I was charmed by Elise Broach's novel Masterpiece.
If you know a child in grades 3-6 with an interest in art, or just a srong sense of whimsy, I would suggest this novel. If your child enjoys this book, try Blue Balliet's middle grade novels, Chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3, and The Calder Game.

Here's a review:
"James lives an invisible existence in a grand apartment on the Upper East Side. His mother, busy with her new husband and baby and her climb up the Manhattan social ladder, has little time for him. By contrast, Marvin, a beetle whose overprotective, extended family resides behind James’ mother’s kitchen, gets more attention than he wants. The two find friendship when James’ artist father gives him a pen-and-ink set, and Marvin discovers his talent for “drawing,” crafting delicate, museum-quality miniatures with his legs. When Marvin and James find themselves embroiled in a plot to steal a Dürer drawing from the Metropolitan Museum, they must find creative ways to communicate to foil the thieves and protect the masterpiece. Murphy’s own pen-and-ink spot art reflects the text’s sweet insouciance. With suspense, art history, complex family relationships (human and arthropod), and a resonant friendship, this enjoyable outing will satisfy the reserved and adventurous alike." Grades 3-6. --Thom Barthelmess