By Cyrisse Jaffee

From Bob Ross-inspired solace to a celebrated illustrator’s family legacy and a jubilant collaborative mural, these picture books show young readers how making art can build confidence, community, and joy.

Rima and the Painter by Leila Boukarim. Illustrated by Melissa Iwai. Henry Holt and Co, 2025.

Two Artists, Grandad and Me by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow. Random House, 2026.

Off the Wall by Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal. Neal Porter Books, 2026.

In Rima and the Painter by Leila Boukarim, Rima and her mother have moved far away from their homeland. Rima is lonely but even worse, her mother is so sad that she can’t do much more than lie on the couch and watch TV. One day, a show about making art comes on. The presenter—with bushy hair and a beard—“spoke softly, his words like a song.” (Many adult readers will recognize the PBS icon, Bob Ross, who hosted the program The Joy of Painting for many years.)

Rima watches the show all week long and is inspired. She invites her mother to join her and the two of them draw together as they watch some episodes. When Rima starts drawing outside – along with kids in the neighborhood who join her – she is glad to have made friends. But she is still worried about her mother. Then, one day, her mother joins the club! She brings a canvas, paint, brushes—and “a smile Rima hadn’t seen in so long.”

Rima is, of course, delighted and so begins a new chapter in their lives. In an author’s note, Leila Boukarim explains that the book is based on the true story of how she and her mother found hope and happiness in Bob Ross’s enthusiasm and encouragement.

In Charnelle Pinkney Barlow’s story, Two Artists, Grandad and Me, the grandad in question is the award-winning children’s author and illustrator, Jerry Pinkney. “Grandad’s world is watercolor,” she explains. “Bright globs squeezed into a tray.” As jazz plays in the background, Charnelle learns not just about techniques, but also the joy of expressing oneself through art. When she doubts her abilities, he assures her that “‘there is no right way. Every artist sees the world differently.’” The little girl is so proud that he calls her an artist.

This is a splendid book, filled with vibrant, colorful, and—not surprisingly— beautiful illustrations. Using hand-cut paper collage and pencil, Barlow creates the kind of family album that everyone will enjoy. The details of the artist’s studio, the warm relationship between Charnelle and her grandfather, and the exhilaration of capturing the world on paper will no doubt inspire young artists—even if they don’t have a famous grandfather to show them the way.

Off the Wall (whose subtitle is Making Stuff Together) by Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal begins with a simple statement: “I like to make stuff.” A little girl with pigtails draws a tic-tac-toe board with chalk and invites a little boy to play. A kitten joins them, and they draw a little cat picture on one of the squares. A little boy eating an ice cream cone as he walks his dog comes by. More children join in. Although chaos ensues, the kids end up drawing all kinds of pictures on the wall in bright, almost iridescent colors. They incorporate a shoe, a bicycle, and even pets. “Look what we made!” they say. “It’s amazing! It’s fantastic!”

Suddenly, the fun wears off, and the kids begin to argue until they are yelling at each other: “No fair!” and “Quit it!” and so on. Once again, the little girl takes charge and reminds the kids that “Together we make stuff even better!” Harmony is restored, the art project resumes, and the result is a joyful, chalk-filled mural of drawings that are authentically kid-like.

Although the messages of the story—learning to work together, conflict resolution, the power of imagination, and the importance of art as expression—are obvious, it’s told with such exuberance that it never feels preachy. The illustrations vibrate with color against a brownish background that has an almost brown-paper-bag feel. The kids come in all shapes and colors (blue, green, pink, and so on) and the story, told in just a few words, moves along briskly. In an endnote, the authors talk about how much they like to “make stuff” together. This book will work wonderfully in a classroom but also at home, especially if there are quarreling siblings involved.

Cyrisse Jaffee is a former children’s and YA librarian, children’s book editor, and a creator of educational materials for WGBH. She holds a master’s degree in Library Science from Simmons College and lives in Newton, MA.