Art Comes To Life in These Middle Grade Novels
by Dena McMurdie
Do you remember Mary Poppins jumping into a chalk drawing? That’s my favorite part of the story. As a kid, I loved stories where art comes to life and always imagined my sketchbook drawings stepping off the page and into the real world. Of course, they never did. But thankfully, there are plenty of books about that exact scenario to whisk readers away on an art-filled adventure.
If you have a curious and creative kid at home who loves artsy stories, here are some excellent novels about art bursting into action. Whether your little artist likes to bake, draw, read, or write, they will love the books on this list.
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Doodles from the Boogie Down
Available from:Steph has a passion for becoming an artist and dreams of pursuing it. She's currently in eighth grade and needs to decide on a high school to attend next year. Noticing her talent, her art teacher suggests an arts high school in Manhattan. But, her mom is not thrilled with that idea. That's far from home in the Bronx! Steph has to face the challenge of balancing her passions while keeping her loved ones happy.
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Beneath the Swirling Sky
Available from:This first book in The Restorationists series follows young Vincent and his sister Lilli as they spend spring break with their art conservator great-uncle. But when Lilli disappears into one of the world's most famous paintings, Vincent finds himself pulled into this strange new world of magic and art. A fast-paced and fantastical story centered on our own power to create art that can change the world.
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Pencilmation: The Graphite Novel
Available from:Pencilmation is a popular YouTube series where pencil drawings spring to life. They form friendships and rivalries, go on quests, and have misadventures. Now, the creator behind the series is bringing the show’s characters and wacky humor to the page. Established fans and new readers alike will love this hilarious book.
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The Dollhouse: A Ghost Story
Available from:When her parents split up, Alice and her mom move into an old mansion to care for an older woman. It doesn’t take long before Alice gets caught up in a mystery involving a curious dollhouse, a girl who appears out of nowhere, and a ghostly legacy.
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Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom
Available from:Kiki Kallira fills her sketchbook with drawings from Indian legends and lore. But when her doodles spring to life, Kiki gets pulled into the world inside her sketchbook, where she must face down an angry god. With the help of a group of rebels and her trusty pencil, Kiki sets out to save the world.
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Zia Erases the World
Available from:Anxiety and a magical dictionary clash in this heartfelt middle grade novel. When Zia erases words from her old family dictionary, they also disappear in real life. At first, Zia’s life improves, but as she erases more and more words, the world around her starts crumbling.
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Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend
Baking is an art form that turns dangerous in this exciting adventure story. Winnie uses a mooncake recipe from her grandmother’s magical cookbook and accidentally summons evil spirits to her town. She’ll need all the help she can get (and a few more recipes) to repair the damage.
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Mapmakers and the Lost Magic
Available from:Readers who love maps and their unique magic will appreciate this story. It’s about a young girl named Adelaide who stumbles across an abandoned hideout filled with magical maps. One map comes to life and forms a creature who needs her help to defeat their tyrannical rulers. Now, Adelaide must learn the lost art of mapmaking to save her home.
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Friend or Fiction
Available from:Jade tires of her friends moving away from her small town, so she invents a best friend to fill the void. But she doesn’t expect this imaginary friend to step off the pages of her notebook and walk into her life. This story will resonate with any reader who has struggled with making friends.
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Pages & Co. Series
Available from:If your young readers enjoyed The Land of Stories series, they’ll also love this one. It’s about Tilly, a young girl who works in a magical bookshop and can jump in and out of stories. Whether plunging into Anne of Green Gables or a fairy tale, Tilly and her friends have unforgettable adventures inside the books.
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Doodleville
Available from:Doodles run amok in this humorous graphic novel from the creator of The Cardboard Kingdom. Drew’s doodles have always come to life, but they’ve never caused any trouble — until now. With one of her creations on the loose and terrorizing other artists, Drew and her art club friends must tame the monster she made.
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The Island of Dr. Libris
Available from:I read this book from the author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and loved every page. It’s about a boy named Billy who realizes that every time he cracks open a book, the characters from the story come to life on a nearby island. Add this to your list if you’re looking for a story filled with fun, humor, and adventure.
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Escape This Book! Tombs of Egypt
Available from:It’s your turn to make art come to life with this interactive doodle book. Choose a story path to follow, complete the challenges, and doodle your way out of an Egyptian tomb before it’s too late. Other books in this series include Escape This Book! Titanic and Escape This Book! Race to the Moon.
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