Empowering Stories That Celebrate Art, Identity, and Inner Strength
Frida Kahlo’s art and story continue to inspire children around the world with their vibrant color, deep emotion, and fearless individuality. Books about Frida help young readers see the power of self-expression, the beauty of being different, and the strength that comes from within—even during life’s hardest moments.
In this post, I’m sharing my favorite Frida Kahlo books for kids, organized by age group. I’ve also included creative activities and thoughtful questions to help children connect with Frida’s story and celebrate their own artistic voices. Let me know which book paints the brightest picture in your learning space!
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Table of Content
- Why Read Books About Frida Kahlo?
- The Role of Books in Teaching Kids about Frida Kahlo
- How To Use Books About Frida Kahlo With Children
- 11 Frida Kahlo Books For Children
- What Frida Kahlo Book(s) Are You Going To Read Later?
Why Read Books About Frida Kahlo?
Frida’s life teaches children that it’s okay to be bold, unique, and emotionally honest.
She created art that reflected her feelings, identity, and culture, even when she was in pain or misunderstood. Through her portraits and symbolism, Frida invites children to explore their emotions and understand that their stories are worth sharing.
Reading about Frida Kahlo encourages creativity, confidence, and compassion.
The Role of Books in Teaching Kids about Frida Kahlo
Books about Frida go beyond art history—they help children explore resilience, identity, and cultural pride.
Frida faced many challenges, including illness and injury, but used her creativity to transform her pain into powerful artwork. Her story encourages kids to express themselves freely and to find beauty in being different.
These books also introduce children to Mexican culture, symbolism, and the idea that art can tell stories about who we are.
How to Use Books about Frida Kahlo with Children
Here’s how to bring Frida’s life and message into your classroom or home:
- 🎨 Ask Open-Ended Questions: After reading, ask: How did Frida use her art to tell her story? or What makes your story worth painting or drawing? Use Turn and Talk to let kids reflect on what makes them unique.
- 🖌️ Engage in Frida-Inspired Activities: Create self-portraits, make flower crowns or paper monkeys, paint with bold colors, or use symbols to tell a story through art. You can also explore Mexican folk art and decorate with papel picado.
- 📚 Refer Back to the Books: When kids are feeling discouraged or misunderstood, remind them of Frida’s courage. Say: Remember how Frida painted through her pain? How can we express what we’re feeling in a creative way?
- 👨👩👧 Involve Other Caregivers: Encourage families to read Frida books together, visit local art museums or virtual galleries, or talk about their own cultural traditions and stories. These conversations strengthen identity and family connection.
11 Frida Kahlo Books For Children
Younger Children (Ages 3-6)
#1 Frida: Frida Kahlo by Marisa Boan
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A beginner-friendly bilingual book that highlights Frida’s creativity and courage in both English and Spanish.
Activity Suggestion: Paint or draw a self-portrait in Frida’s vibrant style.
Discussion Questions:
- What made Frida unique as an artist?
- Why do you think Frida painted herself so often?
- What colors or symbols would you include in your own self-portrait?
#2 I am Frida Kahlo by Brad Meltzer
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From the “Ordinary People Change the World” series, this inspiring story focuses on Frida’s resilience and expression.
Activity Suggestion: Make a comic strip that shows a time when you were brave.
Discussion Questions:
- What challenges did Frida face?
- How did she stay true to herself?
- Why is expressing yourself important?
#3 Counting With – Contando con Frida by Patty Rodriguez
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This bilingual counting book uses Frida-themed visuals to teach numbers and introduce Mexican culture.
Activity Suggestion: Practice counting with your own Frida-inspired drawings or stickers.
Discussion Questions:
- What new words did you learn in Spanish?
- What did the pictures teach you about Frida’s life?
- Why is it fun to learn in two languages?
Lower Elementary Children (Ages 7-9)
#4 Frida by Jonah Winter
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An artistic and lyrical look into Frida’s life, focusing on her strength and vibrant imagination.
Activity Suggestion: Create an imaginative landscape like Frida’s surreal art.
Discussion Questions:
- What made Frida’s art different from others?
- How did Frida turn pain into creativity?
- What dream would you paint if you could?
#5 Frida Kahlo by Mary Nhin
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This motivational story shows how Frida turned struggle into power through art and self-love.
Activity Suggestion: Write or draw one way you’ve turned a tough time into something good.
Discussion Questions:
- How did Frida show strength?
- What’s something you’ve overcome?
- How can art help us feel better?
#6 Frida Kahlo by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
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Part of the “Little People, Big Dreams” series, this title tells Frida’s story with charm and purpose.
Activity Suggestion: Create a tiny “dream book” about yourself like Frida’s story.
Discussion Questions:
- What big dream did Frida follow?
- How did she express her culture in her work?
- What’s your big dream?
Check Out Capybara-Theme Daily Reflection Journals For Kids!
#7 Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos by Monica Brown
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This book explores Frida’s love for animals and how they influenced her art.
Activity Suggestion: Draw yourself with an animal that reflects your personality.
Discussion Questions:
- Which animal did you like best in the book?
- How did Frida’s pets comfort her?
- What animal would be your sidekick and why?
Upper Elementary Children (Ages 9-11)
#8 The Story of Frida Kahlo by Susan B. Katz
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A more detailed beginner biography that helps older kids understand Frida’s full journey.
Activity Suggestion: Make a timeline of Frida’s life with important moments.
Discussion Questions:
- What part of Frida’s story inspired you most?
- What were her biggest achievements?
- What can you learn from how she handled hard times?
#9 My Little Golden Book About Frida Kahlo by Silvia López
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A beautifully illustrated early introduction to Frida’s colorful life and art.
Activity Suggestion: Make a golden frame and decorate it around a photo or drawing of yourself.
Discussion Questions:
- What made Frida such a memorable artist?
- What do you want people to remember you for?
- How do you express yourself?
#10 Frida Kahlo by Margaret Frith
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A chapter book-style biography with more depth, suitable for elementary readers ready to dive deeper.
Activity Suggestion: Write a paragraph about what courage means to you, like Frida showed.
Discussion Questions:
- What surprised you about Frida’s life?
- What helped her keep creating?
- How would you describe her in 3 words?
#11 Frida Kahlo by Isabel Munoz
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A poetic and gentle narrative that brings Frida’s childhood and artistry to life.
Activity Suggestion: Paint with colors and textures that show how you’re feeling today.
Discussion Questions:
- How did young Frida become an artist?
- What do you think she loved most about painting?
- If you could ask her one question, what would it be?
Grab these free resources to make your teaching life easier!
What Frida Kahlo Book(s) Are You Going To Read Later?
Frida Kahlo books for kids are full of color, courage, and creativity. Whether your reader is an artist, a deep thinker, or someone learning to embrace their own story, Frida reminds us all to paint boldly and live honestly.
Which Frida-inspired book will you explore next? Tag me on Instagram @LittleYellowStarTeaches and share your favorite reads, self-portraits, or art-based reflections!
Happy reading!
Prima at LittleYellowStar
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