Brown Like Me

by Noelle Lamperti

This groundbreaking book speaks in simple straight-forward language to any child who is growing up in an environment where she/he feels different. Filled with wonderful pictures, this book will speak to any child trying to find herself reflected in the people and things around her. Brown Like Me affirms a strong and positive self-image.

Genres: Picture Books, Adoption, Childrens, Race

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1999

Reviews

[Maeve]

A young child (adopted into a white family) notices all the things in the world that are brown...just like their skin.

[Tiffany]

As part of a trans-racial family through adoption, I am always on the lookout for books to help my beautiful brown brother grow up loving who he is, especially the parts of him that don't look like Mama and Daddy and Sissy: his skin and hair. Many of the books I've found have captivating illustrations but are poorly written in forced rhyme that just crawls under my poet's skin and makes me itch. Brown Like Me is different. The illustrations probably wouldn't capture a young child's interest right away -- not bright enough -- though there are some really cute crayon drawings a little one could appreciate.
What I like most about Brown Like Me is the idea it gave me: to teach my brother to love his brown skin by taking him on a color hunt for other things that are brown, and fostering an appreciation for all different shades and hues of beautiful, beautiful brown, from birds to soil to tea and paint and food -- so much happy brown!

[Melody Richardson]

Lamperti, N. (2000). Brown Like Me. Norwich, VT: New Victoria Publishers, Inc.

Subgroup: Multi-Racial Families

Genre: Non-Fiction

Topics: Adoption, Multi-Racial families

Synopsis: A young girl discusses what it is like to be an african american adopted by a white family. She tells us how sometimes she was "lonesome for brown". She looks for everything in her life that is the color brown. This book teaches children that even if they are different than their families, they should celebrate themselves and their heritage.

[Shakila Lightfoot]

Subgroup: Interracial Families
Genre: Fiction
Topic: Diversity, Acceptance, Mixed Families
Synopsis: This story tells about a young African American girl that is encouraged by her adopted family to find out more about being dark skinned and still be beautiful. I believe it helps children celebrate themselves and where they come from.

[Jennifer Conrad]

My son really didn't enjoy this book. I was looking for a book where he would see more characters with brown skin like his, and he just wasn't interested in the story. I'll admit, it was hard for me to follow, too. We only read this a couple of times, and usually because I chose it. He was much more interested in stories where the characters did something.

[Hayley Bowman]

This is such a good book. It is about a black person or as they call themselves, " a brown person." This would be a great information book to share with african american students or with really anybody in the classroom to discuss the differences you see in the classroom, in particular those African Americans.

[Sandi]

Carter really loves this book and likes to find brown things just like Noelle.

[ReadingWench]

"Growing up in a white family, she too was sometimes "lonesome for brown"' - Jacqueline Wallen, PhD

This is a fantastic book. Perfect for a diverse family.

[Terry]

Read. Not reviewed.