One day years ago, my seventh-grade daughters, Ellen and Polly, and their friend, Jennifer Powell and I, were on our way to Silver Dollar City. As you do when you’re on the road, the girls started singing as we drove through the hills. Ellen and Polly sang along in their girlish voices, but Jennifer was obviously in a different league, even as a 12-year-old.

Ten years later, Jennifer is a mezzo, an opera singer who has apprenticed with the Santa Fe Opera and sang this past summer with Opera Theatre of St. Louis. (My girls were in the audience to cheer her on.)

Jennifer’s talent was recognized and nurtured early. Who knows whose child possesses the natural talent of an artist, pianist, dancer or singer? No one can really know unless parents and teachers provide for arts education at any early age.

Recognizing budding talent is one reason to provide your preschooler or grade-schooler with arts education. But there are others, says the library’s youth services coordinator, Vera Florea.

“It’s important for your children to recognize the process of art, and the creativity that is involved. Nurturing creativity in the early years is a good way to instill that trait in their later lives; even if your children’s don’t make their living being an artist, the confidence in feeling that they are creative will be invaluable to them.”

She recommends these books, available at the eight branches and bookmobile of the Springfield-Greene County Libraries.

· “Razzle Dazzle Doodle Art” by Linda Allison and Martha Weston

· “More Dribble Drabble: Process-Oriented Art” by Deya Brashears

· “More Than Painting: Exploring the Wonders of Art for Preschool and Kindergarten” by Sally Moomaw and Brenda Hieronymus

· “Exploring Art” by Liz and Dick Wilmes

· “Awesome Art Activities Around the Year” by Roberta Grobel Intrater

· “Arty Facts: Structures, Materials and Art Activities” by Barbara Taylor

· “Busy Teacher’s Guide to Art Lessons” by Michelle M. McAuliffe and Marsha W. Black

· “Art Is. . .” by Bob Raczka

· “Discovering Great Artists: Hands-on Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters” by MaryAnn F. Kohl and Kim Solga