Art Workshop for Children (Quarry, 2016) is one of my proudest accomplishments. I spent two years photographing and writing this book, and I am humbled to say that the reviews have been dazzling! The book offers 25 unique, child-led creative workshops that focus on process over product. My dear friend and Reggio educator, Betsy McKenna, writes thoughtful essays throughout, sharing her perspectives and insights on the role of adults, building creative confidence, mess-making, and more. Follow along with me on my book tour, my virtual blog tour, and my Instagram hashtag #artworkshopforchildren where you can see how my book has inspired families from all over the globe.
My book is full of beautiful photos, tips on setting up an art area in your home, hanging your child’s art, and new variations on classic ideas. It’s perfect for anyone who spends time with young children (ages 3-8) and who is looking for art ideas that can support their child’s emerging creative journey. Parents, caregivers, grandparents, and early childhood educators will not only feel inspired to set out an invitation to create, but will feel supported through the simple supply lists to the insightful essays. All the while, teaching the child that there is no right or wrong way to make art.
Art Workshop for Children can be purchased through these online retailers in the USA
Amazon || Barnes & Noble || Indiebound || Quarto Publishing
If you are in Canada, you can find the book on Indigo.
And if you are in the UK or Australia, you can purchase the book from my publisher, Quarto.
Watch my book trailer for a peak inside the pages
All of the projects in Art Workshop for Children were done during my weekly art class that I teach in my home (you can see pictures of my home art studio in the book, but you can also take a sneak peak here where I share a few photos). During some of the classes I was able to capture a few clips with my video camera, which turned into this fun little trailer.
Visit all the stops on my virtual blog tour
The photos above are from my blog tour, otherwise known as an online book tour. Twenty-eight popular bloggers each wrote about a project from the book and shared their experience on their blog. If you want to see some of the projects inside the book, and meet many wonderful, creative and lovely women who I am lucky enough to call my friends, then you’ll really enjoy reading about my blog tour!
Travel along with me on my book tour up the East Coast
From New Jersey’s Words Bookstore in Maplewood, to Jeff Kinney’s bookstore An Unlikely Story in Plainville, Massachusetts, I packed my car and hit the road to meet creative families (and a few long lost friends)! To see all the photos and highlights, visit my Book Tour page.
Read some of my reviews
“If you are a fan of Barbara Rucci’s popular kids creativity blog, Art Bar, you will be amazed at all of the new ideas she shares in Art Workshop for Children. Fueled with the smart sense of color and design that Barbara is well known for, the activities are rooted in a philosophy of learning that is child-centered and celebrates the whole child. I love her tops for talking with children about their art and her fresh take on familiar projects.”
~ Rachelle Doorley, arts educator and founder of the popular creativity blog Tinkerlab
“This book is a wonderful way to get kids engaged with art materials. I love that the projects are open-ended enough to embrace all results. No possibility of failure, yet plenty of room for invention and exploration.”
~ Antoinette Portis, award-winning author and illustrator of Not a Box and Not a Stick
“When making their own choices, children develop their creative thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as generate self-confidence. Art Workshop for Children gets to the heart of composing an enriching environment for children to explore the possibilities in process-art making. Written for both the art educator or someone who is insecure about the creative process, Barbara Rucci expresses poignantly the value of fostering children’s creativity through art making.”
~ Samara Caughey, art educator and owner of the Purple Twig, a children’s art studio in Los Angeles, California
Buy my book in German
You can buy the German version of my book on German Amazon.
Buy my book in French
You can buy the French version of my book on French Amazon.
