Art & Music Education

In her book The Hidden Art of Homemaking, Edith Schaeffer argues that everyone has a talent or skill ready to be discovered and put to use for the glory of God. Often, that talent lies dormant, and the individual is frustrated by the empty spot in their life it should fill. Finding your talent should be a priority, though it's no drudgery—discovering what God has made you good at is a joyful and exciting process.

Similarly, Olympic gold medalist Eric Liddell never put his running before his duty to Christ; instead, he used his talent as a sprinter to glorify God. As he expresses in the brilliant film Chariots of Fire, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure." God gives us talents to use in His name, and our joy in them is really our joy in Him.

Eric Liddell's talent led him to compete internationally; the "hidden art" Schaeffer describes is a little more modest, though no less glorifying to God when pursued humbly and gratefully. For Schaeffer, one's hidden art can be something as simple as arranging flowers on the kitchen table, or as elaborate as writing a story or painting a landscape. Everyone has different strengths, and each should learn to cultivate their own.

Our goal in teaching our children art and music isn't to raise a bunch of Van Goghs and Mozarts. If your child is a creative genius that's wonderful, but even if she can barely stay in the lines when coloring, her gifts are just as valuable to the Lord, and her discovery of them is just as important for her growth and personal happiness.

There are a few books in this section designed to help kids appreciate great art of the past, to learn about composers, or to identify the work of different painters and architects. However, most of what we offer is intended to help students across the whole range of ages to acquire and develop whatever skills they may have in sketching, painting, composing, instrument-playing, sculpting, acting, etc.

It's important to remember that no one will ever do anything perfectly, and first attempts are generally met with complete or near-total failure. Failure is often seen as an enemy, or simply as a hurdle to be overcome. Real failure, however, is integral to eventual success and (more importantly) to learning and character development. If a child managed to get everything right the first time, there would be no room for improvement, no reason to work hard.

Exercising one's creativity is essential. Humans were created in God's image, which means in part that we are creative beings, and whenever we're creative in ways that honor God, we're imitating Him. To the extent we can train our kids to do this, we should. Encourage them to do the best they can, because in the end they're doing it for God, and He expects nothing less.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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284 Items found Print
Active Filters: 4th grade (Ages 9-10), Used Books & Materials
1-2-3 Draw Horses
by Freddie Levin
from Peel Productions
for 3rd-6th grade
in Drawing for Beginners (Location: ELE-ARTDRAW)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
1-2-3 Draw People
by Freddie Levin
from Peel Productions
for 3rd-6th grade
in Drawing for Beginners (Location: ELE-ARTDRAW)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
13 Buildings Children Should Know
by Annette Roeder
from Prestel Verlag
for 3rd-6th grade
in International Landmarks & Symbols (Location: HISV-LANINT)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Adventures in Cartooning
by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold, Alexis Frederick-Frost
from First Second
for 3rd-6th grade
in Cartooning (Location: ELE-ARTCART)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Airplanes of the Second World War - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Carlo Demand
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Transportation Coloring Books (Location: COL-TRANS)
$5.99 $2.50 (1 in stock)
All About the Weather - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Bruce LaFontaine
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Nature / Geography Coloring Books (Location: COL-NAT)
$4.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Amazing Buildings
by Philip Wilkinson
from DK Publishing
for 3rd-7th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$10.00 (2 in stock)
American Art History Volume II
by Kristin Draeger
from ArtK12
for 3rd-10th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$33.96 $27.00 (1 in stock)
Ancient Egyptian Art
by Susie Hodge
First Printing
for 4th-6th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Ancient Greek Art
Art in History
by Susie Hodge
from Heinemann Educational Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Ancient Near East - Coloring Book
from Bellerophon Books
for 4th-9th grade
in Ancient History (Location: HISW-ANC)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Around the World - Coloring Book
by Winky Adam
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-4th grade
in Nature / Geography Coloring Books (Location: COL-NAT)
$4.99 $2.50 (3 in stock)
Art Adventures at Home - A Curriculum Guide for Home Schools
by Pattye Carlson and M. Jean Soyke
from Unknown Publisher
for 1st-5th grade
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Art and Civilization: Ancient Rome
Art and Civilization
by Giovanni Di Pasquale & Matilde Bardi
from Peter Bedrick Books
Roman History Reference for 4th-6th grade
in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER)
$9.00 (2 in stock)
Art for Children: Renaissance
Art for Children
by Lillo Canto
from Chelsea House Publishing
Art Appreciation for 4th-6th grade
in Renaissance & Reformation (Location: HISW-REN)
$20.00 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Art Lab for Kids
by Susan Schwake, Photography by Rainer Schwake
from Quarry Books
for 3rd-8th grade
in Painting Instruction (Location: ELE-ARTPAI)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Art of Sculpture
Scholastic: Voyages of Discovery #7
by Scholastic Books
from Scholastic Inc.
for 4th-6th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$9.00 (2 in stock)
Art of the Southeastern Indians
by Shirley Glubok
from Macmillan
for 3rd-6th grade
in Native American History (Location: HISA-19NAT)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Art of the Spanish in the United States and Puerto Rico
by Shirley Glubok
from Macmillan
for 2nd-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Art of the Woodland Indians
by Shirley Glubok
from Macmillan
for 4th-6th grade
in Native American History (Location: HISA-19NAT)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Art Smart: Spot the Details and Find Out the Facts
Act from Dover Publications
for 1st-7th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$9.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
ARTistic Pursuits Grades 4-5 Book 1
by Brenda Ellis
3rd Edition Classic Series from Artistic Pursuits
for 4th-5th grade
in ARTistic Pursuits (Location: ELE-ARTPUR)
$57.00 $35.00 (1 in stock)
ARTistic Pursuits Sculpture Technique: Construct
by Brenda Ellis
from Artistic Pursuits
for 4th-12th grade
in ARTistic Pursuits (Location: ELE-ARTPUR)
$35.00 (1 in stock)
ARTistic Pursuits Sculpture Technique: Model
by Brenda Ellis
from Artistic Pursuits
for 4th-12th grade
in ARTistic Pursuits (Location: ELE-ARTPUR)
$35.00 (1 in stock)
Atelier Art Curriculum Level 3
by Marcia L. Osterink
from Arts Attack Publications
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$95.00 (1 in stock)
Baby Blessing
by Welleran Poltarnees
from Laughing Elephant
for Kindergarten-Adult
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Beethoven's Wig 2 - CD
from Rounder Records
for 3rd-8th grade
in Music CDs (Location: CD)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Beethoven's Wig 3 - CD
from Rounder Records
for 3rd-8th grade
in Music CDs (Location: CD)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Beethoven's Wig 4 - CD
from Rounder Records
for 3rd-8th grade
in Music CDs (Location: CD)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Beginning Painting DVD - Mini Course
for 1st-Adult
in How Great Thou Art (Location: ELE-ARTHGTA)
$28.00 (1 in stock)
Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin
by Marguerite Henry & Wesley Dennis
Reprint from Aladdin Paperbacks
for 3rd-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$7.99 $5.50 (1 in stock)
Best of Schubert - CD
from My Father's World
for 3rd-8th grade
in Music Masters CDs (Location: CD-MUMA)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Big Book of Cartooning Book I
by Vic Lockman
from Vic Lockman
for 4th-6th grade
in Drawing for Beginners (Location: ELE-ARTDRAW)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Billy Yank - Coloring Book
by Alan Archambault
from Bellerophon Books
Coloring Book for 4th-8th grade
in American Civil War Era (1850-1865) (Location: HISA-19CW)
$4.95 $3.50 (2 in stock)
Blank Graphic Novel
by Jeff Zeiss and Danny Morgan
from Pitchblank Comics
for 3rd-12th grade
in Cartooning (Location: ELE-ARTCART)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Book of Artrageous Projects
from Klutz
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Bravo! Brava!
by Anne Siberell
from Oxford University
for 3rd-8th grade
in Opera & Choral Music (Location: ELE-MUSOP)
$24.00 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Bridges Are to Cross
by Philemon Sturges
from G.P. Putnam's Sons
for 1st-4th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Brooklyn Bridge
by Lynn Curlee
from Atheneum
for 3rd-6th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Building Goes Up
by Ely Jacques Kahn, illustrations by Cal Sacks
Stated First Printing from Simon and Schuster
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC)
$19.00 (1 in stock)
Buildings of Ancient Greece
by Helen & Richard Leacroft
from William R. Scott Inc.
in Ancient Greece (Location: HISW-ANGR)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Byzantine Fashions - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Tom Tierney
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Costume & Fashion Coloring Books (Location: COL-FAS)
$4.99 $2.50 (1 in stock)
Canals and Dams
Build It Yourself
by Donna Latham, illustrated by Andrew Christensen
from Nomad Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Carl Larsson's A Home
by Carl Larsson and Lennart Rudstrom
from G.P. Putnam's Sons
for 3rd-Adult
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Carmenda Music History
by Carla Courtney
from Logos School
for 4th-7th grade
in Music History (Location: ELE-MUSHIS)
$15.00 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Cartooning the Head & Figures
by Jack Hamm
for 3rd-8th grade
in Drawing for Beginners (Location: ELE-ARTDRAW)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Chasing Vermeer
Balliet Art Mystery Series
by Blue Balliett, Brett Helquist (Illustrator)
from Scholastic Inc.
Mystery & Suspense for 4th-6th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$7.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Child Star
by Lydia Weaver
from Viking Press
for 4th-7th grade
in Great Depression (1929-1939) (Location: HISA-20GD)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Chopin
by George Ruttkay
from Hyperion Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Music History (Location: ELE-MUSHIS)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Cities Then and Now
by Jim Antoniou
from Macmillan
for 4th-8th grade
in Ancient History (Location: HISW-ANC)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Classical Music for Dummies
by David Pogue, Scott Speck
2nd edition from For Dummies
for 3rd-7th grade
in Music Appreciation (Location: ELE-MUSAP)
$17.50 (2 in stock)
Classical Music for Dummies (old)
by David Pogue, Scott Speck
from For Dummies
for 3rd-7th grade
in Clearance: Art & Music (Location: ZCLE-ART)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Claude Monet
Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists
by Mike Venezia
from Children's Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Coloring Book of Ancient Egypt
by Bellerophon Books
from Bellerophon Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Ancient Egypt (Location: HISW-ANEG)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Coloring Book of Ancient India
by Bellerophon Books, Nancy Conkle
from Bellerophon Books
for 4th-6th grade
in India (Location: HISMC-IND)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Coloring Book of Early Composers
by Eric Tomb & Nancy Conkle
from Bellerophon Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Music History (Location: ELE-MUSHIS)
$4.95 $3.50 (1 in stock)
Coloring Book of Great Composers Book 2
by David Brownell & Nancy Conkle
from Bellerophon Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Music History (Location: ELE-MUSHIS)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Coloring Book of Great Composers Book 3
by David Brownell & Nancy Conkle
from Bellerophon Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Music History (Location: ELE-MUSHIS)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Coloring Book of Incas, Aztecs & Mayas
from Bellerophon Books
for 1st-5th grade
in Ancient America (Location: HISW-ANAM)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Coloring Book of Queen Nefertiti
by Bellerophon Books
from Bellerophon Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Ancient Egypt (Location: HISW-ANEG)
$3.50 $2.50 (1 in stock)
Coloring Book of Rome
by Bellerophon Books, Nancy Conkle
from Bellerophon Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Ancient Rome (Location: HISW-ANRO)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Coloring Book of the Civil War
from Bellerophon Books
for 2nd-6th grade
in American Civil War Era (1850-1865) (Location: HISA-19CW)
$2.50 (2 in stock)
Columbus Discovers America - Coloring Book
by Peter F. Copeland
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of America Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISA)
$4.99 $3.00 (2 in stock)
Come Look With Me: Modern Art
World of Art
by Jessica Noelani Wright
from Charlesbridge
for 3rd-5th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Complete-A-Sketch Volume 1
by Melvin Peterman
from Insight Technical Education
for 3rd-8th grade
in Complete-A-Sketch Technical Art (Location: ELE-ARTCAS)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Creating Art - MP
by Lori Schloemer
from Memoria Press
for 3rd-4th grade
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$23.75 $14.00 (1 in stock)
Creating with Fimo Acrylic Clay
by Libby Nicholson & Yvonne Lau
from Kids Can Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Creative Arts & Crafts Projects Levels K-5
by Jenny Phillips
from The Good and the Beautiful
for Kindergarten-5th grade
in The Good and the Beautiful (Location: CUR-GAB)
$11.00 (1 in stock)
Dance Me a Story
by Jane Rosenberg
from Thames and Hudson
for 3rd-8th grade
in Dance (Location: ELE-DANCE)
$12.00 (3 in stock)
Dinosaurs! A Drawing Book
by Michael Emberley
from Little, Brown & Company
for 3rd-6th grade
in Drawing for Beginners (Location: ELE-ARTDRAW)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Discovering Great Artists (old)
by MaryAnn F. Kohl & Kim Solga
from Bright Ring Publishing
for Preschool-6th grade
in Clearance: Art & Music (Location: ZCLE-ART)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
DK Annotated Guide: Architecture
DK Annotated Guides
by Neil Stevenson
from DK Publishing
Architecture for 4th-10th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
DK Eyewitness: Dance
DK Eyewitness Series
by Michael Tambini
1st edition from DK Publishing
history reference for 4th-8th grade
in Dance (Location: ELE-DANCE)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
DK Eyewitness: Film
DK Eyewitness Series
by Richard Platt
from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
History Reference for 4th-8th grade
in Theater, Drama & Film (Location: ELE-THEAT)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
DK Story of Architecture
by Jonathan Glancey, Sir Norman Foster
1st edition from DK Publishing
for 4th-10th grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Draw & Write Through History Book 4
by Carylee Gressman
from C.P.R. Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Draw & Write Through History (Location: ELE-ARTDWTH)
$12.95 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Draw & Write Through History Book 5
by Carylee Gressman
from C.P.R. Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Draw & Write Through History (Location: ELE-ARTDWTH)
$12.95 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Draw & Write Through History Book 6
by Carylee Gressman
from C.P.R. Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Draw & Write Through History (Location: ELE-ARTDWTH)
$12.95 $7.50 (2 in stock)
Draw 50 Buildings and Other Structures
by Lee Ames
Reprint from Watson-Guptill Publications
for 3rd-8th grade
in Draw 50 (Location: ELE-ARTD50)
$9.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
Draw 50 Horses
by Lee Ames
from Broadway Books
for 3rd-8th grade
in Draw 50 (Location: ELE-ARTD50)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Draw Africa
from ArtK12
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Draw the World (Location: ELE-ARTDW)
$16.96 $13.00 (1 in stock)
Draw Asia I
from ArtK12
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Draw the World (Location: ELE-ARTDW)
$16.96 $13.00 (1 in stock)
Draw Canada and Greenland
from ArtK12
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Draw the World (Location: ELE-ARTDW)
$16.96 $13.00 (1 in stock)
Draw Europe
from ArtK12
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Draw the World (Location: ELE-ARTDW)
$16.96 $13.00 (2 in stock)
Draw Oceania
from ArtK12
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Draw the World (Location: ELE-ARTDW)
$16.96 $13.00 (1 in stock)
Draw the Titanic
by Andrew Staiano, illustrated by Jason Pederson
from Scholastic Inc.
for All ages
in Drawing for Beginners (Location: ELE-ARTDRAW)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Draw the USA
from ArtK12
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Draw the World (Location: ELE-ARTDW)
$16.96 $13.00 (1 in stock)
Draw Then Write 4-6
by Jo Ellen Moore, Joy Evans
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 4th-6th grade
in Evan-Moor Art & Drawing (Location: ZCLE-EM)
$6.30 (1 in stock)
Draw Write Now - Workbook
by Marie Hablitzel & Kim Stitzer
from In the Think of Things
for Kindergarten-5th grade
in Draw Write Now (Location: ELE-ARTDWN)
$5.49 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Draw Write Now Book 4
by Marie Hablitzel & Kim Stitzer
from In the Think of Things
for 1st-5th grade
in Draw Write Now (Location: ELE-ARTDWN)
$19.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Draw Write Now Book 7
by Marie Hablitzel & Kim Stitzer
from Barker Creek
for 1st-5th grade
in Draw Write Now (Location: ELE-ARTDWN)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Draw Write Now Book 8
by Marie Hablitzel & Kim Stitzer
from Barker Creek
for 1st-5th grade
in Draw Write Now (Location: ELE-ARTDWN)
$7.50 (2 in stock)
Drawing American Art Volume II
by Kristin Draeger
from ArtK12
for 3rd-10th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$25.46 $20.00 (1 in stock)
Drawing Horses (that look real!)
by Don Mayne
from Williamson Publishing Company
for 3rd-6th grade
in Drawing for Beginners (Location: ELE-ARTDRAW)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Drawing with Children
by Mona Brookes
2nd edition from Penguin Putnam
for 2nd-8th grade
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$19.95 $11.00 (1 in stock)
Duke Ellington
by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
from Scholastic Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Duke Ellington
by Andrea Davis Pinkney
1st edition from Hyperion/Madison Press
for 3rd-6th grade
1999 Caldecott Honor Book
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Early American Trades - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Peter F. Copeland
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of America Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISA)
$5.99 $2.50 (1 in stock)
Edgar Degas
Artists Through the Ages
by Alix Wood
from Windmill Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Enjoy Your Recorder
by Trapp Family
from Magnamusic Distributors
for 3rd-Adult
in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC)
$8.00 (2 in stock)
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