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Is It Red? Is It Yellow? Is It Blue?: A Photo-Concept Book for Kids (Ages 4-8) Exploring Shapes and Sizes
What color do you see? Red? Yellow? Blue? Here is a concept book young children can grow with, as they explore colors, sizes, shapes, and relationships with the master of the photo-concept book ' Tana Hoban.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
3 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 17, 2012
Citation: Is it Red? Is it Yellow? Is it Blue? By Tana Hoban. (Greenwillow Books, 1978). 32 pages. Concept Picture book.
Summary: Hoban uses colorful, full-page photographs, aligned with large dots at the bottom of the page to help readers identify the colors in the picture.
Critique: a) Hoban’s use of the colored dots is an expressly unique way to help young children seek those colors within the artful photographs. Her use of color within the photographs shows bright and bold shades against usually neutral backgrounds, helping readers hone in on the main colors.
b) The photographs show children everyday items, portrayed in a unusual way because of their colors. Children see items in a trash can, fruit in a box, cars, construction sites, and fire hydrants every day. But, because of Hoban’s artistic portrayal of these items, the vivid colors in these items stand out to readers, encouraging them to identify each color, and look for more colors in their daily lives.
c) Hoban’s photograph of an umbrella in a trashcan is particularly striking for its commonality, yet boldness, with the red, yellow, and blue standing out against the gray and brown of the street. Even more so, the photograph of trash in a gutter with five colored dots on the bottom of the page, really stretches readers to search for each tiny bit of color within the gray and black of the dirty street.
Curriculum Connection: This would be a good concept book for pre-readers, encouraging them to identify the colors within each photograph. In another way, this book could be used in a middle grades art lesson on photography, encouraging students to see unique aspects of light, color and perspective in photographs.
Summary: Hoban uses colorful, full-page photographs, aligned with large dots at the bottom of the page to help readers identify the colors in the picture.
Critique: a) Hoban’s use of the colored dots is an expressly unique way to help young children seek those colors within the artful photographs. Her use of color within the photographs shows bright and bold shades against usually neutral backgrounds, helping readers hone in on the main colors.
b) The photographs show children everyday items, portrayed in a unusual way because of their colors. Children see items in a trash can, fruit in a box, cars, construction sites, and fire hydrants every day. But, because of Hoban’s artistic portrayal of these items, the vivid colors in these items stand out to readers, encouraging them to identify each color, and look for more colors in their daily lives.
c) Hoban’s photograph of an umbrella in a trashcan is particularly striking for its commonality, yet boldness, with the red, yellow, and blue standing out against the gray and brown of the street. Even more so, the photograph of trash in a gutter with five colored dots on the bottom of the page, really stretches readers to search for each tiny bit of color within the gray and black of the dirty street.
Curriculum Connection: This would be a good concept book for pre-readers, encouraging them to identify the colors within each photograph. In another way, this book could be used in a middle grades art lesson on photography, encouraging students to see unique aspects of light, color and perspective in photographs.
November 15, 2012
1. This book is a concept picture book.
2. This book takes common objects and has them illustrated with different colors. Each page has different colored circles on the bottom and the reader has to tell which color circle goes with the color of the picture.
3. (a) I think this is a very accurate concept book. This book takes that concept of different colors and tells the story and explains the concept through the illustrations.
(b) I think this is a very appropriate book for children to read when they are learning their colors. It uses the illustrations to teach the concept and it helps them think about their colors and relate them to what they see in the book. It also gives them the opportunity to show what they know by picking the circle that has the same color as the picture does.
(c) I really like how this book makes the reader show what they know. The reader has to make the connection of the colors by picking which circle has the same color as the picture. So for the picture with the bike, the reader has to look at the color of the bike and also look at the colors of the different circle and show which colors are the same.
4. I really liked this concept book. I thought it was really creative and I like that it makes the child have to participate in the story. I would like to use this book in future classrooms because I think it would be a great resource for understanding if my students understand their colors. I think this book would be great to use in a classroom setting
2. This book takes common objects and has them illustrated with different colors. Each page has different colored circles on the bottom and the reader has to tell which color circle goes with the color of the picture.
3. (a) I think this is a very accurate concept book. This book takes that concept of different colors and tells the story and explains the concept through the illustrations.
(b) I think this is a very appropriate book for children to read when they are learning their colors. It uses the illustrations to teach the concept and it helps them think about their colors and relate them to what they see in the book. It also gives them the opportunity to show what they know by picking the circle that has the same color as the picture does.
(c) I really like how this book makes the reader show what they know. The reader has to make the connection of the colors by picking which circle has the same color as the picture. So for the picture with the bike, the reader has to look at the color of the bike and also look at the colors of the different circle and show which colors are the same.
4. I really liked this concept book. I thought it was really creative and I like that it makes the child have to participate in the story. I would like to use this book in future classrooms because I think it would be a great resource for understanding if my students understand their colors. I think this book would be great to use in a classroom setting
September 18, 2013
Category (Choice)
Found on pg. 73 in the textbook
Description
1. A book of many colors fill this book as they come alive in real-life photography. Vibrant colors and portrayed, and their respective color circle is notated. From children's clothes, ballons, and oddly colored cars, the book allows for many readers to understand what the colors are very easily.
Possible use in the classroom
2. Teachers can use this in Pre-Kindergarten as children are just starting to learn about the basics, such as colors and letters. The one thing a teacher could do with this book is ask children to name the color circles they see and then ask students what colors they see that are not listed on the bottom of the page.
Visual elements
3. This book is very colorful and is fun to read. The photographs seem to be taken at the right time, capturing the very message that each page attempts to create. At every page turn, I was astounded at how many colors we really see everyday but never really think about.
Personal reaction
4. When I opened the book, it had that old smell as I remembered when I was a child. Looking through the pictures and seeing the different images and colors, I was taken back to when I use to ride in my dad's 1978 red Ford Mustang. I had a great time reading this book and it is one that I will use with my nephews to teach them about colors.
Found on pg. 73 in the textbook
Description
1. A book of many colors fill this book as they come alive in real-life photography. Vibrant colors and portrayed, and their respective color circle is notated. From children's clothes, ballons, and oddly colored cars, the book allows for many readers to understand what the colors are very easily.
Possible use in the classroom
2. Teachers can use this in Pre-Kindergarten as children are just starting to learn about the basics, such as colors and letters. The one thing a teacher could do with this book is ask children to name the color circles they see and then ask students what colors they see that are not listed on the bottom of the page.
Visual elements
3. This book is very colorful and is fun to read. The photographs seem to be taken at the right time, capturing the very message that each page attempts to create. At every page turn, I was astounded at how many colors we really see everyday but never really think about.
Personal reaction
4. When I opened the book, it had that old smell as I remembered when I was a child. Looking through the pictures and seeing the different images and colors, I was taken back to when I use to ride in my dad's 1978 red Ford Mustang. I had a great time reading this book and it is one that I will use with my nephews to teach them about colors.
October 7, 2014
Intended for ages four to eight, Is it Red? Is It Yellow? Is It Blue? is a concept book that takes the reader on a colorful (literally) journey throughout the city. Each photograph has circles underneath which let the reader know which colors are there. This book focuses on other colors besides red, yellow, and blue, green, purple, and orange play a roll as well.
The repetition concept is a great way for children to learn their colors. The wordless photographs allow each reader to tell their own story (critical thinking). The photographs range from a child in a puddle with their rain boots and coat, as well as an umbrella to a child licking a giant lollipop of assorted colors. Each photograph would keep the child's interest and is a worthy page turner.
I enjoyed this book and the photographs offered as visual entertainment. While going through, I noticed there are a lot of educational moments throughout. Depending on the age group, there is one picture I was wary. The empty red violin case with coins, and in the background feet, and a case. The younger age group may not notice, however, the older children may wonder or already realize this person may be homeless. A concept which should be taught, and mentioned so children are eased out of a false sense of everyone enjoying a privileged lifestyle.
The repetition concept is a great way for children to learn their colors. The wordless photographs allow each reader to tell their own story (critical thinking). The photographs range from a child in a puddle with their rain boots and coat, as well as an umbrella to a child licking a giant lollipop of assorted colors. Each photograph would keep the child's interest and is a worthy page turner.
I enjoyed this book and the photographs offered as visual entertainment. While going through, I noticed there are a lot of educational moments throughout. Depending on the age group, there is one picture I was wary. The empty red violin case with coins, and in the background feet, and a case. The younger age group may not notice, however, the older children may wonder or already realize this person may be homeless. A concept which should be taught, and mentioned so children are eased out of a false sense of everyone enjoying a privileged lifestyle.
September 25, 2012
1. Genre: Picture Book- Concept
2. This is a wordless photography picture book that introduces children to their primary colors in the natural environment.
3. Critique
a. Photos
b. This book uses actual photography, which allows the child to see colors in the natural environment. This is not only making connections for the reader, but also helping the reader to see the practicality of the knowledge.
c. The biggest asset to this book as opposed to other concept color books is that it shows a circle of each color to look for below the photograph. It allows the child to match the color on the bottom with ones in the picture. It turns the simple children’s book into a game for the reader.
4. This is great for a read aloud in class. The teacher could point to the colored dot on the bottom of the page and as the class to raise their hand if they know the color. They can then ask students to find things in the picture that are that same color making the story fun and interactive for everyone.
2. This is a wordless photography picture book that introduces children to their primary colors in the natural environment.
3. Critique
a. Photos
b. This book uses actual photography, which allows the child to see colors in the natural environment. This is not only making connections for the reader, but also helping the reader to see the practicality of the knowledge.
c. The biggest asset to this book as opposed to other concept color books is that it shows a circle of each color to look for below the photograph. It allows the child to match the color on the bottom with ones in the picture. It turns the simple children’s book into a game for the reader.
4. This is great for a read aloud in class. The teacher could point to the colored dot on the bottom of the page and as the class to raise their hand if they know the color. They can then ask students to find things in the picture that are that same color making the story fun and interactive for everyone.
October 15, 2012
Genre: Concept
Summary: This is a wordless picture book that shows a different scene on each page and identifies the main colors in that scene using small dots.
A) Area of Focus: Color Identification
B) The book shows many real-life pictures and identifies the main colors in each picture using small color-coded dots on the page below each picture. The dots assist students in identifying what colors they should be looking for in each picture.
C) On page 2, there is a picture of an umbrella in a trash can. The umbrella has red, blue, and yellow panels. There are three dots below the picture; red, yellow, and blue.
Curriculum Connection: I would use this book to reinforce color identification with pre-school students. I would allow them to examine and identify what is happening in the picture and then ask them to identify the colored dots at the bottom of the page. I would then ask them to show me where those colors are represented in the picture.
Summary: This is a wordless picture book that shows a different scene on each page and identifies the main colors in that scene using small dots.
A) Area of Focus: Color Identification
B) The book shows many real-life pictures and identifies the main colors in each picture using small color-coded dots on the page below each picture. The dots assist students in identifying what colors they should be looking for in each picture.
C) On page 2, there is a picture of an umbrella in a trash can. The umbrella has red, blue, and yellow panels. There are three dots below the picture; red, yellow, and blue.
Curriculum Connection: I would use this book to reinforce color identification with pre-school students. I would allow them to examine and identify what is happening in the picture and then ask them to identify the colored dots at the bottom of the page. I would then ask them to show me where those colors are represented in the picture.
November 8, 2012
Is it red? Is it yellow? Is it blue?, by Tana Hoban (Harper Collins, 1978) p.32
picture book: concept book.
Summary: This is a wordless book that uses colored dots at the bottom of the page and then you can find those colors in the picture on that page.
a) color
b) there are six colors covered in the book. From the title you would assume that there are three colors talked about or that maybe the primary colors are mixed to form the other two, but no, they are delt with as their own color unit.
c) I thought some of the pages were not accurate. The color orange is one of the six colors the book points out, but on the gumball machine page there are orange gumballs in the machine but no orange dot at the bottom of the page.
Curriculum Connection: Colors, shapes, counting, alphabet, social studies: behavior, what if...
picture book: concept book.
Summary: This is a wordless book that uses colored dots at the bottom of the page and then you can find those colors in the picture on that page.
a) color
b) there are six colors covered in the book. From the title you would assume that there are three colors talked about or that maybe the primary colors are mixed to form the other two, but no, they are delt with as their own color unit.
c) I thought some of the pages were not accurate. The color orange is one of the six colors the book points out, but on the gumball machine page there are orange gumballs in the machine but no orange dot at the bottom of the page.
Curriculum Connection: Colors, shapes, counting, alphabet, social studies: behavior, what if...
August 10, 2016
Concept book - colors
For ages Preschool - 2nd grade
This is a wordless picture book that attempts to teach the concept of color through photographs and dots of color at the bottom of each photograph that represent colors found in those photographs. I like the idea of this book it just seems dated, the photographs and colors seem dated, which doesn't take away from its teaching ability but it might take away from its likability for some children. The copyright is 1978 so that explains why it feels that way. It is still a very relevant and good book just not very appealing to me. I might use this book to work on patterns and graphs with my students. I feel like the dots of color would lend themselves nicely to incorporating those with patterns or to fill up a graph.
For ages Preschool - 2nd grade
This is a wordless picture book that attempts to teach the concept of color through photographs and dots of color at the bottom of each photograph that represent colors found in those photographs. I like the idea of this book it just seems dated, the photographs and colors seem dated, which doesn't take away from its teaching ability but it might take away from its likability for some children. The copyright is 1978 so that explains why it feels that way. It is still a very relevant and good book just not very appealing to me. I might use this book to work on patterns and graphs with my students. I feel like the dots of color would lend themselves nicely to incorporating those with patterns or to fill up a graph.
September 10, 2012
This is a picture book, as in there is no text at all. The book consists of photographs of various urban scenes and colored dots at the bottom of each page that match the predominant colors in the picture. I liked the photographs a lot, mostly because I was amazed at how the photographer managed to make trash bags, gutter detritus, and fire hydrants look appealing (pretty, even).
Because there were no words I had to make up my own narrative for each page in order to "read" this to my son at bedtime. I plan to bring it out again during playtimes this week because I think he'll like looking at the colorful pictures.
Because there were no words I had to make up my own narrative for each page in order to "read" this to my son at bedtime. I plan to bring it out again during playtimes this week because I think he'll like looking at the colorful pictures.
October 16, 2012
1. This book belongs to the concept picturebooks genre.
2. This book is a concept book used to introduce and identify colors through familiar city photography.
3. The area for critique is Illustrations/Photography.
The photographs in this book help the reader to see colors in a familiar and natural environment. Underneath the photo, the child has a series of colored dots to help them identify which colors they should look for. The colors are often in high contrast photography which helps the child to see the colors better.
4. This book can be connected to the curriculum in the following ways:
Art: color
2. This book is a concept book used to introduce and identify colors through familiar city photography.
3. The area for critique is Illustrations/Photography.
The photographs in this book help the reader to see colors in a familiar and natural environment. Underneath the photo, the child has a series of colored dots to help them identify which colors they should look for. The colors are often in high contrast photography which helps the child to see the colors better.
4. This book can be connected to the curriculum in the following ways:
Art: color
Currently reading
March 5, 2013This wordless concept book is suitable for a child 12-24 months because it prepares children for reading by strengthening the child’s print motivation, vocabulary and narrative skills. Each photo in Is It Red? Is It Yellow? Is It Blue? expands a child’s vocabulary by giving specific names to colors and asking the child to locate the color. Even if the child cannot say the word, hearing the words repeatedly will help them learn these colors. Repetition of these three colors can be extended past the book into the child’s surrounding environment and connections between the child’s surrounding environment can be connected back to the book.
October 16, 2018
It's wordless, so not a storytime title. But I was looking for a one-on-one title, so that's fine. The use of the colored dots as a sort of "I Spy" game is fantastic, and the photographs, while dated, and pleasant. However, and this is a BIG however...it isn't accurate! Colors are left out on at least three pages, and that's not okay! It made me very frustrated with the book. We also had a heated discussion about whether the background in the picture of the yellow-box-headed-child was actually green. I think it was grass, but it really doesn't look green in the picture, and my kids were frustrated.
January 27, 2015
This 3-6 year old color book makes a good attempt of color identification. Rather than words describing each photograph, each page has a small color dot. Based on that dot, students know what colors they should find on the page. It is clear that the photographs are outdated, and some of the photographs are more challenging than others. There is no order to the number of colors found on each photograph. Since this book's audience is just learning their primary colors, it would have been a better idea to increase the number of colors further into the book.
June 18, 2008
This book focuses on the colors in the world around us. Each page has a photograph and then underneath it are colored dots showing the colors that can be seen in the picture.
I think this is a creative way for children to look at colors. It is very basic and there aren't any words. I think this would be a fun book for children to look at, but I don't think it would be very effective to teach them about colors because none of them are clearly identified within the pictures.
I think this is a creative way for children to look at colors. It is very basic and there aren't any words. I think this would be a fun book for children to look at, but I don't think it would be very effective to teach them about colors because none of them are clearly identified within the pictures.
February 28, 2009
I guess that's one way to help a child pick out colors. And introduce them to some scenes of city life. A couple made me completely cringe and be grateful I have learned that I am NOT a city girl. Some pictures have a couple of more challenges for children to pick out the colors. For a wordless book, it's pretty basic and easy to understand on any age level. I do love the picture that completely dates the book: Jelly shoes!
September 25, 2013
This concept book of colors was unimpressing to me. I did not get how this book would teach colors. There were just different colored dots on each page with a picture. I guess this would be just for a child to point out where the color is and match it to a dot. I thought there should be the word for the color with the dot to make a connection to the color and the word. The illustrations were fun and very colorful. I do not think I would use this in a classroom.
June 16, 2008
I thought this was a cute book and that the she did a good job matching and showing the colors, but if a child is trying to learn their colors it never says which color is yellow or which color is red, it just has a red dot and something that is red, so if they don't already know that color is red, then they can't figure it out.
March 10, 2009
Photos of things children might see in their travels (particularly city dwellers). Below each picture is a circle with the colors that appear prominently in the photo (red, yellow, blue, orange, green, purple).
August 26, 2010
This book is a little bit confusing to me. There are no words in it to help with the confusion. At the bottom of the page there are circles of different colors that you find in the picture. I am assuming that the student is supposed to find that color in the picture and point it out to you.
April 7, 2011
Wonderful book for kindergarten students, it allows them to practice recognizing color in the world around them. It is completely a picture book and would be a great book to allow children to explore on their own so they can begin to recognize color in their environment.
January 29, 2013
no words. genius to have pictures of very bright things, and then include circles of printed color at the bottom of the pages so that the adult could say "do you see this color in the picture somewhere" nice.
June 17, 2008
I didn't like the pictures in this book. I thought they were too bland and not visually appealing to children or adults.
May 23, 2008
I thought this book was kind of confusing. The dots at the bottom of the page didn't always accurately represent what was on the page. The pictures were real life pictures.
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April 9, 2009A wordless book with photographs of everyday sights that highlight different colors, with circles of the colors found in the pictures below.
(concept)
(concept)
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April 21, 2009For the concept category. Interesting way to approach colors, with the different photographs and the color circles below.
April 23, 2009
Concept Book: Wonderful Pictures
March 31, 2010
This book, which has no text, is filled with real photos of food items, clothing, people and a neighborhood. Each photo has large color dots below it to identify what colors are present in the photo.
April 6, 2011
Neat concept with the real colors and the real street scences. I would like to see an updated edition.
July 23, 2012
Illustrations and brief text introduce colors and the concepts of shape and size.
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August 2, 2012A collection of urban photographs featuring different colors. Under the photos are dots of color, showing the predominant colors in the photo.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews