I wanted to spend some more focused time on the Italian Renaissance. We used the summer months to read these few chapter books and revisit my country study on Italy! Here are the Renaissance books we read and the art we looked at.
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Biographies
I really enjoy Diane Stanley’s biographies. They could be called picture books with full sized illustrations on one side, but the other side is filled with words…a lot of words! I read aloud one or two pages a day over the course of a few weeks.
We also appreciate the humor in Mike Venezia’s biographies. I usually let the kids browse through the illustrations to look at the art reproductions as well as his funny cartoons.
- Leonardo DaVinci, by Diane Stanley
- Michelangelo, by Diane Stanley
- Leonardo DaVinci, by Mike Venezia
- Michelangelo, by Mike Venezia
- Raphael, by Mike Venezia
Leonardo da Vinci
We read SO MANY picture books about Leonardo da Vinci’s life and specific works of art. My study, “Discover Italy: A Book A Day” recommends many delightful picture books to learn about Leonardo, Michelangelo, and other people who lived during the Italian Renaissance. We spent one week each focusing on Venice, Florence, Rome, and southern Italy.
We initially read these books four years ago, and I wanted to read them again and go through my study for the sake of my 8 and 10-year olds who were too young the first time around. To my surprise, my 13-year olds were delighted to revisit the picture books and the crafts!
This time around, we also read these two chapter books that specifically highlight The Mona Lisa:
- The Mona Lisa Vanishes
- We read this with our book club and used this free discussion guide from the publisher. Find the file under the “guides” tab towards the bottom.
- This book jumps between the Renaissance when Leonardo painted the Mona Lisa, and the early 1900s when it was stolen from the Louve in Paris.
- The Second Mrs. Gioconda
- This historical fiction book weaves a whole back story into how and why Leonardo DaVinci may have painted the Mona Lisa. We learned a lot about the time Leonardo spent in Milan.
Michelangelo
I found “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler” on audiobook and remembered enjoying it as a kid! Little did I remember that Michelangelo was the featured artist. It was the perfect book to read in conjunction with the Diane Stanley biography.
Art Study, Renaissance Books
We used the beginning lessons in God and the History of Art, Volume 2. These were all about the Italian Renaissance, Leonardo DaVinci, and Michelangelo. Some of the lessons encouraged kids to draw the human body (clothed), and the hand. The art book comes with postcards and compares them in the text, while discussing such art words as sfumato and chiaoscuro.
Otherwise, you can click on these links to look at art from your computer or download them to print out. My library has the most affordable option for color printing. I bring my own cardstock so that the prints are a bit more sturdy.
- Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci
- The Last Supper, by Leonardo da Vinci, Khan Academy Video
- Pietá, by Michelangelo, KhanAcademy Video
- Libyan Sibyl, by Michelangelo, KhanAcademy Video about the Sistine Chapel (contains nudity)
Related to “Renaissance Books for Kids”
- Middle Ages Books for Kids
- Books about Vikings
- Books about Merlin and Arthur
- Picture Books about Medieval Illuminations
- Chapter Books set in Medieval Asia
- Chapter Books about the Aztecs, Maya, and Incas
- Review of AmblesideOnline Year 7: Including Medieval History and Literature
- Review of AmblesideOnline Year 2: Medieval History
- Review of My Father’s World: Rome to the Reformation (Ancient Rome and Medieval History)