February 11, 2008
5 Minutes for Books — Art for Kids
Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day, but February can be dreary, cold, snowy, rainy or all of the above. Long dark days of inclement weather, sometimes even school cancellations, can leave a parent wondering what to do to fill that time. Today I will offer some delightful suggestions of books that can help fill your child’s day with color.
In A Day with No Crayons by Elizabeth Rusch, six-year-old Liza loses the privilege of playing with her favorite plaything
–her crayons–after making the wall her canvas. At first, she’s bereft, but throughout her day she discovers a world of colors that is all around her. Both parents and children will enjoy the creative illustrations and simple evocative text.
123 I can Paint! gives instruction on techniques, suggestions about what to use for painting tools (toothbrushes and cotton swabs along with the more traditional brushes and sponges), as well as teaching about elementary principles of color. Then Irene Luxbacher ties all of these elements together as she gives easy suggestions on how to create your own art using these concepts. The teaching in this book will whet the appetite of your young artist, or build on the experience of an older child.
123 I Can Sculpt! gives wonderful ideas for going beyond Play-Doh projects.
These projects are accessible for preschoolers on up. An older child could easily complete the projects on her own, and they aren’t too complicated for a preschooler to complete with a little help.
We will have three winners who will each receive one of these books by Irene Luxbacher: 123 I can Paint! 123 I Can Draw! and 123 I Can Make Prints! from Kids Can Press. If you have a preference, let me know in the comment section.
Come back next week to see if you won.

Filed under * Feature Columns, 5 Minutes for Books, Children's Books, Contests, Family by Jennifer


















142 Comments on 5 Minutes for Books — Art for Kids »
#1 - Noreen @ 12:40 am
I would love any of the books
#2 - Amanda @ 1:20 am
I’d love any of them thanks
#3 - Heather C @ 1:58 am
They are all very cool books, but I think I’d prefer 123 I Can Make Prints! Thanks!
#4 - Jill H. @ 2:44 am
They all sound great, especially “I can paint”…adding them all to my “must read” list.
#5 - Rose @ 3:05 am
I’d love one. Thank you!
#6 - Carey @ 8:43 am
Count me in!
#7 - Heidi @ 8:48 am
Oh, these sound like great fun! I wouldn’t mind winning any of them.
#8 - Richelle F @ 8:57 am
I would love any of the books
#9 - Amy R. @ 9:01 am
My girls would love any of these!
#10 - TheAngelForever @ 9:02 am
All of these books look wonderful. We certainly could use some fresh ideas to do with my active 4 1/2 year old during these cold months when we are inside.
#11 - Blessed @ 9:03 am
All of these books sound interesting!
#12 - Frank Dendwick @ 9:36 am
My daughters’ book club would enjoy.
#13 - Mommy Bee @ 9:51 am
I’d love 1-2-3 I Can Paint! Great giveaway!
#14 - Jennifer Tiszai @ 9:59 am
Wow, those sound like terrific books. Count me in!
#15 - Mama Zen @ 10:12 am
All of them sound wonderful for my little girl!
#16 - Meg @ 10:12 am
All of them sound fantastic. ( meg.wilson@gmail.com )
#17 - DoubleHappiness @ 10:16 am
I love the 123 I can Sculpt and 123 I can Paint….my sons are crafty kids and these books would be fun for them!
#18 - Linda Grieser @ 10:22 am
Great Books!!
#19 - Amanda Biskup @ 10:32 am
My son Brayden would love these books!!
#20 - Brenda Prentice (Time and Season) @ 10:36 am
Any of them sound wonderful!
#21 - Jennie @ 10:37 am
I would love to have these for my girls!
#22 - Jenny M @ 11:05 am
123 I can draw!
#23 - Amy EssentialFamilyLiving @ 11:16 am
My youngest is 6 and would be thrilled with any of them! Thank you for entering me.
#24 - Heather @ MrsMomma @ 11:17 am
Oh, those sound great! I’d love to win one!
#25 - Rachel @ 11:18 am
123 I can paint sounds great for my girls. Thanks.
#26 - brandy w @ 11:18 am
awesome
#27 - Naomi @ 11:22 am
Fantastic for Roo and, eventually, Jasper!
#28 - Jill @ 11:26 am
My kids would love the I Can Draw book!
#29 - Bree @ 11:33 am
Wow, all of these sound great!
#30 - Capturing Today @ 11:41 am
Any of them would be great - especially the 123 I can Paint! Thanks for offering them!
#31 - Piseco @ 11:54 am
All the books look great! We’re a homeschooling family and I’m always looking for new and better ideas. Thanks for the contest.
#32 - Edward Durbin @ 11:58 am
These are very cool and though I want to win I also wish everyone else good luck…
#33 - Dawn @ 11:58 am
I’m sure my kids would have fun with any of them.
#34 - Katie @ 12:04 pm
My son loves painting so the one for paint would be great for us!
#35 - Robyn @ 12:13 pm
I’d love to win any of the three books! Thanks for hosting the contest.
#36 - Leigh @ 12:20 pm
Count me in - for any of the 3 books. Whoot! Thanks! I love to do art.
#37 - April @ 12:24 pm
I would love to win any of them too. My children would love, love, love them!
#38 - Danielle S @ 12:46 pm
Any of them would be fantastic!
Thanks!
dansan826 at yahoo.com
#39 - Jennifer @ 12:47 pm
I’d like to win the Paint or Draw book!
#40 - Patti @ 1:09 pm
We’d love any of them. I can draw and paint look great, but I’d love to get my kids printing too!
#41 - Mary @ 1:20 pm
Thanks for the entry!
#42 - Brandi @ 1:33 pm
All of them sound great, but we’d probably like I can paint or I can draw. Great giveaway! Thanks!
#43 - Tara Robertson @ 2:29 pm
I’d love any of them!
#44 - Celeste @ 2:44 pm
These look great!
#45 - Jane @ 2:57 pm
I would love to win one of these for my son.
thanks!
#46 - Teresa Hoyt @ 3:03 pm
My 5 year old daughter is really in to arts and crafts!
#47 - Lisa O @ 3:09 pm
The 123 I can Paint sounds great!
Thanks!
#48 - jenny hebert @ 3:10 pm
My grand daughters would love this
#49 - Chrissy @ 3:20 pm
The painting one would be perfect!
#50 - jessica @ 4:06 pm
they all look great!
#51 - Tonya @ 4:21 pm
123 I can Paint would be our choice.
#52 - Cindi Hoppes @ 4:36 pm
Hello, What a fun contest. Any of the three books would be wonderful to me! Please enter me in your drawing. I appreciate it…..Cindi
#53 - Michelle @ 4:52 pm
I’d love any of these wonderful books..We all adore reading books especially at night.:)
#54 - Jessica T @ 5:15 pm
I’d love any of them!
#55 - Shannon @ some fine taters @ 5:28 pm
count me in!
#56 - Andrea R @ 5:39 pm
What great kids books!
#57 - jenna @ 5:47 pm
Any of them would be great for this artistically-challenged Mama.
#58 - Shakeia Rieux @ 6:09 pm
please enter me
#59 - DALE LANG @ 7:11 pm
VERY NICE PRIZE.
#60 - Lisa Oguin @ 7:51 pm
The 123 I Can Paint would be great!
#61 - Anita Yancey @ 7:59 pm
My daughter would love these books.She loves all kinds of art and drawing.
#62 - Marci @ 8:00 pm
Any of the three books would be great for my daughter.
#63 - Nancy Valdez @ 8:07 pm
Would love any of these books!
#64 - DARIJA @ 8:08 pm
Please count me in
#65 - Susanne @ 8:26 pm
My creative girls would love any one!!! Thanks so much…
#66 - Sandra @ 9:13 pm
no preference, they all sound great
#67 - Shaun Wallner @ 9:32 pm
My daughter loves art!!
#68 - Andrea @ 9:44 pm
I think I’d prefer the 123 I can Paint one, but either of the other 2 would be fine as well if this one is taken already!
These sound like great books!
#69 - Heather @ 10:20 pm
Those books are wonderful! We would love to try any of them.
#70 - Barbara M @ 10:24 pm
My granddaughters would love this!
#71 - kristine @ 11:00 pm
my son would love any of these!
#72 - Jocelyn G. @ 11:30 pm
These look like fun for my boys.
#73 - renee griffin @ 11:33 pm
I Love the 123 can Sculpt Great Giveaway, I hope to win My lil would really love this one.
#74 - Shay @ 11:55 pm
This is great. I could really use some new ideas. Thanks for the giveaway.
#75 - Valerie Mitchell @ 12:09 am
fabulous!
#76 - yvonne philpot @ 2:00 am
this is great for ideas to spend on rainy days
#77 - Antonella @ 6:19 am
Wow, great books, my son would love the I can Paint one. Thanks for the chance to win. Hugs, antonella
#78 - Charmaine @ 10:15 am
I would love one! Thanks
#79 - Deborah @ 10:46 am
Any of them will do! They all sound fantastic. If I win, you can contact me at dmj53(at)hotmail(dot)com. Thanks!
#80 - Michelle @ 11:51 am
Very cool giveaway!
#81 - Susan Chester @ 12:25 pm
They all look good, but I really like the Day With No Crayons. This just happened to my little grandaughter, she loves to draw on everything. Please enter me for any of the books.
#82 - Nancy @ 1:03 pm
Would love to win one of these for my creative grandson.
#83 - Cathy @ 1:07 pm
My granddaughter is really into painting right now. I am sure she’d love ANYTHING associated with your painting products!!
#84 - Lana @ 1:53 pm
Great selection of the books!
#85 - Beth Kuligowski @ 2:26 pm
Any of these sound great. Thanks for the chance to win! -beth
#86 - Shelly @ 2:45 pm
These books sound great - thanks!
#87 - Diana Evans @ 3:58 pm
Oh since I paint with our son Cole who is 19 months now…I would love the “I can paint” book…
Cheers,
Diana
#88 - Alyson @ 4:52 pm
Way cool! My 5 yr old is very artsy-fartsy and would have a ball with these. Makes no difference which one. Thanks!
#89 - Kathy Conley @ 7:34 pm
This is a treasure
#90 - kelli @ 7:38 pm
The books look great. I would love one!
#91 - Caryn Bailey @ 9:31 pm
These look wonderful!!!
#92 - Kristie Noguera @ 9:53 pm
My prefrence would be a Day with no Crayons. Although, I would be happy to win any of the books.
#93 - Paula McClement @ 9:54 pm
I’d love to win any one of them. They all look great.
#94 - danette @ 11:19 pm
Any of them would be awesome. My girls love creative books.
Hugs, Danette
#95 - Miss Heidi @ 11:19 pm
Please enter me. If selected, I would be cool with whatever one you felt like sharing with me. Thanks.
Heidi
sweet_soul_sistermi@yahoo.com
#96 - Kara Poulios @ 12:52 am
I’d love to win!
#97 - Tisa @ 10:18 am
They all look good but I especially like the Sculpting one. Count me in please! ~
Thanks!
#98 - Noralee @ 11:56 am
Would enjoy any one of these! Thanks
#99 - aBookworm @ 12:28 pm
Wonderful prizes and so useful too! I’ve blogged about it here - Art for Kids Giveaway
#100 - Robin Cooper @ 3:44 pm
We would love any of these. I think the 123 I can make prints would be my favorite as I know nothing about how to start on prints.
#101 - Karen (mommy of three) @ 10:03 pm
My boys would love any of these, thanks!
#102 - ray davison, II @ 11:02 pm
Great contest! count me in.
#103 - Michelle @ 1:06 am
These sound darling. Please enter me!
#104 - Ivan Girl @ 3:57 am
this is a great contest.
hope to win the 1 2 3 I Can Paint prize…:)
#105 - Shannon B. @ 1:33 pm
I would love any of the books! Thanks!
#106 - Nikki Evans @ 6:01 pm
Please consider me, good luck to all that enter!
#107 - Jenn @ 6:58 pm
I’d love to win any of them, but the painting book would be my top choice.
#108 - Mani Kumar @ 2:11 pm
Please count me in . I would love any of the books
Thanks
#109 - Tracey Pounds @ 10:56 pm
Those books sound really neat! I’d love to win!
#110 - L McLendon @ 1:01 am
Fun!
#111 - Mom Of 3 Girls » Blog Archive » Contest round-up #24 @ 2:02 pm
[…] at 5 Minutes For Mom you could win a copy of either 123 I can Paint!, 123 I Can Draw! or 123 I Can Make Prints! from Kids Can Press, a copy […]
#112 - Jodi W @ 2:05 pm
These are so cute. My DD would love any of them. Thanks for another great contest!
#113 - Naghma Husain @ 3:29 pm
please enter me to win. thank you!
#114 - bryon shaffer @ 4:45 pm
hope i win.
#115 - philip halter @ 6:23 pm
pick me
#116 - Janet Cocklereece @ 6:31 pm
Great! Great Books!
#117 - Stacy Berg @ 8:15 pm
my kids love to learn this stuff!!!!
#118 - Helen Keeler @ 8:25 pm
Great prize. I would love it.
#119 - Jennifer Barr @ 8:56 pm
would love to win
#120 - Kay @ 9:55 pm
They all look great. I would be happy to win any of them.
#121 - Leslie Lockwood @ 11:03 pm
would love to win this for my granddaughter.
#122 - Nina @ 11:33 pm
I’d love to win any of them… thanks!
#123 - Samantha Pruitt @ 1:30 am
cool beans!
#124 - Bob @ 4:09 am
Any one would be great for my grandkids!
#125 - Sylvia Porter @ 4:17 am
this sounds like fun
#126 - Fruitbearer @ 5:12 am
Please count me in. Thanks!
#127 - kathy pease @ 11:10 am
please enter me:)
#128 - Karin @ 11:29 am
Please enter me— thank you!
#129 - Kristi @ 12:18 pm
please enter me, thanks!
#130 - Maggie @ 12:54 pm
123-I Can Paint would be good. I’m also partial to 123 I Can Sculpt because I do pottery.
#131 - Eileen Sheehan @ 2:35 pm
Wow! Great prized to encourage children to express their creativity.
#132 - Pamela White @ 2:54 pm
123 I Can Draw would be my choice
#133 - Taryn @ 3:05 pm
I just started a toddler art group - these would be great!
#134 - sweetpeas @ 4:39 pm
Count me in!! They all sound great!
#135 - WandaJean @ 6:38 pm
What a nice prize, thanks, please enter me
#136 - Samantha @ 8:49 pm
123 I Can Draw would be my preference, but all of them look great. Thanks!
#137 - Sue George @ 9:08 pm
My kids would LOVE any of these! Please enter me.
#138 - Janet Podwojski @ 10:50 pm
These books would be great for my grandson.
#139 - Kristi @ 10:15 am
We would love the painting one. My kids love to paint but are always asking what they should make. they would love this book.
#140 - Melanie @ 7:02 pm
I will have to check these out! Always looking for new ideas in the art room!
#141 - anne s. @ 9:34 am
any book would be perfect!
#142 - Heather C @ 3:34 am
So, have the winners been chosen? Thanks.