Kid’s Corner: The Story of Art Without Men

An Illustrated Guide to Amazing Women Artists

by Katy Hessel

with Ping Zhu (Illustrator)

Arts & Photography-Children’s Nonfiction-(Art) History

Pub date: 06 October 2026

My thoughts:

I love this book that introduces elementary school aged children to women artists from different schools over the centuries. The illustrations are completely engaging as is the text from the author. From the introduction to the last page, kids are invited to think about art. There is much information (in small sections) and questions for young viewers to contemplate. There are also many works of art to see.

Readers/viewers begin with the Renaissance and move forward from there. The journey will, I hope, be enjoyable for them.

I easily and enthusiastically give this book five stars. I think that, along with its intended audience, adults may also enjoy this title.

Many thanks to Norton Young Readers for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Description:

from the publisher

An illustrated remix of Katy Hessel’s best-selling The Story of Art Without Men illuminates the works of women artists throughout history.

In The Story of Art Without Men, best-selling author and renowned art historian Katy Hessel journeys from the Renaissance to the twenty-first century, and across the globe, from Cornwall to Manhattan, Nigeria to Japan, to discover the stories of women who changed the world with their incredible art. She invites readers to explore the works of Sofonisba Anguissola, whose glittering Renaissance paintings blended art styles; Harriet Powers, a freewoman who quilted stories from her faith and her community; and Tarsila do Amaral, who painted her Brazilian culture to preserve it from colonization—and more than ninety other visionary women artists both famous and lesser known.

Buoyed by Ping Zhu’s dazzling illustrations and Katy Hessel’s signature sense of humor, The Story of Art Without Men upends our perspectives on art and its true masters—and cracks open the canon for women artists still to come.

About the Authors: 

Katy Hessel is a London-based art historian and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Story of Art Without Men.

Ping Zhu is an illustrator and an instructor at the Pratt Institute. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

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Advance Praise

“Makes for an inquiring, chatty guide, and the pages will fly by. [Hessel] deftly intertwines explanations of concepts such as perspective and discussions of great works with context about the systemic sexism these women faced… Concise yet thorough and engaging, this is an impressive introduction to art history; its focus on those whose names are often omitted makes it essential reading. An inspiring feast for eyes and mind.” -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)