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The Colors of Us
A positive and affirming look at skin color, from an artist's perspective. Seven-year-old Lena is going to paint a picture of herself. She wants to use brown paint for her skin. But when she and her mother take a walk through the neighborhood, Lena learns that brown comes in many different shades. Through the eyes of a little girl who begins to see her familiar world in a new way, this book celebrates the differences and similarities that connect all people. Karen Katz created this book for her daughter, Lena, whom she and her husband adopted from Guatemala six years ago.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
20 people are currently reading
1666 people want to read
About the author
Karen Katz
205 books105 followersKaren Katz has written and illustrated many books for children, including The Colors of Us, Can You Say Peace, My First Ramadan, Counting Kisses and Where is Baby's Belly Button. Long inspired by folk art from around the world, she was inspired to write her first book, Over the Moon, when she and her husband adopted their daughter from Guatemala, and she wanted to tell the story of welcoming Lena into their lives. Katz loves to paint and experiment with texture, color, collage and pattern. Besides an author and illustrator, she has been a costume designer, quilt maker, fabric artist and graphic designer. Katz and her family divide their time between New York City and Saugerties, New York.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/karenkatz
http://us.macmillan.com/author/karenkatz
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews
May 23, 2018
Another first for me...this was the first time my husband, son and I read a book together. We each took turns reading pages from the book. We then discussed, as a family, the different "shades" that exist among people. As parents, we work hard to raise global citizens. We work to ensure our children look beyond color. And, with that, we also must steal a little of their respective innocence to make sure they understand that for some people color is all they see.
In The Colors of Us Karen Katz writes and illustrates a beautiful tale about the colors found in the diaspora. The main character, Lena, and her Mom, walk throughout their neighborhood appreciating the different shades that people can come in. Some may be thrown by the comparisons to foods and everyday things like leaves, but I think Katz is trying to draw upon images that are completely relatable, regardless of your ethnic, social and economic background. I view it as an effort to make a young reader feel comfortable with the subject matter. Her comparisons definitely help further a conversation I already started with my youngest.
My only suggestion: Don't be hungry when reading this book. Peanut butter, cinnamon, toffee, chocolate and pizza crust -- Oh!! My!!
In The Colors of Us Karen Katz writes and illustrates a beautiful tale about the colors found in the diaspora. The main character, Lena, and her Mom, walk throughout their neighborhood appreciating the different shades that people can come in. Some may be thrown by the comparisons to foods and everyday things like leaves, but I think Katz is trying to draw upon images that are completely relatable, regardless of your ethnic, social and economic background. I view it as an effort to make a young reader feel comfortable with the subject matter. Her comparisons definitely help further a conversation I already started with my youngest.
My only suggestion: Don't be hungry when reading this book. Peanut butter, cinnamon, toffee, chocolate and pizza crust -- Oh!! My!!
November 1, 2015
I gave this book only 2 stars for many reasons. I read and discussed this in class with my group and we found many different little issues with this book. It had a great intention, and is about a mom explaining to her daughter that there are many different types of brown. It's kind of cute that she compares each shade to a food, but other than that the book is very stereotyped and almost racist even though it's trying to do the opposite. I understand that you can't exactly explain race and cultural without differing between each race which isn't racist, but the way it's done in the story is borderline. One example is the names such as Carlos and Rosita, or Jo-Jin, obviously representing hispanics and asians with what I think are very stereotypical names. Another is that Mr. Pellegrino, representing Italians, has the little black mustache and is making pizzas, which again is very stereotypical of the Italian race and culture. I believe that what the book is aiming for, that is explaining the differences between the colors of our skin/ race to children, should stay separate from trying to explain each races culture such as the girl with dreads and all kinds of beaded jewelry, or bright-colored pattern fiesta dress and sombrero, or the guy flipping a pizza. If they wanted to also try to explain the culture and a little reasoning or history behind the tradition, then that would be totally different, but in the book they are only addressing the color of skin, so I feel that all the extra stereotypical details and illustrations were not needed to explain that we have different skin colors because our families all come from different parts of the world.
May 10, 2015
Personal Reaction: This is hands down my favorite children's book i've ever read. It talks about the colors of people's skin in such a positive way and shares how we are all beautiful because we are different. I will use this book in my classroom one day.
Read Aloud: This would be an amazing read aloud. It talks about diversity in the most positive way and helps kids realize that people are different but in good, sweet ways. Everyone's skin tone is compared to something like chocolate or cinnamon or coffee or coconut or honey. I think it would be a good activity to have kids to describe themselves as one sweet if they could and then share with each other.
Independent Read: I enjoyed reading this as a personal read, however this would be a good beginner's book. It would be good for a first graders. The pages of writing have one to two sentences and the dialogue is very repetitive making it an easy read.
For Narrative: I think this would be a good book to teach the theme or the moral of the story. The kids are supposed to get out of this book that it is good that everyone is different, and this is something that is very important for everyone to know and understand (especially at a younger age/growing up).
Read Aloud: This would be an amazing read aloud. It talks about diversity in the most positive way and helps kids realize that people are different but in good, sweet ways. Everyone's skin tone is compared to something like chocolate or cinnamon or coffee or coconut or honey. I think it would be a good activity to have kids to describe themselves as one sweet if they could and then share with each other.
Independent Read: I enjoyed reading this as a personal read, however this would be a good beginner's book. It would be good for a first graders. The pages of writing have one to two sentences and the dialogue is very repetitive making it an easy read.
For Narrative: I think this would be a good book to teach the theme or the moral of the story. The kids are supposed to get out of this book that it is good that everyone is different, and this is something that is very important for everyone to know and understand (especially at a younger age/growing up).
July 19, 2019
Ugh. Author spends most of the book comparing the skin colors of the people around her to foods to show her adopted child the vast range of ways to talk about the brown people in her life. "Delicious." Not really, Karen.
January 29, 2015
Many people no matter the race see one color as its only shade or variation. Within those opaque colors underlies lighter tones or as the author likes to refer as "flavors". I liked the fact that the author referred in flavors of food but not in actual colors. This book forms a unity between many races and ethnicities.
September 2, 2018
This is a wonderful book and a positive book!! It talks about all the beautiful different skin types people have.
November 24, 2018
Can a book be delicious?
November 6, 2016
The Colors of Us, written by Karen Katz, begins with a young girl, Lena, asking her mother for a plain brown color to paint a self portrait. Her mother explains to her that she will have to use more colors than just plain brown, that her skin is a mixture of colors- that all skin is different. Her mother walks her around the neighborhood giving examples of their neighbors and their variety of skin tones. Her mother points out how her friends are of a variety, and she uses similes to liken each skin tone to different foods. She explains how her friends have the skin colors of “creamy peanut butter,” “dark chocolate,” “peaches and cream,” “honey,” “golden pizza crust,” and many more. Her mother’s examples help Lena to see that every individual is made of their own skin tone, and that it helps create the beauty of the world. The theme is diversity, in that Lena's mother teaches her daughter a life lesson, that every skin tone is beautiful and different; this theme is prevalent to each child, diversity acceptance is crucial for a successful life, and this book teaches in a juvenile way the differences between skin colors and the greatness found in each. This lesson reminds me of when my 6th grade art teacher taught us how to paint people. She ingrained within my education that each person is made of a multitude of colors, that each skin tone is different, even if of the same race. She made each of us practice combining and creating different skin tones, and the lesson stuck with me to this day. My teacher made it known that every individual is special and deserves to be spoken and artistically interpreted as so. I would highly recommend this book to teachers, for it teaches a priceless lesson of diversity, and could help a class benefit and thrive in self and peer acceptance.
December 6, 2018
1. Summary: Throughout the neighboehood, young Lena begins to notice the varying colors of each person she sees. Through her specific descriptions, she becomes excited that shes acknowledging these colors. In the end, she loves these newfound colors and uses her new findings to express the beauty in everyones differences.
2. Review: The detailed and creative images alone are enough to capture the reader. The specific descriptions of each shade creates an image all on its own. Finally, the overall message creates a heartwarming story for readers to take with them after they leave the pages of the book.
3. Connections: This book is about loving the skin that you're in and acknowledging the beauty of the skin that others are in. One book that attempts to portray this message is The Crayon Box that Talked by Shane DeRolf. This book eventually has the crayons accept their differences and work together to create a beautiful image.
4. Quote:"I think about everyone I saw today: Sonia, Isabelle and Lucy, Jo-Jin and Kyle, Carlos and Rosita, Mr. Pellegrino and Candy, Mr. Kashmir and Aunt Kathy - each one of them a beautiful color." This lesson would revolve around acknowledging your own skin and accepting the skin tones of others. For their writing activity, students will explain the color of their skin just like how Lena does in the story and then create their own self portrait, trying to match the color of their skin, using paint, to the description they wrote.
2. Review: The detailed and creative images alone are enough to capture the reader. The specific descriptions of each shade creates an image all on its own. Finally, the overall message creates a heartwarming story for readers to take with them after they leave the pages of the book.
3. Connections: This book is about loving the skin that you're in and acknowledging the beauty of the skin that others are in. One book that attempts to portray this message is The Crayon Box that Talked by Shane DeRolf. This book eventually has the crayons accept their differences and work together to create a beautiful image.
4. Quote:"I think about everyone I saw today: Sonia, Isabelle and Lucy, Jo-Jin and Kyle, Carlos and Rosita, Mr. Pellegrino and Candy, Mr. Kashmir and Aunt Kathy - each one of them a beautiful color." This lesson would revolve around acknowledging your own skin and accepting the skin tones of others. For their writing activity, students will explain the color of their skin just like how Lena does in the story and then create their own self portrait, trying to match the color of their skin, using paint, to the description they wrote.
October 12, 2017
This story is about a girl named Lena. Lena wanted to paint a self-portrait, and she realized that in order to get her skin color, she would have to mix some colors together in order to get the perfect shade. Her mother takes her on an adventure through her community where she sees people of different skin colors and she associates these colors with different foods and objects. Lena realizes that there are many different shades of brown. I like this book because it does a great job of explaining more complex concepts in a way that students could understand and relate. I do think that it could confuse some because skin color only scratches the surface. It doesn't say much about a person or their place of origin.
December 6, 2020
This positive affirming book presents skin color from an artistic perspective. As Lena embarks on painting a self-portrait and later complete portfolio of her friends and selecting the right shade of brown, her artist mother takes her on a stroll through the neighborhood to mentally catalog the various complexions that exist among people. The tones are referred to as flavors and associated with different foods and objects. This book is a good choice for a multicultural library of children's books because it is written from a child's perspective and presents an exploration of the various diversity of people. This book can be used as a starting point for opening a dialogue about the beauty of our differences.
March 22, 2021
Excellent book for a discussion on the joy of diversity in a community; however, it lacks a strong plot which may cause younger readers to lose interest. Extension observed : Have students create portraits of themselves to display the "colors of us" within our own classroom.
November 2, 2012
PB 25: This book is very good for helping children understand the different colors of skin people can have. It is certainly an important lesson that should be taught in every classroom.
February 7, 2015
saben cuanto me costó?
2 pesos!!!!!!!
Un excelente libro para una familia donde hay un rubio, una trigueña y un morenazo.
2 pesos!!!!!!!
Un excelente libro para una familia donde hay un rubio, una trigueña y un morenazo.
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February 4, 2016A little girl and her mother stroll the neighborhood noticing the many skin color shades of brown and likening the colors to food such as butterscotch, ginger and coffee.
October 30, 2021
This is just a light and simple kid-friendly way to open our eyes to those around us and really see them and all our differences. When the mom starts to explain when you mix these four different colors, you will get the perfect brown for their skin color, but the kid is confused, thinking that brown is brown and there is only one shade. Society will classify people into race groups, but it is not always so cut and paste. Are people just African American, yes, but could they be both African American and Hispanic, yes. More and more people are biracial and identity as more than just one. Which could connect to the variety of shades of brown. Based on people's background there are going to be different “shades of brown” or other color combinations because we are all different and have different pieces we are made up of. It is not just about “where we are from” but so much more.
What a beautiful way to conclude this book by taking what she saw from her walk in the park and really looking at those around her, and creating those pictures. She starts with thinking brown is brown, but soon realizes there are more shades. The end shows all the pictures she painted of all the people they saw on their walk side by side. Each one emphasizing the individual's differences and all each one's beauty. It showed all the different “colors of us”.
What a beautiful way to conclude this book by taking what she saw from her walk in the park and really looking at those around her, and creating those pictures. She starts with thinking brown is brown, but soon realizes there are more shades. The end shows all the pictures she painted of all the people they saw on their walk side by side. Each one emphasizing the individual's differences and all each one's beauty. It showed all the different “colors of us”.
March 2, 2017
"The Colors of Us" is a simple yet colorful book about Lena who walks through her community and describes the skin color of all the diverse groups of people with different flavors. The illustrations are very colorful and eye catching so they are interesting for children to look at. It adds to the story by showing how each individual character looks like. Although the book tries to expose children to a diverse group of people I feel as though they went about it the wrong way. Some of the characters that are portrayed are drawn in a stereotypical manner and generalizes their lifestyle. One of the characters is Mr. Pellegrino who is an Italian man that Lena passes by and the way that the book portrays him is by having him wear a mustache and cooking pizzas. Despite everything the ending of the book was great. Lena and her diverse group of friends are lying out in the sun together and Lena thinks to herself how all the different skin colors are beautiful.
February 2, 2025
Mom is an artist who says "if you mix the right amount of red, yellow, black, and white paint, it will be the right brown for my skin."
In response, the little cinammon-coloured girl says "brown is brown."
Mom goes on to show her that's not true, as they walk through their community describing the different beautiful browns of their friends and neighbours' skin.
Would be a great book to do with a colour-mixing activity. Have different browns, and different coloured paints, and try to match certain types of brown (paper, items, etc.). Use the same kinds of descriptive colour words as they do in the book - warm yellow/brown, light cocoa brown, the colour of honey or butterscotch or cinnamon. Use the colourful language to look more deeply at the colours around you and to practice using more specific descriptive language.
In response, the little cinammon-coloured girl says "brown is brown."
Mom goes on to show her that's not true, as they walk through their community describing the different beautiful browns of their friends and neighbours' skin.
Would be a great book to do with a colour-mixing activity. Have different browns, and different coloured paints, and try to match certain types of brown (paper, items, etc.). Use the same kinds of descriptive colour words as they do in the book - warm yellow/brown, light cocoa brown, the colour of honey or butterscotch or cinnamon. Use the colourful language to look more deeply at the colours around you and to practice using more specific descriptive language.
November 21, 2021
"The Colors of Us" is a beautifully written children's book discussing the beauty in everyone's skin. A young girl named Lena is learning about how everyone is a special shade of brown. Lena is the color of cinnamon, her mom is the color of french toast, her cousin has skin the color of reddish brown leaves in the fall, and so on. The text shows how we are all "a beautiful color."
This story is not only an enjoyable one to read, it also serves as a mirror for all readers! We all can connect to the people we see in the text. It is filled with diverse people and you hear about their beautiful skin and what it makes Lena think of; coffee, honey, chocolate cupcakes, peaches, etc. It is so crucial for young readers to see their sense of self in the text and feel their value to the wider world (Johnson & Koss, 2016). This book does just this beautifully!
This story is not only an enjoyable one to read, it also serves as a mirror for all readers! We all can connect to the people we see in the text. It is filled with diverse people and you hear about their beautiful skin and what it makes Lena think of; coffee, honey, chocolate cupcakes, peaches, etc. It is so crucial for young readers to see their sense of self in the text and feel their value to the wider world (Johnson & Koss, 2016). This book does just this beautifully!
December 3, 2019
Very sweet, with great illustrations, this book addresses the different shades of skin colors and the beauty of each. I kind of wish that the comparisons had been something other than food items, since that as been done a lot, but this is still great.
January 21, 2020
beautiful, descriptive ways of naming all the shades of brown skin
must become a staple on classroom shelves
must become a staple on classroom shelves
September 9, 2020
I love how this story is written through a child's perspective. Lena describes her friend's skin colors in a very positive way. Lena is describing how all her friends are different shades of brown. This can create a great conversation topic for parent/child, teacher/student on celebrating diversity and viewing others in a positive light.
October 20, 2020
Through the eyes of a little girl who begins to see her familiar world in a new way, this book celebrates the differences and similarities that connect all people.
February 7, 2022
Text-to-World Connection
This was a lovely book to read, in this book there was a little girl and her mom. The little girl had questions about her skin color. Her mom explained that everyone is a distinct color, and we should love each other no matter what. I feel this book would be a delightful read for the class. Most of our classrooms will be made up of different shades and races of children. This would be a fantastic opportunity to let each child know that they are special no matter the color of their skin. Children will also compare this book to our world. This world is so divided just on color issues, introducing this book to our little ones will let them know the world is wrong in their thinking.
This was a lovely book to read, in this book there was a little girl and her mom. The little girl had questions about her skin color. Her mom explained that everyone is a distinct color, and we should love each other no matter what. I feel this book would be a delightful read for the class. Most of our classrooms will be made up of different shades and races of children. This would be a fantastic opportunity to let each child know that they are special no matter the color of their skin. Children will also compare this book to our world. This world is so divided just on color issues, introducing this book to our little ones will let them know the world is wrong in their thinking.
October 13, 2020
This books is so great for kids! The little girl in the story states that, "the color brown is brown," when attempting to draw a picture of herself. The story goes on to talk about how there are many different shades of brown. She realizes this as she is in her community talking to her friends and peers. The skin colors are compared to different types of food that are seen as shades of brown. This is easy for children to understand and realize that everyone is equal despite their different colors, as the author puts it!
February 26, 2015
The Colors of Us by Karen Katz follows a little girl on a journey as her mom shows her people of all different colors and backgrounds, comparing their skin to colors the little girl, Lena, can recognize and relate to. I really enjoyed this book because of the way it showed diversity and differences among individuals. Not only in a relatable and engaging way for children, but also in a way that is celebrating individuals differences rather than just pointing them out. The illustrations show all different skin types and the pictures relate them to objects also in the pictures, which make it cool for kids to look at.
This book could be beneficial in many different classroom lessons or environments. First off, and most obvious, you could use this book when talking about the celebration of different cultures and how unique and different they make every individual. With America being such a melting pot for races, when kids walk outside their doors everyday they are faced with people and colors they might not be used to, but to always find beauty in each individual. I would suggest reading this book to first or second grade students just because of the meaning behind the book, rather than the sentence structure or word choice. Although it is a relatively simple book, the meaning would involve more classroom discussion and understanding that younger ages might not be able to fully grasp. This also could be used in an art classroom or art project within a class, talking about painting other races and how cool it would be to hang those all up next to each other. This book has a lot of literary elements within it, but the most prominent would be that each skin color is related to something else, showing either smilies or metaphors on almost every page. I liked this book a lot because it shows different cultures accompanied by colorful pictures, this is a must read in a classroom environment.
This book could be beneficial in many different classroom lessons or environments. First off, and most obvious, you could use this book when talking about the celebration of different cultures and how unique and different they make every individual. With America being such a melting pot for races, when kids walk outside their doors everyday they are faced with people and colors they might not be used to, but to always find beauty in each individual. I would suggest reading this book to first or second grade students just because of the meaning behind the book, rather than the sentence structure or word choice. Although it is a relatively simple book, the meaning would involve more classroom discussion and understanding that younger ages might not be able to fully grasp. This also could be used in an art classroom or art project within a class, talking about painting other races and how cool it would be to hang those all up next to each other. This book has a lot of literary elements within it, but the most prominent would be that each skin color is related to something else, showing either smilies or metaphors on almost every page. I liked this book a lot because it shows different cultures accompanied by colorful pictures, this is a must read in a classroom environment.
March 23, 2017
The Colors of Us, is written by Karen Katz and it is a realistic fiction book. This story is about a little girl named Lena who is the color of cinnamon. One day her and her mom were painting themselves. Her mom tells her that if she mixes yellow, red, black, and white she could make her skin color. But Lena does not understand and she questions her mom that "isn't brown just brown?" Her mom goes on to tell her that their are so many shades of brown and that everyone can be a different shade. Then take a walk through their city and Lena points out all of her friend and compares their skin color and tones to realistic things. For example, she compare some skin tones to ginger and chili and coconut and coffee. Throughout the book you can truly feel Lena's excitement when she realizes that her friends are not just brown or white but they are all different shades and tones. At the end of the book she takes her red, yellow, black, and white paint and paints everyone she was that day. I think that was the perfect way to end the book because it relates it back to the beginning for when she was making her own skin color with the paints. It shows that we can all be painted with the same colors, it represent our skin colors but some people might have a little more yellow than red or a little more black than white. We are all so similar yet so different.
This is a great book to read in a classroom because schools are becoming more diverse day by day. This book just helps students to see themselves. It is very encouraging. It helps students to accept their own differences as well as others. The illustrations fit the book perfectly and are very vibrant and bright. The language used in the story is easy for students to understand and relate to. The story line flows smoothly and is extremely relatable.
This is a great book to read in a classroom because schools are becoming more diverse day by day. This book just helps students to see themselves. It is very encouraging. It helps students to accept their own differences as well as others. The illustrations fit the book perfectly and are very vibrant and bright. The language used in the story is easy for students to understand and relate to. The story line flows smoothly and is extremely relatable.
November 19, 2017
Summary: Lena, a 7-year old girl, becomes interested in looking at people’s skin color after her mother who is an artist points out that people’s skin color can be many different beautiful shades of brown.
Characteristics That Support the Genre: This sincere story creates bold illustrations that identify and celebrate diversity. The loving mother brings her daughter on a journey around the neighborhood to see for herself the beauty in the variation of people’s skin color. It not only showcases children’s the differences between one another, but celebrates the variety of differences.
Mentor Writing Traits:
Ideas- The plot and characters in this story would be beneficial for students to learn more about the diverse world around them and how to see the beauty in the variation of people’s skin color. Skin differences are reality and accepting all shades promotes a sense of community and celebration of each other’s ethnicities.
Word Choice- The story is full of descriptive words to represent color and objects children can relate to and love. The main character’s willingness and open-hearted sensibility encourages children to be excited to learn about differences between each other.
Classroom Integration: This text could be used to inform students about the various racial groups and that it is important to not stigmatize people by their color, but celebrate the differences. This could be a good way for students to write about and have fun sharing descriptive phrases about their own race and learn from their classmates writing.
Other Suggestions: Reading this story aloud to students is important because discussing diversity and race can be a debatable topic. Using the teacher as the mediator will better support discussion and allow students to feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas.
Book Level: 2.5, Lower Grades
Characteristics That Support the Genre: This sincere story creates bold illustrations that identify and celebrate diversity. The loving mother brings her daughter on a journey around the neighborhood to see for herself the beauty in the variation of people’s skin color. It not only showcases children’s the differences between one another, but celebrates the variety of differences.
Mentor Writing Traits:
Ideas- The plot and characters in this story would be beneficial for students to learn more about the diverse world around them and how to see the beauty in the variation of people’s skin color. Skin differences are reality and accepting all shades promotes a sense of community and celebration of each other’s ethnicities.
Word Choice- The story is full of descriptive words to represent color and objects children can relate to and love. The main character’s willingness and open-hearted sensibility encourages children to be excited to learn about differences between each other.
Classroom Integration: This text could be used to inform students about the various racial groups and that it is important to not stigmatize people by their color, but celebrate the differences. This could be a good way for students to write about and have fun sharing descriptive phrases about their own race and learn from their classmates writing.
Other Suggestions: Reading this story aloud to students is important because discussing diversity and race can be a debatable topic. Using the teacher as the mediator will better support discussion and allow students to feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas.
Book Level: 2.5, Lower Grades
November 20, 2017
Summary:
The Colors of Us is a beautiful book that shows a positive and affirmative perspective of the difference in colors of people that light up our world.
Characteristics that Support the Genre:
Lena, the main character in the book, learns that the color brown is not just one shade, that people come in many different colors, and that there is beauty in diversity. Picture books are a great way to teach students about difficult subjects, such as multiculturalism and diversity.
Mentor Writing Traits:
The idea of this story is taking a positive affirmative look at skin color and seeing the beauty in the differences and similarities that connect all people. The book can also be used to teach word choice as the author carefully selected rich, colorful, descriptive, and purposeful language that paints a picture.
Classroom Integration:
This book can be used to teach students that there are many different colors and that each color can come in different shades, from light to dark. Before reading the book to students, go over vocabulary words with them such as skin color and skin tone. This book describes skin colors as butterscotch, cinnamon, chocolate, coffee, hone, mahogany and toffee, and students probably will not understand all of these words. Ask students questions about the book during and after reading it, such as: If you walk around our school, what different skin tones do you think you would notice? Have children take a look at their own hands and the hands of their classmates, and ask them if they think they look like shades of the same color or if they are different colors.
Other Suggestions: The main character, Lena, describes her skin color as "cinnamon." Bring a clear plastic bag with cinnamon in it to show students and ask them if they agree that Lena's skin is the color of cinnamon.
Grade Level: PreK-2
Guided Reading Level: K
The Colors of Us is a beautiful book that shows a positive and affirmative perspective of the difference in colors of people that light up our world.
Characteristics that Support the Genre:
Lena, the main character in the book, learns that the color brown is not just one shade, that people come in many different colors, and that there is beauty in diversity. Picture books are a great way to teach students about difficult subjects, such as multiculturalism and diversity.
Mentor Writing Traits:
The idea of this story is taking a positive affirmative look at skin color and seeing the beauty in the differences and similarities that connect all people. The book can also be used to teach word choice as the author carefully selected rich, colorful, descriptive, and purposeful language that paints a picture.
Classroom Integration:
This book can be used to teach students that there are many different colors and that each color can come in different shades, from light to dark. Before reading the book to students, go over vocabulary words with them such as skin color and skin tone. This book describes skin colors as butterscotch, cinnamon, chocolate, coffee, hone, mahogany and toffee, and students probably will not understand all of these words. Ask students questions about the book during and after reading it, such as: If you walk around our school, what different skin tones do you think you would notice? Have children take a look at their own hands and the hands of their classmates, and ask them if they think they look like shades of the same color or if they are different colors.
Other Suggestions: The main character, Lena, describes her skin color as "cinnamon." Bring a clear plastic bag with cinnamon in it to show students and ask them if they agree that Lena's skin is the color of cinnamon.
Grade Level: PreK-2
Guided Reading Level: K
March 18, 2016
Me: This was a favorite of ours when the boys were little. When one of our sons innocently asked his African-American preschool teacher if her hands were dirty, we sort of freaked at home and picked this up. "The Colors of Us" gave him language to describe all the different skin tones he was becoming exposed to. In the end, all he wanted was a way to describe her skin tone... something this book offered in abundance.
As importantly, this book also reassured us, his parents, that he never meant anything derogatory by the question. He just didn't know what he didn't know. It's easy to forget as adults how much most of us look similar to everyone else in our family (even extended). For many families, it's not until our children go out into the world that they meet true diversity.
As time went on, both of our boys learned from this one little book, to think of all the lovely ways to describe many different skin tones, not just Caucasian and African-American. This is the book that led us to buy and read many other such books.
Amazon Book Description
PreSchool-Grade 2
Lena's mother is an artist, so she knows whereof she speaks when she insists that there are many different shades of brown. The two take a walk through their neighborhood by way of illustration, and the friends and relatives they meet along the way aptly reinforce Mom's contention. Their skin colors are compared to honey, peanut butter, pizza crust, ginger, peaches, chocolate, and more, conjuring up delicious and beautiful comparisons for every tint. Katz's pencil-and-gouache pictures joyously convey the range of human pigmentation. Positive and useful.
Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NY
As importantly, this book also reassured us, his parents, that he never meant anything derogatory by the question. He just didn't know what he didn't know. It's easy to forget as adults how much most of us look similar to everyone else in our family (even extended). For many families, it's not until our children go out into the world that they meet true diversity.
As time went on, both of our boys learned from this one little book, to think of all the lovely ways to describe many different skin tones, not just Caucasian and African-American. This is the book that led us to buy and read many other such books.
Amazon Book Description
PreSchool-Grade 2
Lena's mother is an artist, so she knows whereof she speaks when she insists that there are many different shades of brown. The two take a walk through their neighborhood by way of illustration, and the friends and relatives they meet along the way aptly reinforce Mom's contention. Their skin colors are compared to honey, peanut butter, pizza crust, ginger, peaches, chocolate, and more, conjuring up delicious and beautiful comparisons for every tint. Katz's pencil-and-gouache pictures joyously convey the range of human pigmentation. Positive and useful.
Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NY
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