More Great Art Books for Kids

A second post in my Art Appreciation for Toddlers series.

Our dear friend Alice found and sent us these phenomenal books by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York that teach the alphabet and numbers utilizing famous works of art from their collection:

Museum 123:

Museum ABC:

Both books do a great job of featuring prominent works from artists around the world and throughout the centuries, not just focusing on the last hundred years but showing ancient works as well from a variety of countries and cultures.

In Museum 123 each number from one to ten is presented in two different ways.

First, the book asks a counting question, such as, “How many kittens follow their mother?” above, while showing artwork, such as this one of Pussy’s Return (detail) by Currier and Ives circa the early 1900s.

On the following page, the authors then reinforce the concept of number four, for example, by presenting images illustrating that same number.

In the case of the number eight, shown above, we see details from The Nativity stained-glass panel from Germany, Alexander Fights in a Sea-Battle in China from India, Funeral Ceremony in a Temple Garden from Egypt circa 1475 B.C.E., and Three Clowns in a Ring by Georges Schreiber, an American, in 1944.

The Museum ABC book presents images illustrating twenty-six concepts, one for each letter of the alphabet. Here’s a sampling of the beautiful works featured in this gem of a book (museum!):

I love that when we visit New York and tour the Met, we’ll be able to see many of these works hanging on the walls. They’ll be familiar, accessible, and, oh my, what a treat! Now to just plan that trip…

Thank you, Alice! We love everyday learning.