I’m impressed that my 8-year-old knows her Matisse from her Monet, and has been interested in art ever since preschool. Not only was she fortunate to have forward-thinking teachers with a penchant for painting, but they encouraged self-expression through many different forms. With her younger sister following in her footsteps, I’m fascinated as I watch her move from scribble scrabbles and stick figures, to coloring in the lines and full-bodied people. To further inspire these little creative minds, we’ve been listening to the latest release from children’s musician Hope Harris. The aptly titled “Picasso, That’s Who! (And So Can You!)” pays homage to a number of artists whose works are the foundation for a study in the wide world of art. Each song is a tribute to a select artist, offering nuggets of digestible fun facts cleverly disguised as learning. From the first track “A-C-T-I-O-N,” an ode to Jackson Pollock whose amazing shape-centric works are the basis of preschool art, to the last “Impression, Monet,” Harris manages to infuse an infectious beat to each unique composition. If there’s one thing we know about art, it’s about individualism. And what better soundtrack is there for an impressionable child than one that teaches the importance of being one’s self?
In a Nutshell: The perfect musical accompaniment for your kid’s next crafting session, “Picasso, That’s Who!” 
is an appealing blend of art and verse.
