10 New Children’s Books Celebrating Women Artists

1. The Power of Her Paintbrush: The Story of Theresa Bernstein

Written and Illustrated by Janice Hechter

In The Power of Her Paintbrush: The Story of Theresa Bernstein, author-illustrator Janice Hechter shines a welcome spotlight on a remarkable artist whose accomplishments have long been overlooked. This engaging picture book biography traces Bernstein’s journey from a young girl captivated by drawing to a celebrated painter who refused to have her ambitions silenced.

Hechter skillfully presents the barriers Bernstein faced in the early 20th-century art world, including the need to sign her work “T. Bernstein” so it would be judged without prejudice. It emphasizes the perseverance, creativity, and confidence that enabled her to succeed. This inspiring narrative introduces readers to an artist who painted real people and everyday experiences while challenging expectations about what women could achieve.

Hechter’s vibrant, painterly illustrations complement the text beautifully, echoing the color and energy of Bernstein’s artwork and helping bring her story to life for young audiences.

2. Marie’s Magic Eggs: How Marie Procai Kept the Ukrainian Art of Pysanky Alive

Written by Sandra Neil Wallace and Illustrated by Evan Turk

In Marie’s Magic Eggs: How Marie Procai Kept the Ukrainian Art of Pysanky Alive, author Sandra Neil Wallace and illustrator Evan Turk craft a luminous tribute to resilience, heritage, and the power of art to preserve cultural identity. The story chronicles the life of Marie Procai, whose passion for creating pysanky—intricately decorated Ukrainian eggs—helped safeguard a beloved folk art threatened by war, displacement, and the passage of time.

Wallace’s lyrical prose skillfully weaves together history and personal narrative, making Procai’s journey both accessible and inspiring for young readers. The book is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant work that celebrates creativity, cultural memory, and the enduring importance of sharing traditions across generations.

3. Painting the Light: The Story of Berthe Morisot, First Woman Impressionist

Written by Natalia Iacobelli and Illustrated by Rosanna Tasker

While many know Monet, Renoir, and Degas, far fewer have heard of Berthe Morisot—despite her spearheading of the Impressionist movement. Painting the Light: The Story of Berthe Morisot, First Woman Impressionist introduces young readers to the only female founder of Impressionism through a lively blend of engaging storytelling and richly detailed illustrations.

The narrative follows Morisot from her childhood fascination with art and light through the challenges she faced as a woman pursuing a professional career in 19th-century France. It highlights her determination, creativity, and refusal to accept the limitations placed on her by society. The book balances historical context with an inspiring message about perseverance, individuality, and the importance of following one’s passion.

As both an introduction to Impressionism and a celebration of a remarkable woman whose contributions have been overshadowed by her male contemporaries, Painting the Light will inspire young readers—especially aspiring artists—to pursue their talents despite the obstacles they may encounter.

4. The Story of Art Without Men: An Illustrated Guide to Amazing Women Artists

Written by Katy Hessel and Illustrated by Ping Zhu

In The Story of Art Without Men: An Illustrated Guide to Amazing Women Artists, art historian Katy Hessel transforms the often male-dominated narrative of art history into an engaging and accessible celebration of the women who helped shape artistic traditions across centuries and continents.

Adapted from her bestselling adult work and brought vividly to life through the illustrations of Ping Zhu, the book introduces more than 90 remarkable women artists, from Renaissance painters to modern innovators. It reveals how their creativity challenged conventions and expanded the possibilities of art. The Story of Art Without Men is an illuminating introduction to the achievements of overlooked women artists, making it an outstanding resource for young readers, educators, and anyone seeking a more complete picture of the history of art.

5. A Party for Florine: Florine Stettheimer and Me

Written and Illustrated by Yevgenia Nayberg

In A Party for Florine: Florine Stettheimer and Me, author-illustrator Yevgenia Nayberg crafts a uniquely imaginative picture book that blurs the line between history, memoir, and artistic tribute. Nayberg invites readers into a personal conversation across time, imagining a friendship between herself and Florine Stettheimer, whose work first inspired her. As biographical details unfold, the narrative remains grounded in the child’s sense of wonder, culminating in a fantastically imagined party filled with painting, poetry, and dancing.

Nayberg’s illustrations echo the vibrant colors, whimsical compositions, and dreamlike energy of Stettheimer’s paintings. A Party for Florine is both an introduction to an important woman artist and a celebration of the enduring connections that art can create across generations.

6. Frida Kahlo’s Flower Crown

Written by Nydia Armendia-Sánchez and Illustrated by Loris Lora

In Frida Kahlo’s Flower Crown, author Nydia Armendia-Sánchez and illustrator Loris Lora offer a lyrical and visually radiant introduction to the life of the iconic Mexican artist. The book traces Frida Kahlo’s journey through the language of flowers and plants, drawing connections between the natural world she loved and the resilience that defined her life.

Readers watch Frida grow from a curious child in Coyoacán into a celebrated painter who endures illness, injury, and personal hardship while continuing to create art that reflects her identity, culture, and imagination. Armendia-Sánchez’s poetic text emphasizes themes of growth and self-expression, making complex aspects of Kahlo’s life accessible to young audiences. Lora’s richly colored illustrations evoke the vibrant imagery, cultural traditions, and botanical motifs that characterize much of Kahlo’s work.

Frida Kahlo’s Flower Crown offers a fresh perspective on the life and legacy of an artist who transformed pain into creativity and became one of the most recognizable figures in the history of art.

7. Liftoff! How the Apollo Moon Missions Made Alma Thomas’s Art Soar

Written and Illustrated by Nina Crews

What do art and the Apollo moon mission have to do with each other? In Liftoff! How the Apollo Moon Missions Made Alma Thomas’s Art Soar, author-illustrator Nina Crews answers that question by exploring how the excitement and wonder of space exploration inspired renowned artist Alma Thomas to create some of her most celebrated works.

This engaging picture book focuses on the years when images of rockets, astronauts, and lunar exploration captured Thomas’s imagination, encouraging her to experiment with pattern and abstraction in new ways. Crews demonstrates how scientific achievement can spark artistic creativity, showing how Thomas translated the awe of the Space Age into vibrant paintings that reflected movement, energy, and possibility.

By connecting the worlds of science and art, Liftoff! offers an inspiring and accessible portrait of an artist who found creative fuel in humanity’s journey to the moon, while encouraging readers to see inspiration in unexpected places.

8. Painting Wonder: How Pauline Baynes Illustrated the Worlds of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien

Written and Illustrated by Katie Wray Schon

In Painting Wonder: How Pauline Baynes Illustrated the Worlds of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, Katie Wray Schon shines a light on an extraordinary artist whose illustrations helped bring some of literature’s most beloved worlds to life.

This engaging picture book biography follows Baynes from her early passion for drawing to her dedication to developing her artistic skills, and the opportunities that led her to collaborate with celebrated authors C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. The narrative emphasizes the creativity and craftsmanship behind Baynes’s work, while also acknowledging the challenges of building a career as an illustrator in a competitive field. Schon’s own illustrations complement the story beautifully, capturing the whimsy and wonder associated with Baynes’s art.

This book celebrates the often-overlooked role artists play in enriching literary worlds and inspiring readers’ imaginations. Painting Wonder offers young readers an inspiring look at the life of a creative woman whose artwork became an essential part of some of the most enduring stories in modern literature.

9. The Wire Zoo: How Elizabeth Berrien Learned to Turn Wire into Amazing Art

Written by Natasha Wing and Illustrated by Joanie Stone

In The Wire Zoo: How Elizabeth Berrien Learned to Turn Wire into Amazing Art, author Natasha Wing and illustrator Joanie Stone introduce readers to the inventive life and artistic journey of sculptor Elizabeth Berrien, whose unique wire creations transform an ordinary material into extraordinary works of art.

The picture book follows Berrien from her childhood fascination with animals and creative experimentation to her development as a pioneering sculptor who taught herself how to bend and shape wire into lifelike animals full of movement and personality. The Wire Zoo celebrates an artist who forged her own creative path, offering a compelling introduction to a unique creator whose work shows that powerful art can emerge from the most unexpected materials.

10. A Line Can Go Anywhere: The Brilliant, Resilient Life of Artist Ruth Asawa

Written by Caroline McAlister and Illustrated by Jamie Green

How can a single line become a work of art? In A Line Can Go Anywhere: The Brilliant, Resilient Life of Artist Ruth Asawa, Caroline McAlister introduces young readers to the inspiring story of an artist who transformed simple wire lines into intricate sculptures that redefined modern art.

This picture book biography traces Ruth Asawa’s journey from a childhood shaped by creativity and hardship—including the challenges she faced as a Japanese American during World War II—to her emergence as one of the most innovative artists of her generation. McAlister emphasizes Asawa’s curiosity and determination, showing how she found beauty and possibility in everyday materials and experiences. The book also highlights Asawa’s commitment to arts education and her belief that creativity should be accessible to everyone. The result is a moving portrait of an artist who shows that a single line, when guided by imagination, can open up entire worlds.

P.S. If you are a fan of women artists, be sure to check out our Women Artists postcards, featuring masterpieces from different periods in art history!