Books About Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo's popularity has grown tremendously in recent years. People all over the globe are recognizing her courage, talent, and bold self-expression. Most of the books on this list are biographies, but they all take a slightly different viewpoint of Kahlo’s life. Each book offers details that kids are sure to find fascinating and inspiring.

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The Story of Frida Kahlo: A Biography Book for New Readers Susan B. Katz

This biography provides an engaging way to look at the life and legacy of Frida Kahlo. It features eight easy-to-understand chapters with discussion prompts every few pages. Each spread features colorful illustrations to break up the text. There’s a glossary and timeline too, which is helpful for young kids. Read this one with elementary children.

Frida Kahlo Inspired Inner Genius

Written especially for early elementary kids, this picture book describes the life and work of Frida Kahlo as one extended story. Children will hear about Kahlo’s early life and the things that inspired her to paint later in her life, too. The illustrations are detailed and painted with muted colors. This book provides an age-appropriate look at Kahlo’s life for preschoolers and early elementary kids.

Little People, Big Dreams: Frida Kahlo Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

vbnmFrom the best-selling Little People, Big Dreams series, this book gives children a brief glimpse into the life of Frida Kahlo. There are just a few sentences on each page, making the information easy for little ones to understand. Quirky illustrations fill the pages and a biographical timeline is provided at the end of the book. Read this one with preschoolers or early elementary children.

Frida Kahlo Mary Nhin

This book inspires kids to dream big and work hard! It pays special attention to the fact that Frida Kahlo didn’t wallow in her suffering—she used art to express her emotions and find her passion. The book is written in first-person, so it’s like Frida herself is telling children her life story. This inspiring book is a great choice for elementary children.

My Little Golden Book About Frida Kahlo Silvia Lopez

In the classic form of My Little Golden Books, this one tells the story of Frida Kahlo with simple language and vivid illustrations. The text is informative without being overwhelming. That makes this book a must-have for preschoolers and early elementary children.

Who Was Frida Kahlo? Sarah Fabiny

This chapter book does a wonderful job of explaining the details of Frida Kahlo’s life in a way that inspires young readers. Its 10 chapters walk readers through Frida’s childhood, her relationship with Diego Rivera, her paintings, and her pain and suffering. Black-and-white illustrations are included throughout the book to provide details and show Kahlo’s work. Confident readers can tackle this one on their own, but it makes an interesting read-aloud for first and second graders, too.

Show Me History! Frida Kahlo James Buckley Jr.

Kids who enjoy graphic novels will love this biography! It’s nearly 100 pages long and written entirely in graphic novel format. The illustrations show Kahlo as a confident woman who faces challenge after challenge: polio, bus accident, miscarriages, political adversaries. This book brings out Kahlo’s Mexican culture, Surrealist style, and personal essence. It provides a lot of details that may not be appropriate for young readers, so we recommend it for kids in upper elementary grades.

I Am Frida Kahlo Brad Meltzer

This book is another biography of Frida Kahlo told with a storybook format. It tells the story of Kahlo’s childhood and emphasizes how life events inspired her to integrate herself into her paintings. The story is told in a conversational tone that’s easy for kids to follow. A timeline and photographs of Frida Kahlo are included in the final pages. The cartoon-like illustrations are great, too. Read this one with early elementary kids. (Fun fact: This is the book series that inspired the PBS television show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum.)

Frida Marisa Boan

Pick up this bilingual book and teach your children a few Spanish words as you learn about Frida Kahlo. The book tells a basic story of Kahlo’s life alongside simple illustrations. The text on each page is written in both English and Spanish, and many of the illustrations identify items with words written in both languages. There are even activity pages at the end that encourage children to make a flower crown like Kahlo often wore in her hair! Read this one with early elementary kids.

Be Bold! Be Brave! 11 Latinas Who Made US History Naibe Reynoso

Take a closer look at the lives of 11 Latina women in this bilingual book. A brief rhyming poem is included for each woman. You’ll read about Antonia Novello (first female Surgeon General in the U.S.), Ellen Ochoa (first Latina to go to space), Sonia Sotomayor (first Latina Supreme Court Justice), and more. It’s a quick book that packs a lot of information. Early elementary kids are sure to enjoy it!

Frida Kahlo: The Artist in the Blue House Magdalena Holzhey

Introduce elementary children to the life and work of Frida Kahlo with this book. It portrays her paintings in detail and points to the symbolism she used in her work. Kids will learn about creative expression—one of the things that made Kahlo such a remarkable artist. Reprints of some of her most famous paintings are also included.

Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos Monica Brown

In this award-winning book, children will see how animals inspired Frida Kahlo’s paintings. Several animals star in the book: two monkeys, a parrot, three dogs, two turkeys, an eagle, a black cat, and a fawn. Whimsical illustrations follow the text and embody the expression that Kahlo put into every painting. The text briefly highlights the events of Kahlo’s life, but mostly focuses on the animals she kept. It’s a unique way to tell her story that young elementary children will enjoy.

Portrait of an Artist: Frida Kahlo Lucy Brownridge

Kids can learn about the life of Frida Kahlo through 10 of her paintings featured in this book. Each page calls out one of her masterpieces and the details that make it so unique. Her use of color, her portrayal of emotion, and her Surrealist style are all discussed. The illustrations supplement Kahlo’s work to add even more rich detail to her life. Read this one with elementary children.

Frida Kahlo: The Artist Who Painted Herself Margaret Frith

This book is cleverly written in the style of a student’s research report on Frida Kahlo. The story flows in a very conversational way, like it’s the child presenting their report. Several aspects from Frida’s personal life are mentioned, but it’s her paintings that take the starring role in this book. Many reprints of her paintings are included alongside illustrations by Tomie dePaola. This book provides a friendly introduction to Kahlo’s work for elementary students.

Frida Kahlo Jane Kent

This illustrated biography tells the story of Frida Kahlo from a first-person point of view. The author includes several engaging details about Kahlo’s family, her devotion to Mexican culture, her involvement in politics, and her impact on society. The illustrations are colorful, striking a balance with the white space and text on each page. There’s even a short quiz at the end of the book so children can test their knowledge. This one is a good pick for upper elementary kids.

Frida Kahlo: The Bravest Girl in the World Laurence Anholt

This book follows along as the fictional character Mariana goes to have her portrait painted by Frida Kahlo. She’s initially scared of Kahlo, but as she learns more about Kahlo’s creativity, courage, and love, the two become friends. Hearing the words that Kahlo herself may have spoken makes this book very engaging. Read it with early elementary kids.

Think Big, Little One Vashti Harrison

This board book inspires young children to believe in themselves and make their dreams come true. Several influential women are mentioned like Frida Kahlo, Marie Curie, Toni Morrison, and others. Each page features just one sentence about each woman to give young children a taste of history. It’s a quick read that’s perfect for young toddlers and preschoolers.

Courageous History Makers: 11 Women from Latin America Who Changed the World Naibe Reynoso

This book features 11 women from Latina America that have made an impact in science, sports, arts, and more. Each spread features a brief biography of the woman and a fun illustration. The text is written in both English and Spanish. The women who are featured show children how different background and life stories can all lead to success. We recommend reading this one with early elementary kids.

Paint Brushes for Frida Veronique Massenot

When Frida Kahlo spills her jar of paintbrushes on the ground, a monkey named Caimito helps her clean it up. In honor of him, Kahlo sets about painting Self Portrait with Monkeys. Although this book features a fictional tale, it also tells many true details about Kahlo’s life. It explores the reasons why she painted and also highlights the symbolism she so often used in her work. The illustrations feature beautifully vibrant colors that will make this one a favorite for early elementary children.

Famous Artists in History Kelly Milner Halls

Kids will read biographies of 15 influential painters, sculptors, and photographers in this book. Frida Kahlo is featured along with Vincent Van Gogh, Andy Warhol, Michelangelo, and others. Special attention is given to how these artists expressed their creative viewpoint in order to inspire others. Upper elementary kids will love to page through this one at their own pace.

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