13 Art Illusions Children Should Know

Children love to be fooled—and artists are some of the greatest tricksters around. This collection features artworks that incorporate a variety of methods for tricking our eyes: including trompe l’oeil, clever uses of color and perspective, Surrealism, and Photo-Realism. Arranged thematically, each work is presented in a two-page spread. Lively texts explain the methods the artists employed to shape their illusions. Reproduced in vibrant color, these pieces of ripe fruit, blooming flowers, a half-opened curtain, flickering lines, and impossible worlds come alive on the page, providing hours of absorbing fun as readers are drawn into the stories behind their creation. Playful, intriguing, and educational, these great illusions are a terrific way to introduce children to the world of art."This is an enjoyably interactive work of nonfiction that will have students challenging friends with optical illusions, staring (very) hard at great works of art, and, if they’re not feeling too dizzy, trying their hand at creating their own renditions."

—Booklist
"It's a riveting read. . . the enchanting trickery includes concealed messages, upside-down images, and far more."


—Arts & Activities