SK Recommends

Children Draw: A Guide to Why, When and How Children Make Art

Marilyn JS Goodman

A great read for parents and teachers that explores why children draw and the meaning and value of drawing for children. Has easy to read guidance on drawing development. Has practical tips for parents and great illustrations.

Analysing Children’s Art

Rhoda Kellogg

From about one million children’s drawings, Rhoda Kellogg maps the mental and artistic development of children from infancy to 8 and defines and classifies common forms in children’s art worldwide. Includes many pictures.

Understanding and Supporting Young Writers from Birth to 8

Noella Mackenzie and Janet Scull (editors)

Provides information on theory, research and everyday practice to support young children as they learn to write. Explores the key relationships between drawing and talking, drawing and writing and drawing, talking and writing.

Art as an Early Intervention Tool for Children with Autism

Nicole Martin

A great reference for parents and professionals, this book provides practical guidance on how to use art to help children with autism to use their imagination and express their thoughts and feelings.

Art Workshops for Children

Herve Tullet

A stimulus for many Squiggle Kids activities, this book provides ideas, tips and guidance for “all-in” group art workshops for children. The workshops focus on the use of “micro skills” and emphasise process over product.

The Scribble Book

Herve Tullet

At Squiggle Kids, we want adults to value a child’s “scribbles” as part of drawing (and writing) development and as a fun, expressive and experimental process. We love how this book encourages the use of scribble to complete a range of scenes.

Line and Scribble

Debora Vogrig

A playful and simply drawn story contrasting line and scribble. Celebrates the beauty and meaning in simple drawings. We love how this book starts in a side by side collaboration and ends “all-in”. This has parallels with some Squiggle Kids strategies for getting kids started through adult engagement in drawing activities.

Ish

Peter H Reynolds

A beautiful story that encourages children and adults to let go of the idea of drawing accurate 1 to 1 representational pictures. Celebrates the pleasure in the process of creating and expressing ideas and feelings.

The Dot 

Peter H Reynolds

A lovely story about a little girl who just needed to make a start drawing. The book shows how starting simple, experimenting with new things and being open to possibilities can lead to something great.

The Book of Mistakes

Corinna Luyken

A beautiful picture book that encourages children to think differently about mistakes. Perhaps they are part of the creative journey and lead to something wonderful? Perhaps they, just like all of our successes, go towards making us who we are?

It’s Not Scribble to Me

Kate Ritchie

A gorgeous picture book that highlights drawing as a tool for expression for children, while also acknowledging the difficulties parents can face with the mess of it all! The final page invites parents to draw with their children: “Could you sit next to me, and please draw me the magical things that you see?”

Beautiful Oops!

Barney Saltzberg

A fantastic way to encourage a different way of looking at smudges, smears, tears or holes. The book demonstrates that “mistakes” are an opportunity to make something beautiful!

My Book of Beautiful Oops!

Barney Saltzberg

A spin off from “Beautiful Oops!” by the same author, this is an activity journal encouraging children to create something beautiful from mistakes.

Ready, Set, Draw! A Game of Creativity and Imagination

Herve Tullet

A simple and fun drawing game that gives a starting point for drawing. Choose a card for “what” to draw (eg loops). Choose another card for “how” to draw it (eg big). Provides parents and professionals with scope to select a particular set of cards for early drawers and select another set of cards for more advanced drawers.

Say Zoop!

Herve Tullet

In this interactive picture book “Say Zoop!”, readers are invited to participate in a playful adventure filled with vibrant colours and imaginative sounds. The story encourages creativity and engagement, inviting children to respond to prompts and bring the pages to life with their voices and actions.