Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell, illustrated by Rafael Lopez (picture book, grades K-3)
Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds (picture book, grades K-3)
I love reading picture books that show students that they have the power to make their world a better place, even at a young age. I recently read both of these books to students in grades K-3 and they were a big hit! In both of these two picture books, the main characters use their art to make their world a better place by giving it to others. Maybe Something Beautiful is based on a true story. Mira, the main character, loves to give pictures to everyone she meets to brighten her neighborhood. One day, a muralist comes and begins painting a mural on one of the gray buildings. Soon, the entire neighborhood joins in and it becomes one giant painting party. After reading the book, I showed the video of the actual event from this website In the Lemon Tree:
We also read the wonderful book Sky Color which is about a girl who loves to create art but is unsure what to do when there is no blue paint to use to color the sky. She learns to look at the world around her in a new way and discovers that the sky is not always blue. Both books involve people creating murals. After reading the books, we talked about how just like in the books, every child can make a difference.
STEAM Connection
These books are perfect to read together and then do an art activity. Students could make their own art to give to others to brighten their day.
Here is a link to a Google Doc for this activity. Students could identify an area of their school that could use some brightening up and work together to create a mural for that area (on paper or with the art teacher on the wall). Students could also brainstorm other places where people might need cheering up, such as nursing homes or hospitals, and create art to give to them.
What other ways can you think of to use these books to encourage children to use their art to make the world a better place?
