This book has some really good ideas about how to introduce kids to art materials in a way that makes them engaged and creative and able to think creatively about how to solve problems as they grow. I also liked that it talked about what to do if you have a small space to work with. I have been brainstorming how I can make our art space (which is also our kitchen) more accessible to my 9-year-old so that he can get supplies and create on his own.

This colorful book is so inviting to artists, teachers, and parents. There are lots of simple activities that involve items one already has at home, with easy to create activities. Many of the ideas invite artists to add their own flair. I really liked that at the end of the book there were templates to recreate some of the art, and I have used these in my small group art activities. Highly recommended for preschools and libraries!

My kids are a little older but hey never too old for an art space. These ideas and pictures are wonderful!! Super cute!!

Fantastic resource for parents and educators wanting to set up an art area and to encourage more creativity in their children. The pictures are gorgeous and the text is easy to read. The perfect guide for busy people as it is practical and easy to read. The art ideas are open ended and the ideas simple.
I highly recommend this book! Would fit in beautifully in a Reggio or Montessori setting.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for this arc. All opinions are my own.

Great ideas for how to organise your craft/art room to make it more user friendly for your kids and more organised for you.

There are lots of good organisational tips and pictures to inspire.

What a treasure of a book! I'm a teacher and art therapist myself and cannot rate the teachings in this any higher! There are plenty of helpful examples of setting up a space in whatever size space you have and loads of activities for all ages and developmental levels. Cannot wait to get started with my toddler!
Thanks to Netgalley and the author and publisher for a temporary copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Art Playroom is a practical and attractive tutorial guide for setting up dedicated creative spaces and studios for children by Megan Schiller. Due out 11th July 2023 from Quarto on their Quarry imprint, it's 144 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

Having a dedicated space for creativity is vitally important for children's development and learning. This book will help parents and facilitators to establish an attractive safe environment for art play either in the home or for classroom/studio use.

The book does a good job of explaining how (and some of why) to set up a space, as well as listing specific age-appropriate art prompts and tutorials for skill building and creative play. The organizational ideas are attractive, but not specifically budget friendly. They're certainly "Instagram worthy" and pretty though. Most facilitators will find useful tips to incorporate in their own setups.

Four stars. Some useful tips and beautiful color photography throughout. It would be a good choice for maker's spaces, classroom, public library, home use, and activity groups as well as potentially for setting up a creche or drop-in art space for children.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

A gorgeous book about creating the perfect art playroom. It contains tons of beautiful pictures and ideas. I also enjoyed the recommended projects and what's needed. This would be perfect for those who love books like The Home Edit or instructional art books.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

I am very excited to use the tips from this book in creating an Art Playroom. This book has the complete ideas from the walls and storage areas of the room to how to store supplies and ideas to present to a child for making an art project. I found it to be extremely interesting and everyone who browses it will come away with great ideas. Things as simple as making sure the supplies are ordered in an inviting way are covered, as are putting things on shelves according to the age and access of the children. Bright colorful pictures give examples of the ideas provided. I will use this book in creating an inviting art area for my grandchildren.


I received an ARC from Quarto Publishing Group - Quarry Books through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

This is a great resource book for parents and art teachers. I've already started implementing many of the ideas in our craft room to be more kid friendly for my daughter. The back half of the book is filled with project ideas and templates. The book is fun and bright, and has made me very excited to encourage my daughter in her art. (I used to be an elementary art teacher, and always loved having things available for kids to do their own thing, and see what they come up with)

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for letting me read this book in exchange for my honest review.

If you are considering adding a dedicated creative space for your children to play and invent freely, this author has oodles of tips and suggestions not only how to set up the space, but also what materials you may want to include and "Invitations to Create" to provide a little nudge and starting point.

Encourage creative skills development and more with your very own art playroom.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is without a doubt the most thorough book I've found in regards to providing children with an artistic environment. Schiller guides parents/educations/are caregivers through steps to create spaces that foster a sense of exploration and creativity. The book is complete with practical strategies, from selecting age-appropriate materials to designing an inspirational workspace. Schiller also demonstrates how to engage children in creative tasks and explains how these activities stimulate cognitive development. Incorporating a multitude of anecdotes, she proves how accessible and advantageous art can be in a child's life.

As a homeschooling mom I drew a lot of inspiration from this book that I plan to incorporate this coming school year. Mainly, how an "art space" allows for flexibility and self-expression that can occur outside pre-determined curricula. I'm looking forward to putting these methods into practice.

This book has some really good ideas about how to introduce kids to art materials in a way that makes them engaged and creative and able to think creatively about how to solve problems as they grow. I also liked that it talked about what to do if you have a small space to work with. I have been brainstorming how I can make our art space (which is also our kitchen) more accessible to my 9-year-old so that he can get supplies and create on his own.

The ideas on storage are minimal and can be summed up with "use what you have or like and works for you" which is great but not super helpful.

It encourages using quality supplies and teaching kids how to take care of them, which I support, but does not acknowledge how expensive those supplies can be.

The focus of much of the book is on making "invitations to create" for your child. Several of them are aimed at younger children, which is great, but leaves me with some questions about where to start with my 9-year-old. But I think I can take general ideas and adapt them.

I wish I had had this book when my kid was born, and recommend it to all new parents, no matter how versed in art and crafting they are. It would also be a great resource for preschool and elementary school teachers.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Quarto, and Quarry Books for providing an early copy for review.

A very colourful book. Some great ideas here that will be very useful in a classroom environment. Well set out and thought through. Thanks to Netgalley and Quarry Books.

Megan Schiller's The Art Playroom is an engaging guide that combines aesthetics with practicality, offering an abundance of ideas for setting up an inspiring art space at home. Packed with over 55 art prompts, this book is a treasure trove of creative inspiration. Schiller's trifecta of expertise as a preschool teacher, art studio owner, and interior designer shines through on every page.

I was struck by the beautiful photography showcasing some seriously gorgeous and inspiring art spaces. These colorful and imaginative setups would no doubt get any kid excited about art! However, while the spaces are undeniably attractive, they do come across as somewhat aspirational, and I couldn't help but feel they looked a bit TOO perfect and, let's be honest, a bit pricey. It would've been nice to see the author also highlight some more budget-conscious options that didn't compromise on creativity.

That said, The Art Playroom is definitely worth a read. Its focus on fostering creativity, independence, and a love for art in children is commendable. Though the setups might lean toward the high-end, the underlying principles and creative prompts are universally valuable. All in all, Schiller's book is a great resource for parents and caregivers keen on encouraging artistic expression in their kids.

I absolutely love the thinking behind this book - it really embraces the messier aspects of arts and crafts (that many of us instinctively step away from with young kids!), and uses these as great learning opportunities - learning includes (but is not restricted to) fine motor skills, writing skills, artistic skills and even cleaning up skills!! There is nothing not to love!!

The book is beautiful presented / illustrated and is suitable for working through with kids from a very young age (yes, even 2 year olds are catered for!). There is so much inspiration in the content - this is a book that will pay for itself in that regard, I find it hard to come up with ideas of what to do creatively with young children, this book has me covered. Sections include collaborative projects and even science experiments. The 'making toys' section is bound to be a real crowd pleaser. Some excellent resources are included to conclude this lovely book.

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

As a childminder, this book is perfect for me. I feel inspired to set out these simple invitations and see where the children take them. I like there are such a range of invitations that would suit all ages and stages. A book to keep through the years as young children grow.

I expected this book to offer a little more for parents who aren’t wealthy enough to have a designated art room and expensive storage systems, or to at least acknowledge the privilege of being able to provide these. I was also hoping for more variety in setups and spaces. The pictures all pretty much looked alike and very much like something from a book from a professional organizer or like how you’d set up an upscale preschool. There really wasn’t anything you wouldn’t figure out yourself in terms of setting up an art room and some stuff was noticeably missing, like ideas about curtailing messes and frugal ways to get creative on supplies.

The bulk of the book is setup ideas for inspiring kids to do art by putting out specific materials as open ended prompts. Some of these seemed fun for kids who need inspiration.

We raised our five kids doing art right at the dining room table and they have all embraced art. Two of our grown kids went into the arts and our family now runs a free arts center out of a 120 year old church we bought in 2020. We’ve done all of this on next to nothing with a lot of creativity, which I hope shows that art can be a part of your family’s life no matter what your circumstances. Our art spaces don’t look like the ones here but there are good ideas if you’re looking for inspiration, especially if you want it all to look tidy and conventional. The art prompts should be engaging for young children too.

I read a temporary digital review copy of this book via NetGalley.

This is such a lovely book for anyone who wants to introduce art spaces into their home but isn't sure where to start. It covers everything you need to get set up with a flexible approach that allows you to work within whatever constrains you might have. It makes bringing art into your children's home feel easier, more accessible! Less intimidating! Beautiful photos to inspire you too!

Very excited to get an ARC for this! I’m currently designing a play/art room for my kids and this book has gorgeous inspo pictures alongside logic for WHY the setup is so important. Very thorough and absolutely beautiful.