What Is Contemporary Art? opens up the exciting, dynamic and sometimes bewildering world of contemporary art for a young audience, inviting readers to explore, enjoy and question a variety of artworks drawn from the collection of The Museum of Modern Art. Organized thematically by subjects of interest to children--from games and unusual materials to outer space and bizarre beasts--the book features nearly 70 works made over the past 50 years by a range of international artists.

Designed to encourage children to explore their own imaginative responses to art across all media--including painting and sculpture, film, photography, performance and installation--the book is packed with special features, including pull-out information and idea boxes, quotes from the artists, and “How did they do it?” prompts.