands-on STEM activities, essential questions, text-to-world connections, and links to online resources, including primary sources, that encourage readers to take a closer look at the world of the Renaissance.

Neo Leo: The Ageless Ideas of Leonardo da Vinci

By Gene Barretta

In 1781, Thomas Paine came up with a model for a single-span bridge; in 1887, Adolf Eugen Fick made the first pair of contact lenses; and in 1907, Paul Cornu built the first helicopter. But Leonardo da Vinci thought of all these ideas more than five hundred years ago!

An artist, inventor, engineer, and scientist, he wrote and drew detailed descriptions of what would later become hang gliders, automobiles, robots, and much more. Gene Barretta cleverly shows how Leonardo’s ideas, many inspired by his love of nature, foreshadowed modern inventions and offered a window into the future. 

I am Leonardo da Vinci

By Brad Meltzer, Illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos

This book features Leonardo da Vinci, the Renaissance artist and inventor. He always followed his interests, no matter where they led! His quest to fly led him to study birds’ wings and his invention designs were the very earliest sketches of helicopters and other flying machines. His hard work and dedication to his curiosities is why we still remember him today.

The Story of Leonardo da Vinci

By Ciari O’Neal

Leonardo da Vinci was a famous artist and thinker. He created well-known paintings like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, and even had ideas for modern-day inventions like cars and contact lenses. Before he amazed the world with his creative mind, he was a bright kid who loved asking questions.

As a teenager, he studied under an expert artist who taught him different ways to create, like painting and sculpting. Explore how Leonardo went from being a thoughtful young boy to an artistic genius whose artwork still hangs in museums all over the world.

The Story includes:

  • Core curriculum standards―Learn the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Leonardo’s life, and test your knowledge with a fun quiz.

  • His lasting legacy―Discover more about how Leonardo da Vinci changed the world for future generations, including you!

  • A visual timeline―Explore a timeline marking the major milestones of his life so you can watch him progress from a little kid to a brilliant artist.

 

The Genius of Leonardo Da Vinci

By Guido Visconti, Illustrated by Bimba Landmann

Artist, engineer, pacifist, inventor: Leonardo da Vinci was a genius of a very particular kind. This introduction to his life and work is vividly retold through the eyes of his young apprentice, Giacomo, making it easy for young readers to relate to his story. 

Leonardo da Vinci: Extraordinary Machines

By David Hawcock

The most significant creations of the Renaissance genius, Leonardo da Vinci, come to life in the pages of this illustrated pop-up book. Published to commemorate the 500th anniversary of his death, this book reveals the intricacy and importance of his designs for robots, flying machines, and other timeless inventions. The 3-D models are based on the master’s actual drawings and are accompanied by his notes. 

Leonardo da Vinci

By Diane Stanley

Born in 1452, to a peasant woman and a country gentleman, Leonardo da Vinci was one of the most amazing people who ever lived. He grew up to be a great painter, sculptor, architect, scientist, and inventor.

As a boy, he was apprenticed to a famous artist. But he quickly became more skilled than his teacher. He filled thousands of pages with plans for incredible inventions including a submarine, and air-cooling system, “glasses to see the moon large,” and even a flying machine. 

Leonardo and the Flying Boy

By Laurence Anholt

Zoro is a little boy in 17th-century Italy, long before airplanes flew in the sky. But Zoro is also an apprentice to the artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci–and Leonardo is experimenting with a revolutionary flying machine! 

Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas, 21 Activities

By Joan Herbert

The marriage of art and science is celebrated in this activity book. Kids will begin to understand the important discoveries that da Vinci made through inspiring activities like determining the launch angle of a catapult, sketching birds and other animals, creating a map, learning to look at a painting, and much more. Includes a glossary, bibliography, listing of pertinent museums and websites, a timeline, and many interesting sidebars. 

Leonardo Da Vinci

By Mike Venezia

Clever illustrations and story lines, together with full-color reproductions of actual paintings, give children a light yet realistic overview of Leonardo DaVinci’s life and style.

The book descriptions are primarily from the publishers.

If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author

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