The Glassmakers of Gurven by
Marlys Boddy; illustrated by
Joe Boddy, 1988. CMGL 32123.
What do alligators, René Lalique, and contessas have in common? They’re all featured in children’s books about glass. The Rakow Research Library is known for having high-quality resources for glass scholars, collectors, and makers, but did you know the Library also has a collection of picture books, board books, and chapter books? We have books for kids and teens – both fiction and non-fiction – about glass art, history, science, technology, and more. November is Picture Book Month, so take some time to celebrate with your children by reading them one of the many children’s books about glass.
At the Museum, we believe it’s never too early to start learning about glass and glassmaking. Pick up a copy of Paperweight Pals—a board book conceived and written by our Executive Director, Karol Wight—to learn about some of the beautiful paperweights in our collection. The colorful images encourage young children to explore shapes, colors, and numbers.
The Rakow Library’s collection also includes a number of picture books about making glass and appreciating the art and beauty of glass. Glass artist Dan Dailey, along with his daughter Allison Dailey, wrote and illustrated Glassigator, the story of a group of young friends who watch Mr. Gaffer and his team create a zany sculpture on a snowy day. Learn about the different tools and terminology involved in glassblowing while enjoying the watercolor-and-ink illustrations of glassmakers at work.
Fans of graphic novels or time travel can learn about glass in book eight of Christophe Carmona’s Les Aventures d’Aline series. In Sur la piste de René Lalique (or, On the trail of René Lalique), Aline travels through the glassmaking regions of France, visits the 1900 Universal Exhibition and the Decorative and Industrial Arts Exhibition of 1925 (both of which featured work by Lalique), learns the basics of glassmaking in Wingen-sur-Moder, and spends time at the Lalique Museum.
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- Paperweight pals by Karol B. Wight, 2012. CMGL 130749.
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- Glassigator written and illustrated by Dan Dailey and Allison Dailey, 2007. CMGL 100015.
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- On the trail of René Lalique by Christophe Carmona, 2012. CMGL 133997.
Find board books, picture books, and chapter books—both fiction and non-fiction—to read with your family on our Pinterest board Kids Books About Glass. All of these books are available to read at the Rakow Library, or you can check to see whether they are at your local public library.
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- Shadows in the Glasshouse by Megan McDonald, 2000. CMGL 67369.
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- A Gift for the Contessa by Michael Mele; illustrated by Ronald G. Paolillo, 1997. CMGL 27161.
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- The Glassblower by Christine Petersen, 2012. CMGL 121977.
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- Looking at glass through the ages by Bruce Koscielniak, 2006. CMGL 91898.
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- Woher kommt…das Glas [Where does glass come from?]. Wie Glas entdeckt worde, wo es hergestellt wird und wozu wir es brauchen by Joseph Philippe; illustrated by Louis Joos, 1977. CMGL 28726.
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- The glass inheritance by Ronica Stromberg, 2001. CMGL 125068.
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- Glass: exploring the science of everyday materials by Nicola Edwards and Jane Harris; photographs by Julian Cornish-Trestrail, 2002. CMGL 75705.
The Rakow Research Library is open to the public 9am to 5pm every day. We encourage everyone to explore our collections in person or online. If you have questions or need help with your research, please use our Ask a Glass Question service.