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The Story of Paintings: A History of Art for Children
From prehistoric cave art to graffiti, this beautiful compendium introduces children to the world of paintings.
Get ready to feast your eyes on an exhibition of fantastic art! Kids can time-travel through the centuries and learn all about 39 paintings, from a galloping horse drawn in the Lascaux Caves during the Stone Age, to Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus and Velázquez’s Las Meninas , to masterpieces by Dalí, Picasso, Kahlo, and Basquiat. Each spread showcases a different painting, along with a profile of the artist, kid-friendly cartoons, and fun prompts that encourage children to ask questions (like, “What do you think Mona Lisa is smiling about?”) and spot details in each work.
Get ready to feast your eyes on an exhibition of fantastic art! Kids can time-travel through the centuries and learn all about 39 paintings, from a galloping horse drawn in the Lascaux Caves during the Stone Age, to Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus and Velázquez’s Las Meninas , to masterpieces by Dalí, Picasso, Kahlo, and Basquiat. Each spread showcases a different painting, along with a profile of the artist, kid-friendly cartoons, and fun prompts that encourage children to ask questions (like, “What do you think Mona Lisa is smiling about?”) and spot details in each work.
88 pages, Hardcover
Published September 5, 2017
4 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Mick Manning
168 books19 followersManning went to school in Keighley and then studied at at Bradford College. He studied illustration and graphic design at Newcastle Polytechnic (now the University of Northumbria) 1979 - 82 and then illustration and animation at the Royal College of Art London 1984-87 . Later he devised and ran the BA honours Illustration option at the Glasgow School of Art while maintaining a freelance career. In 1998 he resigned to concentrate on writing and illustrating children's books full-time. British artist-illustrators Xavier Pick, Helen Stephens and Mark Hearld number among his ex-students. Manning's first book A Ruined House was chosen by Quentin Blake in The Laureate's Party (Red Fox) as one of his personal top 50 children's books of all time. Manning is known for his collaborations as author and co-illustrator with partner Brita Granström. Books from their young non-fiction series "Wonderwise" won the TES, Silver Smarties and English Association Awards and were also shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prizes (then called The Rhone Poulenc) on three occasions. They won The English Association award again in 2005 with Voices of the Rainforest and again in 2008 with Greek Hero. Their book Yuck! is referenced in the Mike Leigh film Happy Go Lucky. Tail End Charlie, a picture book about his father's Second World War experience as an RAF air gunner during 1944 was shortlisted for, and televised on, the Blue Peter Book Awards 2010. It was also shortlisted for the ALCS Award and was nominated for the Carnegie Medal 2010. Manning is a direct descendant of 18th Century Italian artist Bonifacio Musso, and Musso's London-born son Charles Muss who was himself, among many other things, a British illustrator. In 2011 Mick and Brita won a fourth English Association Award with the follow up to Tail-End Charlie; Taff in the WAAF a fascinating book about his mother's war including her experiences as a Chicksands 'Y' station listener for Bletchley Park. In 2011 he was elected a Fellow of The English Association.
Manning's other children's non fiction picture books include science titles such as: How Did I Begin? (this book looks at the amazing development of a human baby from fertilised egg to birth and was shortlisted for the Rhone Poulenc Prize in 1996) Woolly Mammoth (with the NHM, London), Dino Dinners (with the NHM, London), Nature Adventures and 'What Mr Darwin Saw, (this book about the life of Charles Darwin and his discoveries was shortlisted for the Royal Society's science book prize in 2011.)
Manning's other children's non fiction picture books include science titles such as: How Did I Begin? (this book looks at the amazing development of a human baby from fertilised egg to birth and was shortlisted for the Rhone Poulenc Prize in 1996) Woolly Mammoth (with the NHM, London), Dino Dinners (with the NHM, London), Nature Adventures and 'What Mr Darwin Saw, (this book about the life of Charles Darwin and his discoveries was shortlisted for the Royal Society's science book prize in 2011.)
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 7, 2019
This is a nice selection of paintings through time starting with cave paintings and finishing with Jean Michel Basquiat. There was quite a jump from cave paintings to Giotto (1266-1337) it would have been good to see one or two examples inbetween but other than that, this book shows a good range of styles over the other eras. I didn't like the accompanying illustrations much, too whimsical and cartoonish for my taste but overall a good children's introduction to painting.
June 4, 2019
This has the faint odor of Diversity - where a predetermined checklist influences the selections and where a quota must be met. I also sense the politics of the "Patriarchy" in several of the notes on women artists.
One can always quibble about selection, of course. Thirty-nine artists is not much at all. However, note that Renoir, Raphael, and Rubens are all out. So are Gainsborough and Gaugin and El Greco. Degas and Durer are absent. You will not find Stuart, Seurat, or Cezanne. No Manet, no Mondrian, no Hogarth, no Audubon, no Bosch, no Cassat, no Titian. While the majority of the 39 artists that were included are the usual suspects whose importance cannot be disputed, there are a few whom I would say have not had an influence on the history of art that meets or surpasses that of those who were omitted.
Interestingly, the book specifically notes, "We decided not to show living artists but those who have now passed into art history themselves." So while all the artists are dead, there are some who have not had much time to be assessed by history. Basquiat (1960-88) is the final example - I would argue that his early death allowed him to be included, while many others of his generation who still live and could well be more important in art history were excluded by the arbitrary criteria. I would probably have preferred a set cutoff date, leaving off the last 50 years or whatever.
I also found that religion, which has played an incredibly huge role in art, was downplayed. The only examples included are Giotto and Michelangelo.
The large reproductions of the actual artwork are wonderful. The other illustrations (cartoons with speech bubbles) are mostly dumb. The text is extremely brief and while there are some good facts in there, it feels very insubstantial. I feel that many additional resources would be required to convey any real significance to a historical overview. And very likely, those works would end up rendering this book superfluous.
One can always quibble about selection, of course. Thirty-nine artists is not much at all. However, note that Renoir, Raphael, and Rubens are all out. So are Gainsborough and Gaugin and El Greco. Degas and Durer are absent. You will not find Stuart, Seurat, or Cezanne. No Manet, no Mondrian, no Hogarth, no Audubon, no Bosch, no Cassat, no Titian. While the majority of the 39 artists that were included are the usual suspects whose importance cannot be disputed, there are a few whom I would say have not had an influence on the history of art that meets or surpasses that of those who were omitted.
Interestingly, the book specifically notes, "We decided not to show living artists but those who have now passed into art history themselves." So while all the artists are dead, there are some who have not had much time to be assessed by history. Basquiat (1960-88) is the final example - I would argue that his early death allowed him to be included, while many others of his generation who still live and could well be more important in art history were excluded by the arbitrary criteria. I would probably have preferred a set cutoff date, leaving off the last 50 years or whatever.
I also found that religion, which has played an incredibly huge role in art, was downplayed. The only examples included are Giotto and Michelangelo.
The large reproductions of the actual artwork are wonderful. The other illustrations (cartoons with speech bubbles) are mostly dumb. The text is extremely brief and while there are some good facts in there, it feels very insubstantial. I feel that many additional resources would be required to convey any real significance to a historical overview. And very likely, those works would end up rendering this book superfluous.
October 15, 2017
This book by by Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom has a beautiful selection of art, information about the artists , and their paintings. These range from Cave paintings, self portraits and contemporary art with both familiar and non familiar paintings and artists.
The interactive nature of the book encourages the children to find things in each painting and is something you can easily do with your 3-5 year old. Even though it is recommended for older children I think it would make a great resource in a kindergarten class and beyond. At each different grade, the book can be used and inspiration gained from it in different ways, for example: younger children may find the different items throughout the pages but a child heading into high school might examine the images more closely to learn more about technique and paint choices.
The large pages enable the reader to really enjoy taking their time looking at each image. You are able to look at each piece of art in depth and appreciate all the work that has gone into it. The book gives the reader more insight into paintings and the ability to think and talk about each one with others.
Overall, this book would remain interesting to your child for many years. Insight will be gained into how paints and dyes have changed over the course of time and how artistic experimentation is keeping art fresh and exciting. People of all ages will be inspired by these artists, their stories, and their paintings.
Full review can be found at www.littlebigreads.com
The interactive nature of the book encourages the children to find things in each painting and is something you can easily do with your 3-5 year old. Even though it is recommended for older children I think it would make a great resource in a kindergarten class and beyond. At each different grade, the book can be used and inspiration gained from it in different ways, for example: younger children may find the different items throughout the pages but a child heading into high school might examine the images more closely to learn more about technique and paint choices.
The large pages enable the reader to really enjoy taking their time looking at each image. You are able to look at each piece of art in depth and appreciate all the work that has gone into it. The book gives the reader more insight into paintings and the ability to think and talk about each one with others.
Overall, this book would remain interesting to your child for many years. Insight will be gained into how paints and dyes have changed over the course of time and how artistic experimentation is keeping art fresh and exciting. People of all ages will be inspired by these artists, their stories, and their paintings.
Full review can be found at www.littlebigreads.com
September 17, 2018
It is hard to sum-up of the entirety of this particular book. The best way to explain it is just very simple and will be done using the google explanation: "Get ready to feast your eyes on an exhibition of fantastic art! Kids can time-travel through the centuries and learn all about 39 paintings, from a galloping horse drawn in the Lascaux Caves during the Stone Age, to Botticelli's The Birth of Venus and Velázquez's Las Meninas, to masterpieces by Dalí, Picasso, Kahlo, and Basquiat. Each spread showcases a different painting, along with a profile of the artist, kid-friendly cartoons, and fun prompts that encourage children to ask questions (like, "What do you think Mona Lisa is smiling about?") and spot details in each work." Basically, it is a book that introduces young readers to artist in different time periods and shows them some of that artists work.
Art is very important for a child education. It allows them to experience different types of cultures. It also gives them the chance to explore their own creativity and see how others express theirs. This can also help them figure out ways to express their own. Art can be used in many ways in the classroom other than for simply teaching the visual arts and their "rules".
Art can be used in many different grade levels but I will only use two as an example of a lesson. Let's take Vincent Willem van Gogh and his painting "Starry Night" for example; after all the painting is on the cover of the book. I could easily use this painting with Kindergarten or 1st grade to help me with a science lesson. I could compare and contrast it to other works in the book that depict night vs. day. This can help me teach a lesson that focuses on teaching the differences between night and day (and how they transition). What are some things we see during the day that we may not see at night? what are some things we may see at night but not during the day? How does the sky look when it is transitioning from day to night, what about from night to day?
Another option is to use van Gogh's Sunflower paintings. You can use this to help teach a lesson about the different parts of a flower, how plants grow, and so on. Don't be afraid to read about the artist as well, can can only further a child knowledge. Also, when teaching about "Starry Night" you can play the song "Starry Starry Night" from the movie Loving Vincent in the background as students work. It is a very calming song and can help students relax and stay focused as they work. it also relates to the painting and person they were just talking about!
Art is very important for a child education. It allows them to experience different types of cultures. It also gives them the chance to explore their own creativity and see how others express theirs. This can also help them figure out ways to express their own. Art can be used in many ways in the classroom other than for simply teaching the visual arts and their "rules".
Art can be used in many different grade levels but I will only use two as an example of a lesson. Let's take Vincent Willem van Gogh and his painting "Starry Night" for example; after all the painting is on the cover of the book. I could easily use this painting with Kindergarten or 1st grade to help me with a science lesson. I could compare and contrast it to other works in the book that depict night vs. day. This can help me teach a lesson that focuses on teaching the differences between night and day (and how they transition). What are some things we see during the day that we may not see at night? what are some things we may see at night but not during the day? How does the sky look when it is transitioning from day to night, what about from night to day?
Another option is to use van Gogh's Sunflower paintings. You can use this to help teach a lesson about the different parts of a flower, how plants grow, and so on. Don't be afraid to read about the artist as well, can can only further a child knowledge. Also, when teaching about "Starry Night" you can play the song "Starry Starry Night" from the movie Loving Vincent in the background as students work. It is a very calming song and can help students relax and stay focused as they work. it also relates to the painting and person they were just talking about!
October 24, 2019
This is by no means a comprehensive look at art history, but it worked well for us as a follow-up to Famous Paintings: An Introduction to Art. Some of the artists included seem a little minor for kids to know, especially when a lot of major figures are omitted, but since this isn't the only art book we're reading, it didn't need to include everything. I wouldn't use it on its own, though, because it does have significant gaps.
July 22, 2021
A good choice if you want to introduce art to children. There are thirty-nine paintings featured and the styles shown are varied. The pages are large enough to see the paintings in detail. This book will prove useful to a wide range of ages because it has so much to offer. The information is short and to the point; which was effective in my experience because it opened up a lot of discussions. People will always argue notable artists who aren’t chosen for compilations and there are some major ones missing here, but for a broad overview or introduction this book is an excellent starting place.
June 24, 2018
Terrific book for just about any age! Many short entries are just right for a quick view of art, the various styles,artists, and an example of their work. Each entry includes a “think about” question. Included is a very nice, student friendly glossary at the back. I think that every elementary classroom should have a copy since in addition to being a joy to read, serves as an excellent quick reference book.
June 17, 2018
A very nice, brief survey of 39 of primarily Western art history’s most significant paintings and artists—some well know and beloved and others not often included like Shen Zhou, Anders Zorn, Tamara de Lempicka and Jean-Michel Basquiat. A great gift and a great addition to an inquisitive child’s library. Beautiful format.
July 5, 2025
This was an interesting read. Each artist only took up two pages, and only one art work from each artist was featured. The information on each artist was a couple of paragraphs long at most, making this accessible for younger kids as well as older kids.
June 4, 2019
A good starting point for introduction to famous paintings.
August 26, 2020
Borrowed this from the library as a long shot - amazed to find my 4yo twins engaging and getting excited about their favourite paintings
August 11, 2024
Bună pentru o scurtă introducere în istpria picturii.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews