We know we shouldn’t play with our food when it’s time for dinner, but what if we made art with it, instead? Or learned more about our food because of the art we’re making? One of my favorite DIY book publishers, Chronicle Books, has some great new offerings out for all ages right now, but two books caught my eye right away. Both have a food theme and both are about – you guessed it – having fun with food. Get your colored pencils, crayons and imaginations ready, because it’s time for your family to play with your food!
MoMA Art While You Eat Place Mats
By Laura Ljungkvist
Restaurants are definitely onto something when they offer younger guests a cup of crayons and a blank canvas, aka a paper tablecloth, to work with during dinner. The Museum of Modern Art presents a book of place mats packed with activities for children to enjoy based on the meal at hand. It’s not just about what’s for dinner – children are encouraged to experiment with new shapes and drawing techniques as they learn.
Drawing Food: A Journal
By Claudia Pearson
Once your kids have mastered the art of capturing food on their place mats, offer them this how-to book to enhance their drawing skills. Claudia takes you through the basics of sketching a variety of foods, from macaroons to cucumbers, in this book targeted at budding artists.
