LOVE IT LISTS! STEAM Ahead with Picture Books Written and Illustrated by Lois Ehlert
a nature-inspired picture book list for art lovers of all ages
Must-Share Books: Inspire Unique New Artwork
Below is a list of must-share books by renowned Wisconsin artist, author/illustrator of children’s books. Lois Jane Ehlert (November 9, 1934 – May 25, 2021).
Ehlert created award-winning picture books that enrich our world via her stunning signature style artwork and deceptively simple text. Her works encourage us to sit up and notice nature, take in our beautiful world, as well as learn to count. Her books make us chuckle, ponder science processes, appreciate culture, and inspire us to create.
STEAM Ahead!
Science via Nature
Ehlert's books often feature plants, animals, and natural phenomena. Explore plant life cycles, seed germination, or color mixing with "Planting a Rainbow". Inspir discussions about trees, seasons, and leaf identificautio with "Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf". Encourage students to observe the details in her illustrations, prompting questions about the natural world. For example, after reading "Leaf Man," students can go on a scavenger hunt to find leaves and create their own leaf creatures.
Try out Technique (rather than Technology this time)
Try out different textures, colors, and recycled materials to create collages.
Engineering Design
Engage in a design challenge, such as building a treehouse inspired by "Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf".
Art
Ehlert loved experimenting with materials like paper, fabric, and found objects. Use her books as springboards for exploring color theory, mixing colors, and creating color palettes. Collage your everyday ordinary finds from outdoor adventures to create extraordinary art.
Math: Shapes and Geometry
"Color Zoo" and “Color Farm” can be used to introduce shapes and geometric concepts. Create animals using different shapes. Then use "Oodles of Animals" to sort animals by characteristic, measure lengths of leaves, height of trees, or the size of their leaf collages. Write a math poem to paste next to unique art.
Stack these fun read-alouds in book baskets with art supplies nearby.
In keeping with Ehlert’s passion for our planet, encourage your young readers to get outdoors to collect the good stuff for later-on art projects. These books are perfect inspirations for trying their hand at painting, arranging, collaging, making art with their own everyday finds.
Point out Ehlert’s use of vivid colors, cut outs, flaps, and unexpected shapes for added surprise.
Mimic Ehlert’s love of experimentation by layering and designing shapes to make faces peak out through cut-out windows.
Add found objects such as bottle cap ears, feather smiles, and countable fish. Artistically arrange leaves, buttons, and beads to add extra special pizzazz.
Encourage each young artist to create their own unique project.
Then host a CREATE Art Show in memory of Lois Ehlert.
Foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Use picture books to make learning engaging and relevant to their world.
Growing Vegetable Soup (1987)
Planting a Rainbow (1988)
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (illustrator) (1989) IRA Children’s Choice and an ALA Notable Children’s Book, Boston Globe– Horn Book Award
Color Zoo (1989) Caldecott Honor
Eating the Alphabet (1989)
Thump, Thump, Rat-a-Tat-Tat (illustrator) (1989)
Color Farm (1990)
Fish Eyes (1990)
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf (1991) Boston Globe–Horn Book Award
Feathers for Lunch (1990)
Circus (1992)
Moon Rope/Un Lazo a La Luna (1992)
Nuts to You! (1993)
Mole's Hill: A Woodland Tale (1994)
Snowballs (1995) Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A Pair of Socks (illustrator) (1996)
Under My Nose (1996)
Cuckoo/Cucú: A Mexican Folktale (1997)
Angel Hide and Seek (illustrator) (1998)
Top Cat (1998)
Waiting for Wings (2001) New York Times Bestseller
Market Day/Día de marcado (2002)
In My World (2002)
Crocodile Smile (illustrator) (2003)
Moon Rope (2003)
Hands: Growing Up to Be An Artist (2004)
Pie in the Sky (2004)
Leaf Man (2005) New York Times Bestseller, Boston Globe–Horn Book Award
In My World (2006)
Wag a Tail (2007)
Oodles of Animals (2008)
Boo to You! (2009)
Lots of Spots (2010)
Rrralph (2011)
The Scraps Book (2014)
Holey Moley (2015)
Rain Fish (2016)
Heart to Heart (2017)
Red & Green (2023) Written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert, published posthumously
I LOVE IT! A1, ace, first-rate, super, tiptop, excellent, don't-pass-these-books-up! Don’t pass up these books either!
Do you want to nominate a 2024 or 2025 kidlit book for the Love It Lists?
I’m looking to read and support poetry anthologies and poetry collections, nonfiction picture books, and/or fiction picture books. If you’d like to nominate book(s) for me to explore, please send me an email with the digital ARC.
If you’ll be in the area, I’d love to meet up!
Registration is open for SCBWI Wisconsin’s in-person conference The Artistry of Craft.
Register HERE All are welcome, but the seats are limited. Join us!
I am a nonfiction picture book author who loves - loves - loves to read and write lyrical nonfiction. I am always searching for kid-relatable nuances about our natural world that make be stop and think. I am a sucker for topics that spark curiosity and questions. This new focused adventure will help me share what I find with you.
Are you in Pennsylvania? STUCK is on the Keystone to Reading Book Award list! I was thrilled to meet the incredible PA teachers and librarians at the American Library Association conference in June. I ask that you spread the word for STUCK! Here is the Keystone to Reading Intermediate level ballot for your students’ votes.
"We are still in the position of waking up and having a choice. Do I make the world better today somehow, or do I not bother?" Tom HanksWould you like to participate on uGROnews via an interview with me?
Please send me an email! I have some openings and would love to support you and your book.
#researching #writing #reading I’m into Earth’s natural wonders. What are you reading, writing, … finding?
Wonderful ideas on using picture books to spark curiosity and creativity.
Thanks so much for all the writing information you provide and for featuring Love It Lists! appreciate all you do to support other authors. Splendid to meet you in person at ALA.