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.
Did you find this review helpful?
203 Items found Print
Active Filters: 1st grade (Ages 6-7), In-Stock Books & Materials
ABC Book of Early Americana - Coloring Book
by Eric Sloane
2012 Dover from Dover Publications
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Alphabet Coloring Books (Location: COL-ALPH)
$10.95
Alvin Ailey
by Andrea Davis Pinkney; illustrated by Brian Pinkney
from Hyperion Books for Children
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Animal Alphabet - Coloring Book
by Nina Barbaresi
from Dover Publications
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Alphabet Coloring Books (Location: COL-ALPH)
$3.99
Art & the Bible for Children
by Joshua Olds & Barry Stebbing
from How Great Thou Art
for Preschool-3rd grade
in How Great Thou Art (Location: ELE-ARTHGTA)
$29.95
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 Coloring Book
by Sarah Courtauld
from Usborne
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Usborne Activities (Location: ACT-USB)
$5.40 (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)
Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse
by Eric Carle
from Philomel Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Oversized Picture Books (Location: PIC-OVER)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
ARTistic Pursuits Grades K-3 Book 1
by Brenda Ellis
3rd Edition Classic Series from Artistic Pursuits
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in ARTistic Pursuits (Location: ELE-ARTPUR)
$47.95
ARTistic Pursuits Grades K-3 Book 3
by Brenda Ellis
3rd Edition Classic Series from Artistic Pursuits
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in ARTistic Pursuits (Location: ELE-ARTPUR)
$25.00 (1 in stock)
ARTistic Pursuits Grades K-3 Volume 7
by Brenda Ellis
from Artistic Pursuits
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in ARTistic Pursuits (Location: ELE-ARTPUR)
$32.00 (1 in stock)
ARTistic Pursuits Grades K-3 Volume 8
by Brenda Ellis
from Artistic Pursuits
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in ARTistic Pursuits (Location: ELE-ARTPUR)
$32.00 (1 in stock)
ARTistic Pursuits: The Way They SEE It
by Brenda Ellis
3rd Edition Classic Series from Artistic Pursuits
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in ARTistic Pursuits (Location: ELE-ARTPUR)
$47.95 $30.00 (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 Heroic Symphony (Once Upon a Masterpiece)
from Charlesbridge
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Music Appreciation (Location: ELE-MUSAP)
$16.95
Beginning Painting DVD - Mini Course
for 1st-Adult
in How Great Thou Art (Location: ELE-ARTHGTA)
$28.00 (1 in stock)
Birds Alphabet - Coloring Book
by Ruth Soffer
from Dover Publications
for 1st-6th grade
in Alphabet Coloring Books (Location: COL-ALPH)
$3.99
Boll Weevil
by Glen Rounds
from Golden Gate Junior Books
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Book of Artrageous Projects
from Klutz
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$15.00 (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)
Budding Builder
by Laura Laxton, Editor
from Gryphon House
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Building
by Elisha Cooper
1st edition from Greenwillow Books
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
$7.50 (2 in stock)
Butterfly Alphabet - Coloring Book
by Carol Schmidt
from Dover Publications
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Alphabet Coloring Books (Location: COL-ALPH)
$3.99
Camille and the Sunflowers
by Laurence Anholt
1st edition from Barron's
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Camille Pissarro
by Alix Wood
from Windmill Books
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Child's Book of Art
by Lucy Micklethwait
from DK Publishing
for Preschool-1st grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Child's Introduction to Ballet
by Laura Lee
Revised from Black Dog & Leventhal
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Dance (Location: ELE-DANCE)
$19.99
Cloth Lullaby: The Woven Life of Louise Bourgeois
by Amy Novesky, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
from Abrams Books for Young Readers
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Color and Learn: Native America
Color & Learn
by Elizabeth Adams
from Educators Press
for Preschool-1st grade
in Native Americans (Location: HISA-19NAT)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Color Paddles (set of 6)
from Learning Resources
for Kindergarten-5th grade
in Light & Sound (Location: SCI-PHY)
$5.00
Coloring Book of Incas, Aztecs & Mayas
from Bellerophon Books
for 1st-5th grade
in Ancient America (Location: HISW-ANAM)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Come Look With Me: Artist at Work
by R. Sarah Richardson
from Charlesbridge
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$16.95
Come Look with Me: Enjoying Art with Children
by Gladys S. Blizzard
from Charlesbridge
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$12.00
Come Look With Me: Exploring Landscape Art With Children
by Gladys S. Blizzard
from Charlesbridge
for 1st-3rd grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$16.95
Constellations of the Night Sky - Coloring Book
from Dover Publications
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Space Coloring Books (Location: COL-SPACE)
$4.99
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)
Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velasquez
Art For Children
by Ernest Raboff
from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Dinosaurs - Coloring Book
by Spizzirri Publishing Company
from Spizzirri Press
for 1st-3rd grade
in Reptile Coloring Books (Location: COL-REP)
$3.95
Discovering Great Artists
by MaryAnn F. Kohl & Kim Solga
2nd edition from Chicago Review Press
for Preschool-6th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$19.99
Discovering Great Artists (old)
by MaryAnn F. Kohl & Kim Solga
from Bright Ring Publishing
for Preschool-6th grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
DK My Picture Art Class
by Nellie Shepherd
1st edition from DK Children
for Preschool-3rd grade
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Doodling Dragons - Phonogram Coloring Book
2nd edition from Logic of English, Inc.
for Preschool-1st grade
in Logic of English (Location: PHO-LOE)
$6.99
Draw Africa
from ArtK12
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Draw the World (Location: ELE-ARTDW)
$16.96
Draw Asia I
from ArtK12
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Draw the World (Location: ELE-ARTDW)
$16.96
Draw Asia II
from ArtK12
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Draw the World (Location: ELE-ARTDW)
$16.96
Draw Canada and Greenland
from ArtK12
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Draw the World (Location: ELE-ARTDW)
$16.96
Draw Europe
from ArtK12
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Draw the World (Location: ELE-ARTDW)
$16.96
Draw Mexico, Central and South America
from ArtK12
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Draw the World (Location: ELE-ARTDW)
$16.96
Draw Oceania
from ArtK12
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Draw the World (Location: ELE-ARTDW)
$16.96
Draw the Natural Wonders of Europe
by Kristin Draeger and Glen Draeger
from ArtK12
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Draw the World (Location: ELE-ARTDW)
$16.96
Draw the Natural Wonders of the USA
by Kristin Draeger and Glen Draeger
from ArtK12
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Draw the World (Location: ELE-ARTDW)
$16.96
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
Draw the World
from ArtK12
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Draw the World (Location: ELE-ARTDW)
$16.96
Draw the World - Complete Collection
from ArtK12
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Draw the World (Location: ELE-ARTDW)
$143.64
Draw Write Now - Boxed Set (Books 1-8)
by Marie Hablitzel & Kim Stitzer
from In the Think of Things
for Kindergarten-5th grade
in Draw Write Now (Location: ELE-ARTDWN)
$149.99
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
Draw Write Now Book 1
by Marie Hablitzel & Kim Stitzer
from In the Think of Things
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Draw Write Now (Location: ELE-ARTDWN)
$19.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Draw Write Now Book 2
by Marie Hablitzel & Kim Stitzer
from In the Think of Things
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Draw Write Now (Location: ELE-ARTDWN)
$19.99
Draw Write Now Book 3
by Marie Hablitzel & Kim Stitzer
from In the Think of Things
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Draw Write Now (Location: ELE-ARTDWN)
$19.99
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 5
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 5
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 6
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 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 8
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 In the Think of Things
for 1st-5th grade
in Draw Write Now (Location: ELE-ARTDWN)
$19.99
Dream Dancer
by Jill Newsome & Claudio Muñoz
from HarperCollins
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Drum Dream Girl
by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Rafael Lopez
from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Ed Emberley's Big Red Drawing Book
by Edward R Emberley, Rebecca Emberley
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Drawing for Beginners (Location: ELE-ARTDRAW)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Faces
by Ed Emberley
1st edition from Little, Brown & Company
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Drawing for Beginners (Location: ELE-ARTDRAW)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Ed Emberley's Fingerprint Drawing Book
by Ed Emberley
from Little, Brown & Company
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Drawing for Beginners (Location: ELE-ARTDRAW)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Edward MacDowell and His Cabin in the Pines
by Opal Wheeler and Sybil Deucher
from Zeezok Publishing
for 1st-6th grade
in Opal Wheeler Great Musicians Series (Location: BIO-OPAL)
$13.95
Elizabeth Fry
from Emerald Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Heroes of History (Location: BIO-BENGE)
$11.99
Etcher's Studio
by Arthur Geisert
from Houghton Mifflin
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Eye for Color
by Natasha Wing, Art by Julia Breckenreid
from Henry Holt and Company
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Famous Children: Haydn
by Ann Rachlin
from Barron's
for 1st-3rd grade
in Music History (Location: ELE-MUSHIS)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Famous Children: Mozart
by Ann Rachlin
from Barron's
for 1st-3rd grade
in Music History (Location: ELE-MUSHIS)
$4.50 (2 in stock)
Famous Children: Picasso
by Tony Hart, illustrated by Susan Hellard
from Barron's
for 1st-3rd grade
in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Feed My Sheep - 7 DVD Set
by Barry Stebbing
from How Great Thou Art
for 1st-6th grade
in How Great Thou Art (Location: ELE-ARTHGTA)
$45.00 (2 in stock)
Firefighters - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Nina Barbaresi
from Dover Publications
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Preschool Coloring Books (Location: COL-PRE)
$3.99
Firehouse - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Cathy Beylon
from Dover Publications
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Preschool Coloring Books (Location: COL-PRE)
$3.99
Floral Alphabet - Coloring Book
by Leslie Tillett
from Dover Publications
for 1st-6th grade
in Alphabet Coloring Books (Location: COL-ALPH)
$3.99
Fundamentals of Beginning Drawing - DVD
from How Great Thou Art
for 1st-6th grade
in How Great Thou Art (Location: ELE-ARTHGTA)
$20.00 (1 in stock)
Garden Fairy Alphabet - Coloring Book
by Darcy May
from Dover Publications
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Alphabet Coloring Books (Location: COL-ALPH)
$3.99
Garden Flowers Alphabet - Coloring Book
by Ruth Soffer
from Dover Publications
for 1st-6th grade
in Alphabet Coloring Books (Location: COL-ALPH)
$3.99
Gargoyles and Medieval Monsters - Coloring Book
by A. G. Smith
from Dover Publications
for 1st-3rd grade
in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT)
$5.99
Girl with a Watering Can
by Ewa Zadrzynska, illustrated by Arnold Skolnick
from Chameleon Books, Inc.
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Art History & Appreciation (Location: ELE-ARTHIS)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
God & the History of Art - Books Only
from How Great Thou Art
for 1st-5th grade
in How Great Thou Art (Location: ELE-ARTHGTA)
$30.00 (1 in stock)
Gonna Sing My Head Off
by Kathleen Krull
from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Music Education & Reference (Location: ELE-MUSREF)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Gonna Sing My Head Off
by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Allen Garns
First Printing from Scholastic Reference
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
in Music Education & Reference (Location: ELE-MUSREF)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Good Earth Art
by MaryAnn F. Kohl & Cindy Gainer
from Bright Ring Publishing
for 1st-6th grade
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$8.50 (1 in stock)
Happy New Year Around the World - Coloring Book
by Sylvia Walker
from Dover Publications
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Holiday Coloring Books (Location: COL-HOL)
$3.99
Hebrew Alphabet - Coloring Book
by Chaya Burstein
from Dover Publications
for 1st-6th grade
in Hebrew (Location: FL-HEB)
$3.99
History for Little Pilgrims - Coloring Book
from Christian Liberty Press
for 1st grade
in CLP History (Location: HISCUR-CLP)
$6.45
HomeArtStudio First Grade
by Lindsey Volin
from Burning Oak Studios
for 1st grade
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$20.00 (1 in stock)
Horn for Louis
Stepping Stones
by Eric A. Kimmel
from Penguin Random House
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Hot Peas & Barley-O - Book & CD
by Susan Brumfield
from Hal Leonard Corp
for 1st-6th grade
in Europe (Location: HISMC-EUR)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
How to Draw People
by Barbara Soloff Levy
from Dover Publications
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Drawing for Beginners (Location: ELE-ARTDRAW)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
123