Laurence Anholt has created a wonderful series of picture books, each featuring a famous artist. Matisse the King of Color is his most recent title and the one we are perusing this week. These books are a great introduction to the lives and masterpieces of great artists for elementary students.
The younger crowd will enjoy the Mini Masters board book series. We have most of the titles on our bookshelf, and they are often requested by the smallest members of the household. A Magical Day with Matisse (and the others) really holds the attention of little people, as well as being an educational experience for the adult who is likely not familiar with many of the paintings. These have the distinction of being among my favorite board books, and will probably be the only ones to be transferred to our regular collection of books when the boys outgrow the rest.
Matisse, on my favorite topic lately:
An artist must possess Nature. He must identify himself with her rhythm, by efforts that will prepare the mastery which will later enable him to express himself in his own language. ~Henri Matisse