Reading some picture books about Leonardo da Vinci recently reignited my interest in him. What a genius! Not only did he paint the most famous portrait in Western civilization, but he relentlessly studied the way the world works and tinkered with countless inventions. Maybe these books will inspire you, too.

Katie and the Mona Lisa by James Mayhew (Orchard Books, 1998)

Katie and the Mona Lisa is the fourth in an imaginative series, in which Katie climbs into different paintings in an art gallery. This story introduces young children to several Renaissance paintings as Katie attempts to alleviate Mona Lisa’s boredom. While the text doesn’t teach much about the artists, the book does end with brief bios of Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Sandro Botticelli, and Vittore Carpaccio. It’s also fun to see the paintings come to life in the illustrations. Recommended for ages 4 to 7.

Leonardo and the Flying Boy by Laurence Anholt (Barron’s, 2007)

This is a fun story about Zoro and Salai (two of Leonardo’s apprentices) trying out one of his flying contraptions without permission. The writing is dramatic, including dialogue, and the book conveys Leonardo’s curiosity while depicting several of his inventions. I enjoyed the lively illustrations and the historical note that gives biographical information about Leonardo and the two boys. Recommended for ages 6 to 9.

Neo Leo: The Ageless Ideas of Leonardo da Vinci by Gene Barretta (Henry Holt, 2009)

Each two-page spread in this bright and colourful book compares one of Leonardo’s ideas with a later successful invention (e.g. hang glider, contact lenses, robot, parachute). The text is mid-length (usually one paragraph per page). At the end the author gives examples of people who have recently tested Leonardo’s ideas. The illustrations incorporate drawings and mirror writing based on Leonardo’s notes. The book includes an author’s note and bibliography. Recommended for ages 7 to 11.

Leonardo, Beautiful Dreamer by Robert Byrd (Dutton, 2003)

I would classify Leonardo, Beautiful Dreamer as a biography rather than a fictionalized story, as I usually review, but I couldn’t resist including it because it is in picture book format and well-written. The long text is engaging and descriptive, showing Leonardo’s curiosity and genius. Many sidebars provide even more information. The illustrations are colourful and detailed. This would be a great choice to read over several days. Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

Now it’s your turn — which historical figures do you admire?