Making a Mess, Making a Masterpiece

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” — Picasso

Illustration of a plush bunny drawing on a wall covered in colorful crayon scribbles, handprints, and childlike stick figures. A small wooden stool is nearby, also marked with paint. Below the scene is the phrase “Making a Mess, Masterpiece,” with the mess crossed out and “Masterpiece” emphasized in purple. A playful image for a toddler art-themed blog post by Little Goodbyes Press.

 

Messy fingers, bold colours, and big ideas toddlers are some of the most confident artists out there. Whether they're swirling paint, gluing feathers, or piling blocks sky-high, the act of making is pure magic. Here are some picture books that celebrate that creativity not through perfect results, but through joyful process.

This list of books features a mix of Canadian creators, small publishers, and indie favourites all books that honour what it means to explore and create as a little one.

Book cover of How to Spot an Artist by Canadian author Danielle Krysa. The cover features bold text, playful art supplies, pencil shavings, colourful shapes, and a yellow bubble that says “This might get messy.” A creative picture book for toddlers and preschoolers about making art and embracing the mess.


How to Spot an Artist By Danielle Krysa 

From BC-based artist and podcast host Danielle Krysa (The Jealous Curator), this playful book reassures children that real artists make messes, get stuck, and feel unsure and that’s all part of the magic. A perfect reminder for kids and parents alike. Also available in French!

Cover of Crafty Llama by Canadian author Mike Kerr and illustrator Renata Liwska. The title is spelled in colourful knitted letters, with a llama knitting a scarf alongside a curious beaver and birds. A sweet picture book about crafting, friendship, and thoughtful handmade gifts for toddlers and preschoolers.


Crafty Llama by Mike Kerr, Illustrated by Renata Liwska 

A charming, gentle story about creating for the joy of it not to impress or even to use. Written and Illustrated by Canadians, Mike Kerr and Renata Liwska. It’s a sweet tale of wool, whimsy, and why we make things at all.

Cover of Lines by Suzy Lee, a wordless picture book that explores creativity and movement through simple pencil lines. The artwork shows a young figure skater in a red hat and mittens gliding across white space, leaving looping pencil trails behind. A quiet, imaginative book about drawing, play, and the freedom of artistic expression.


Lines By Suzy Lee 

A wordless celebration of play, drawing, and imagination. A single red pencil creates a whole world of motion, ice, and surprise. For toddlers who like to narrate pictures and tell their own stories, this one opens the door.

Cover of What Can a Mess Make? by Bee Johnson, a picture book celebrating creative messes and playful art-making. The illustration shows a red-haired child lying on a colourful blanket, holding a slice of pizza, surrounded by craft supplies, books, markers, and a mug filled with paintbrushes. A joyful toddler-friendly story about imagination, mess, and making things from everyday chaos.


What Can a Mess Make?  by Bee Johnson

Perfect for toddlers, this book is a rhyming, exuberant day-in-the‑life of two sisters who create cozy messes from breakfast to bedtime syrup, berries, pillows, crayons turning ordinary chaos into imaginative fun. 

Cover of Art & Max by David Wiesner, a picture book about painting, creativity, and making a joyful mess. The cover shows two lizards — one serious and one playful — holding paintbrushes and a palette, with bright splashes of colour and expressive movement. A fun and visually rich story about artistic expression for toddlers and preschoolers.

Art & Max by David Wiesner

Another almost wordless delight featuring two lizards one precise and careful, the other playful and messy who are painting together, experimenting, and turning a blank page into a bold, abstract art adventure. David's books are always a hit with the younger kids in our lives. 

Want to add some toddler art to your shelves?

These books aren't about being neat or following instructions, they're about bold ideas, trying things out, and celebrating what our hands can do. Whether you're raising a mini muralist or just like the smell of crayons in the morning, these stories belong on your bookshelf.


This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

You can find more at littlegoodbyes.ca, including book news and free printables.


Location: Canada

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