Small Stories, Big Impact

Small Stories, Big Impact: A Family Adventure into the World of Art

It all started during a late-night scroll when I stumbled upon a new book release from Taschen: Small Stories of Great Artists by Laurence Anholt. The name immediately caught my attention, not just because of the subject matter, but because Anholt is already a beloved figure in our home, thanks to his Seriously Silly Stories series, which my son adores.

Without hesitation, I ordered the book. The wait felt unusually long, probably because I was as excited as my child would be. The moment it arrived, I handed it over to my six-year-old. He was instantly captivated by the illustrations and asked me to read him a bedtime story.

We began with Van Gogh, discovering the story behind Sunflowers through the eyes of Camille, the postman’s son who became friends with the misunderstood artist. Suddenly, Van Gogh wasn’t just a name or a painting, he was a character, a person, seen from a child’s perspective. Their friendship opened a door for us into the artist’s world, gently introducing themes like loneliness, kindness, and courage.

Very quickly, Small Stories of Great Artists became our go-to bedtime book. We explored stories about Picasso, Chagall, and Kahlo, all framed through the eyes of the children who crossed paths with them. 

These aren’t biographies; they’re human stories. 

The artists come alive in ways that are accessible and meaningful for children, not just as icons of art history, but as people navigating life, creativity, and self-expression.

What impressed me most was the care and detail that clearly went into each story. Curious about the author’s approach, I began reading more about Laurence Anholt’s creative process. Turns out, it’s as magical as the stories themselves.

Each book is grounded in meticulous research. Anholt traveled to the homes and studios of these artists, sometimes even gaining access to places closed to the public. For his Monet story, he sat at the painter’s actual desk in Giverny at sunrise, watching the light change over the water lilies, letting the story come to him.

Other stories came together more serendipitously. While researching Picasso, Anholt struggled to find a personal angle, until a chance encounter at a dinner party led him to meet Sylvette David, the original Girl with a Ponytail. That encounter became the heart of a whole new story, filled with the kind of magic that no research alone could uncover.

Naturally, I ended up buying five more copies to give to friends. The reaction was always the same: pure enchantment. Parents found themselves just as drawn in as their children, and the stories sparked conversations not just about art, but about empathy, creativity, and what it means to be true to oneself.

Small Stories of Great Artists is more than just a collection of bedtime tales. 

It’s an invitation, for both children and parents, to see artists not as distant geniuses, but as real people. And in doing so, it makes the world of art feel just a little closer, a little more human.

If you’re looking for a beautiful, thoughtful way to introduce your child to art history, this book is a gem. And chances are, you’ll end up loving it just as much as they do.