A funny, full-of-heart picture book told from a child’s perspective about big feelings, bigger messes, and the magic of making things right. Work of Art helps families navigate real-life emotions with compassion and honesty—reminding parents and kids that even on the hardest days, love always shines through the mess.
When Mommy’s having a day and the paint is out of reach, one little artist takes matters into her own hands. Inspired by real life, this story captures that all-too-relatable parenting moment—when everything feels like it’s falling apart, you’re stretched too thin, and one more mess might just push you over the edge. What follows is a colorful mess that becomes a moment of connection, empathy, and repair—for kids and grown-ups alike.
Perfect for social emotional learning (SEL) and positive parenting, Work of Art helps families embrace imperfection, self-compassion, and growth together.
✔ Encourages emotional awareness and repair
✔ Models healthy responses to mistakes
✔ Builds empathy, resilience, and connection
A must-have for neurodivergent families, classrooms, and counseling sessions, this book reminds readers that all feelings are valid—and love remains, even when life gets messy.
For fans of The Rabbit Listened, The Good Egg, and The Girl Who Makes a Million Mistakes.
📚 Ages 2+
🎁 Perfect for parents, teachers, therapists, and caregivers
💛 Themes: social emotional learning (SEL), emotional regulation, growth mindset, mindfulness, empathy, positive parenting, self-acceptance, and emotional resilience
Because being a human is hard sometimes. And that’s okay.
Work of Art
Free shipping Included
Limited Edition Author Copy
Foil-stamped metallic cover art
Bundle with a canvas tote and select pick up at a local event for a free bonus gift for the little artist in your life!
44 pages • Fiction • 8" x 10"
Ages 3+ • Full Color Illustrations
Reviews
My daughter and I really enjoyed this book! I think the parent grumpiness is something that everyone can relate to but can often be missed in books. My 7 year old could read it to me which we loved, she also loved the different fonts in the book, at the end she felt like they were pointing out the important messages and it made her pay closer attention. Overall, really cute!
As a WFH Mom, I know the woes of having 'grump' days- I emphasized with Mom's sorry sadness from having to focus on work over playtime; it's an the honest reality. It was interesting to read the child's POV on the situation- knowing Mom is important & overwhelmed-with the balance of learning together at the end to take a moment to pause.
While reading, my daughter enjoyed the art. At the end, she gave me some, "see they're painting" sass, haha, better go build some breaks into meetings.
My younger daughters (3 & 5) and I absolutely love this book. I can relate to the mom (since we all have those overwhelming days) but I also appreciated seeing things from the child’s perspective. It relays an important message to think about things from the other person’s point of view so we can have more patience and understanding with each other. We especially loved the reminder that you can turn a grumpy day around with a little glitter. The artwork is beautiful as well. Highly recommend!
This is a beautifully impactful yet easy to digest read for families. As a mom who struggles with her own emotions in many ways, I found it healing for me, and helpful for bringing emotional understanding to my kids. And the artwork is beautiful! Definitely worth it!
Work of Art is a tender, funny, and refreshingly honest look at what it means to be a working parent—and a little human with big feelings. Through vibrant illustrations and heartfelt storytelling, this book turns everyday chaos into connection. It’s a gentle reminder that love doesn’t require perfection, just presence. A must-read for families navigating real emotions with real grace.