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Vincent Can’t Sleep: Van Gogh Paints the Night Sky
By Barb Rosenstock, Illustrated by Mary Grand Pre
Vincent van Gogh often found himself unable to sleep and wandered under starlit skies. Those nighttime experiments provided the inspiration for many of his paintings, including his most famous, The Starry Night. Van Gogh sold only one painting in his lifetime, but he continued to pursue his unique vision and ultimately became one of the most beloved artists of all time. 4-8 years
Vincent’s Colors
By Vincent van Gogh and the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Vincent van Gogh is one of the world’s most famous artists. Throughout his life, he wrote to his younger brother, Theo, about his colorful, dynamic paintings. This book pairs the artists’s paintings with his own words. Van Gogh’s descriptions, arranged as a simple rhyme, introduces young readers to all the colors of the rainbow and beyond. The descriptive words combine with spectacular reproductions of many of the artist’s most beloved and important works to create a perfect art book. 5-8 years
Katie and the Starry Night
James Mayhew, Illustrated by Lee Wildish
Join Katie as she steps into one of the most famous paintings in the world for an exciting art adventure. The stars in Vincent van Gogh’s painting are so beautiful that Katie can’t resist reaching in and taking one. But what will she do when all the other stars come tumbling out of the painting, too? Will Katie be able to catch the stars before the gallery guard notices they’ve floated away? 5 and up
Van Gogh and the Sunflowers
By Laurence Anholt
Young Camille befriends a strange visitor to his small town. One day, he brings this man a gift of bright, beautiful sunflowers. The man is Vincent van Gogh and the sunflowers quickly become the subject of a magnificent painting. 6-9 years
In the Garden with Van Gogh
By Julie Merberg and Suzanne Bober
With a narrative that will entertain art lovers of all ages, this board book is a fun way to introduce young children to fine art. The sleepy trees, golden haystacks and juicy fruits will delight little ones. Playful rhyming text accompany the artist’s timeless paintings. 2-5 years
Portrait of an Artist Vincent van Gogh
By Lucy Brownridge, Illustrated by Edith Carron
Vincent van Gogh was born in the Netherlands and today is one of the world’s best-loved painters. But during his lifetime, Van Gogh struggled to find fame and fortune through his art, making very little money from his paintings, which now sell for millions of dollars.
This book tells the story of Van Gogh’s life through his own artworks, and shows how he came to create some of the most famous paintings in the world, including the Sunflowers and Starry Night. Learn about the importance of brotherly love, his struggle to find the right path and the lasting impact he had on the history of art in this book that brings his work to life. 5-7 years
Vincent van Gogh: Sunflowers and Swirly Stars
By Brad Bucks and Joan Holob
This book explores the ups and downs of van Gogh’s life and art which features Buck’s funny cartoons alongside reproductions of van Gogh’s classic paintings like The Starry Night. 5-9 years
Vincent van Gogh
By Mike Venezia
Vincent van Gogh provides an entertaining and humorous introduction to the famous artist, Vincent van Gogh. Full-color reproductions of the actual paintings are enhanced by Venezia’s illustrations and story line. With primary sources, maps, timelines, photos and illustrations, Venzia helps students learn about this notable artist. 7-10 years
Vincent Van Gogh: He Saw the World in Vibrant Colors
By Amy Guglielmo
See the world through Vincent van Gogh’s eyes and be inspired to produce your own masterpieces. Have you ever wondered exactly what your favorite artists were looking at to make them draw, sculpt, or paint the way they did? In this illustrated series, created in full collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you can see what they saw, and be inspired to create your own artworks. In the pages of this book, step into Van Gogh’s life and learn what led him to paint his eye-catching self-portraits. See the landscapes that inspired his famous Wheat Fields. Have a go at painting your own sunflowers! 5-9 years
Vincent van Gogh: Portrait of an Artist
by Jan Greenberg and Sarah Jordan
Vincent van Gogh, one of the nineteenth century’s most brilliant artist will forever be remembered as the Dutchman who pioneered new techniques and styles and who, in a fit of passion, cut off his ear. Whether painting a portrait, landscape, or still life, van Gogh sought to capture the vibrant spirit of his subject. Still, fame eluded him. This lack of recognition over a career spanning a mere decade (from twenty-seven to thirty-seven) fueled his lifelong self-doubt and bitter disappointments. Today, van Gogh’s paintings are recognized as masterpieces and the artist as a giant. 10 and up
Vincent and Theo: The van Gogh Brothers
By Deborah Heilgman
The deep and enduring friendship between Vincent and Theo van Gogh shaped both brothers’ lives. Confidant, champion, sympathizer, friend, Theo supported Vincent as he struggled to find his path in life. They shared everything, successes and disappointments, dreams and ambitions. Meticulously researched, drawing on the 658 letters Vincent wrote to Theo during his lifetime, Deborah Heilgman weaves a tale of two lives intertwined and the extraordinary love of the Van Gogh brothers. Young Adult
Van Gogh and the Post-Impressionists for Kids
by Carol Sabbeth
Swirling, curling brushstrokes. Vivid colors. Thick layers of paint. These are the hallmarks of a painting by Vincent van Gogh. This book reveals a complex young man who loved nature and reading, spoke four languages and worked as a gallery salesman before finding his calling as an artist. 9 and up
The book descriptions are primarily from the publisher.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Pompeii Lost and Found
By Mary Pope Osborne, Illustrated by Bonnie Christensen
The famous eruption of Mount Vesuvius that ended life in Pompeii and buried the town has long been a fascinating moment in history for children. This book presents that dramatic story with brief text and stunning frescoes using the same colors, style, and technique as the ancient frescoes unearthed there. In addition to the destruction of the city and the rediscovery of the ruins nearly 1,700 years later, this book shows what daily life was like in this prosperous Roman town in the year 79 A.D.
What Was Pompeii?
By Jim O’Connor, Illustrated by John Hinderliter
The morning of August 24, A.D. 79, seemed like any other in the Roman city of Pompeii. So, no one was prepared when the nearby volcano Mount Vesuvius suddenly erupted, spouting ash that buried the city and its inhabitants. The disaster left thousands dead, and the city was no more than a memory for almost 1,700 years. In 1748, explorers rediscovered Pompeii with intact buildings and beautiful mosaics. This easy-to-read account is gripping and includes photos of the ruins.
Escape From Pompeii
By Christina Balit
Tranio, like most Roman boys, likes to watch whatever is going on: tradesmen selling their goods, ships unloading their exotic cargoes, politicians making speeches in the forum. But one hot August day a very different scene unfolds. The ground begins to shake, the sky to darken. People run gasping for air. Heading for the harbor. Tranio and his friend Livia hide on a boat and witness one of the most terrifying moments in recorded history — the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the destruction of their beloved city, Pompeii.
Pompeii Buried Alive
By Edith Kunhardt, Illustrated by Michael Eagle
A Step 4 history reader, “The drama of natural disasters provides prime material to entice young independent readers. In this book, the account of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius describes village life 2,000 years ago, the eruption itself and its aftermath, and the excitement when the buried town is rediscovered centuries later — Publishers Weekly
You Wouldn’t Want to Live in Pompeii
By John Malam, Illustrated by David Antram
Get ready…as a trusted slave in a quiet Roman town in 79 CE, you’re about to undergo the most terrifying experience of your life. You’ll never forget what its like to live in Pompeii. Find out all about the horrible fate of the residents, what remains of the town today, and how Vesuvius’s victims were preserved for eternity.
The Pompeii Disaster
By Dan Gutman
Eccentric billionaire Miss Z is sending Luke, Julia, David, and Isabel on another mission back in time to capture one of history’s most important events.
This time, the Flashback Four are headed to AD 79 to photograph the eruption of Mount Vesuvius! Can the Flashback Four get their photo and get back home before they become ancient history?
With real photographs from Pompeii to help put young readers right in the action, plus back matter that separates fact from fiction, The Pompeii Disaster tells the story of one of the world’s most devastating natural disasters like you’ve never seen it before.
Explore 360° Pompeii: Be Transported Back in Time With Breathtaking 3D Tour
By Peter Crisp and Dr. Hannah Platts
More than 1,900 years ago, the Roman city of Pompeii was frozen in time when the massive eruption of Mt. Vesuvius buried the city, and everyone in it, under layers of ash. Millions are gripped by this dramatic story of the sudden destruction of the town, and the fascinating preservation of the people and animals who were there when it happened. This book offers an in-depth look at life there before, during, and after the eruption.
Pompeii
By Peter Connolly
This book is a comprehensive look at the ancient city of Pompeii that begins with scientific facts: How was it destroyed? How did Mount Vesuvius become an active volcano? What happened during the eruption? How long did Pompeii lay buried and how was it finally rediscovered? What was its history before the disaster? The author rebuilds the past in words and pictures, allowing us to imagine what it was like to live in old Pompeii. Like an archaeological detective, he sifts through the ruins and artifacts to reconstruct one area of the town in minute detail.
Bodies From the Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii
By James M. Deem
In ancient times, Pompeii was one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire. Its 20,000 inhabitants lived in the shadow of Vesuvius, which they believed was nothing more than a mountain. But Vesuvius was a volcano. And on the morning of August 24, A.D. 79, Vesuvius began to erupt. Within twenty-four hours, the entire city and many of its citizens had been utterly annihilated. It was not until hundreds of years later that Pompeii saw daylight again as archaeological excavations began to unearth what had been buried under layers of volcanic rubble. Digging crews expected to find buildings and jewelry and other treasures, but they found something unexpected, too: the imprints of lost citizens, their deaths captured as if by photographic images in volcanic ash.
The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Who Was Anne Frank?
By Ann Abramson, Illustrated by Nancy Harrison
In her amazing diary, Anne Frank revealed the challenges and dreams common for any young girl. But Hitler brought her childhood to an end and forced her family into hiding. This nonfiction chapter book looks closely at her life before the secret annex, what life was like in hiding, and the legacy of her diary. 8-12 years
Behind the Bookcase: Miep Gies, Anne Frank and the Hiding Place
By Barbara Lowell, Illustrated by Valentina Toro
Miep Gies risked her life to keep a secret. Behind the bookcase in her office, stairs led to a hiding place where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis. Once a refugee herself, Miep knew the power of kindness. Her selflessness, humanity, and bravery sheltered Anne for a time. Because of Miep, Anne Frank’s story lives on. 7-11 years
Anne Frank
By Josephine Poole, Illustrated by Angela Barrett
The life of Anne Frank, from birth until being taken from the hidden attic by the Nazis, is presented in the well-researched picture book. 10 and up
Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation
By Anne Frank, Illustrated by David Polonsky
A timeless story rediscovered by each new generation, The Diary of a Young Girl stands without peer. For both young readers and adults it continues to capture the remarkable spirit of the young girl, who for a time survived the worst horror the modern world has seen—and who remained triumphantly human throughout.
Adapted by Ari Folman, illustrated by David Polonsky, and authorized by the Anne Frank Foundation in Basel, this is the first graphic edition of The Diary and includes extensive quotation directly from the definitive edition. It remains faithful to the original, while the illustrations interpret and add layers of visual meaning to this classic work of Holocaust literature.
The Cat Who Lived With Anne Frank
By David Lee Miller and Stephen Jay Rubin, Illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley
When Mouschi the cat goes with his boy, Peter, to a secret annex, he meets a girl named Anne. Bright, kind and loving, she dreams of freedom and of becoming a writer whose words change the world. But Mouschi, along with Anne and her family and friends, must stay hidden, hoping for the war to end and for a better future.
Told from the perspective of the cat who actually lived in the famous Amsterdam annex, this poignant book paints a picture of a young girl who wistfully dreams of a better life for herself and her friends. She wonders what mark she might leave on the world, and, above all, adamantly believes in the goodness of people. Accompanied by vivid art, this book is a perfect introduction to a serious topic for younger readers. 4-8 years
Anne Frank The Girl Heard Around the World
By Linda Elovitz Marshall, Illustrated by Aura Lewis
Linda Elovitz Marshall introduces readers to the story of Anne Frank in this powerful book about family, war, and the importance of finding your voice.
During her two years in hiding from the Nazis, Anne Frank poured her soul into a red plaid diary named Kitty. She wrote honestly of the reality of Nazi occupation, of daily life in the annex, and of her longing to be heard. More than anything, she spoke the truth, and her words have echoed throughout history. 6-8 years
Anne Frank: National Geographic Reader
By Alexandra Zapruder
This level-3 reader brings an understanding of Anne Frank’s historical significance to a whole new audience. Young readers will learn about the brave and tragic life of the young girl who kept a diary while in hiding from Nazis. 6-9 years
Anne Frank and the Remembering Tree
By Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, Illustrated by Erika Steiskal
This is a story of a young girl, who loved a tree and the tree who promised never to forget her. This book is co-published with the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the first U.S. recipient of a sapling from the tree outside the Secret Annex window. 6-9 years
The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank’s Window
By Jeff Gottesfeld, Illustrated by Peter McCarty
The tree in the courtyard, where Anne and her family hid from the Nazis, was a horse chestnut tree. Its leaves were like green stars and its flowers cones of white and pink. The tree died the summer she would have turned eighty-one, but its seeds and saplings have been planted around the world as a symbol of peace. Its story and hers are told and illustrated in this picture book. 5-8 years
Anne Frank: The Young Writer Who Told the World Her Story
By Ann Kramer
This book takes readers back to the dark days of World War II through the story of the famous young diarist. Like teenagers everywhere, she wrote about friends, family, movies, her greatest joys, and her deepest fears. Through her diary entries, we experience her changing world as persecution, hiding, and betrayal become part of daily life in Nazi occupied Europe. 8-12 years
Anne Frank: Her Life in Words and Pictures
By Menno Metselaar and Rudd van der Rol
On a summer day in 1942, Anne Frank and her family went into hiding from the Nazis. Until the day they were arrested, more than two years later, she kept a diary. This book produced in association with The Anne Frank House is a visual guide to her tragic, but inspiring story. 9-12 years
Inside Anne Frank’s House
By Hans Westra
More than 350 full-color and black-and-white photographs capture the legacy of Anne Frank in a visual tour of the famous Amsterdam home in which she and her family took refuge to escape the Nazis. All ages
The book descriptions are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane
By Kirsten W. Larson, Illustrated by Tracy Subisak
Emma Lilian Todd’s mind was always soaring–she loved to solve problems. Lilian tinkered and fiddled with all sorts of objects, turning dreams into useful inventions. As a child, she took apart and reassembled clocks to figure out how they worked. As an adult, typing up patents at the U.S. Patent Office, Lilian built the inventions in her mind, including many designs for flying machines. However, they all seemed too impractical.
Lilian knew she could design one that worked. She took inspiration from both nature and her many failures, driving herself to perfect the design that would eventually successfully fly. Illustrator Tracy Subisak’s art brings to life author Kirsten W. Larson’s story of this little-known but important engineer. 7-10 years
Neo Leo: The Ageless Ideas of Leonardo daVinci
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 Comu built the first helicopter. But Leonardo da Vinci thought of all these ideas more than five hundred years ago! At once an artist, inventor, engineer, and scientist, da Vinci wrote and drew detailed descriptions of what would later become hang gliders, automobiles, robots, and much more. In Neo Leo, Gene Barretta shows how Leonardo’s ideas — many inspired by his love of nature — foreshadowed modern inventions, offering a window into the future.
The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth
by Kathleen Krull, Illustrated by George Couch
Plowing a potato field in 1920, a 14-year-old boy from Idaho saw in the parallel rows of overturned earth a way to “make pictures fly through the air.” This boy was not a magician. He was a scientific genius. Just eight years later he made his brainstorm in the potato field a reality. He transmitted the world’s first television image.
Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor
By Laurie Wallmark, Illustrated by Katy Wu
To her adoring public, Hedy Lamarr was a glamorous movie star, widely considered the most beautiful woman in the world. But in private, she was something more: a brilliant inventor. And for many years only her closest friends knew her secret. Now Laurie Wallmark and Katy Wu tell the story of how, during World War Two, Lamarr developed a groundbreaking communications system that still remains essential to the security of today’s technology.
Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became An Inventor
by Emily Arnold McCully
With her sketchbook labeled My Inventions and her father’s toolbox, Mattie could make almost anything — toys, sleds, and a foot warmer. When she was just twelve years old, Mattie designed a metal guard to prevent shuttles from shooting off textile looms and injuring workers. As an adult, Mattie invented the machine that makes the square-bottom paper bags we still use today.
George Ferris What A Wheel
by Barbara Lowell, Illustrated by Jerry Hoare
Have you ever ridden a Ferris wheel? You can see for miles! But when the inventor of the Ferris wheel, George Ferris, first pitched the idea, everyone thought he was crazy. A 250-foot bicycle wheel that goes around and around and can carry 2,160 people in train size cars at the same time? Can’t be done, they said. But George proved them wrong. Teacher Guide available at: https://barbaralowell.com/teacher-guide-2/
George Crum and the Saratoga Chip
by Gaylia Taylor, Illustrated by Frank Morrison
Who invented the potato chip? George Crum did as a chef in a Saratoga Springs, New York restaurant in 1853. Who knew the potato chip was that old?
Papa’s Mechanical Fish
by Candace Fleming, Illustrated by Boris Kulikov
Clink! Clankety-bang! Thump-whirr! That’s the sound of Papa at work. Although he is an inventor, he has never made anything that works perfectly. That’s because he hasn’t yet found a truly fantastic idea. But when he takes his family fishing on Lake Michigan, his daughter Virena asks, “Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a fish? Papa is off to his workshop. With a lot of persistence and a little bit of help, Papa — who is based on the real-life inventor Lodner Phillips — creates a submarine that can take his family for a trip to the bottom of Lake Michigan.
Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine
by Laurie Wallmark, Illustrated by Amy Chu
Ada Lovelace, the daughter of the famous romantic poet, Lord Byron, develops her creativity through science and math. When she meets Charles Babbage, the inventor of the first mechanical computer, Ada understands the machine better than anyone else and writes the world’s first computer program.
Eat My Dust! Henry Ford’s First Race
by Monica Kulling, Illustrated by Richard Walz
It’s 1901 and Henry Ford wants to build a car that everyone can own. But first he needs the money to produce it. How will he get it. He enters a car race, of course!
A Weed is a Flower: The Life of George Washington Carver
by Aliki
Award winning author and illustrator Aliki tells George Washington Carver’s story in this beautifully told and illustrated picture book.
Thomas Edison and His Bright Idea
by Patricia Brennan DeMuth, Illustrated by Jez Tuya
As a curious child who was always asking questions, it’s no wonder Thomas Edison grew up to become a famous, prolific inventor. This easy-to-read nonfiction story follows Edison from his time in school to his career as a full-time inventor. Edison’s discoveries will fascinate and inspire all curious young minds!
Who Were The Wright Brothers?
by James Buckley, Jr., Illustrated by Tom Foley
As young boys, Orville and Wilbur Wright loved all things mechanical. As young men, they gained invaluable skills essential for their success by working with printing presses, bicycles, motors, and any sort of machinery they could get their hands on. The brothers worked together to invent, build, and fly the world’s first successful airplane. These aviation pioneers never lost sight of their dream to fly and to soar higher!
The book descriptions used 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