Kente Colors

by Deborah M. Newton Chocolate, John Ward (Illustrator)

A joyful ode to kente celebrates the beauty and tradition of this West African fabric that is now so popular in America. Rhythmic verse shows the special meaning of colors and patterns while glorious paintings show kente as it is used and worn in Ghana, from babies' blankets to dancers' capes. An author's note further explains kente's rich symbolism. Readers young and old will delight in discovering the connections between African culture and the colorful cloth we love to wear.

Genres: Picture Books, Cultural, Childrens, Africa, Storytime

32 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1996

About the author

Debbi Chocolate is the author of numerous popular and award-winning books for young readers, including Talk, Talk, for which she received the Parents CHoice Award; On The Day I Was Born, a Children's Book Council Notable selectiom; and Neate to the Rescue!

Reviews

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is rich with color and its illustrations are realistic depictions. I enjoyed reading on the origin of kente considering when I was a child, we would wear kente cloth during Black History month every year at my church. I knew it represented my roots. I would use this book to show the different ways various cultures dress and what their wardrobe expresses. I would recommed this book for K-2.

[Pamela Hatch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kente Colors / by Debbi Chocolate; illustrations by John Ward -- New York : Walker and Company, c1996. (40 pages)

SUMMARY: A rhyming description of the Kente cloth costumes of the Ashanti and Ewe people of Ghana and a portrayal of the symbolic colors and patterns.

REVIEW: Beautiful illustrations of the Ashanti and Ewe people of Ghana and their colorful clothes. Each pattern each color has a purpose and a meaning which is described through rhyming text. The authors note in the back supplies more information about the colors and the tradition of making patterned cloth.

FURTHER FUN: 1) talk about other cultures that use clothes to define themselves; 2) create their own color & pattern that would define them or their feeling at the moment; and 3) examine their clothes in their closet to see if there are special clothes they wear on special days or when they feel a certain way. (i.e. Sunday clothes, play clothes, yeah its Friday jeans, etc.)

[Sharese Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The thought process of this book was a different one from all the others. When I look at a book, I like to make predictions and my one about this one was totally wrong. The only thing I was right about was the fact that it shows and teaches others about culture and the aspects of it. I thought this book was about the Jamaican culture but instead it was about the kente cloth which is native to the Ashanti people of Ghana. The author did a great job of explaining what a kente cloth is, so if you are interested in knowing then go read the book from the front cover to the back. This book can be used to show students how this particular culture uses kente cloth and maybe even allow students to try to make there own meaningful cloth.

[Casey Druelinger]

Kente Colors is a book about the kente fabric of Africa. It shows many different colors of kente and certain occasions for when each is used traditionally. I enjoyed this book because I have never heard of kente fabric, so it taught me a lot. It was fun to see the illustrations of Africans wearing the kente fabric for each occasion that was described. This book would be good for children (any age) to learn about an African tradition that they probably have not heard about. The book also has rhyme so it is fun to read out loud.

[Kristina Moss]

Kente Colors by Debbie Chocolate is a great book that introduces the West African fabric in a rhythmic way. The author describes the special meaning and the symbolism each color represents as she explores all its different uses. Kente Colors would be great to introduce to students during black history month. I would also use this book in a math activity(patterns) for students. This book would be great for students to create their own kente(fabric) colors helping students to develop patterns.

[Lluvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pre-K to 8th grade

This books was more of a picture book. It had beautiful illustrations and the colors they used were very bright. It's an African book and as you are reading it, it gives you the colors but in a rhyming way. It's describing the colors and rhyming the words at the same time. It's a traditional book, and I got the impression that "Kente" means cloth or a certain color.

[Bz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Africa

[Guadalupe Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations of this book. I also liked how the author describe the colors, "Kente colors bright and bold."

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful Illustrations!

[Marshmallowlemonade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief text. Discusses different fabrics/ colors.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used this one for a black history month story time. This would also be great for a colors theme, or fiber craft theme, or Kwanza perhaps.

[SKP · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a children’s librarian, I loved to use this book in storytimes when I did the theme “African Safari” which was a nod to Black History month. With little children, I certainly wasn’t going to read books about slavery or civil rights, so I will try to use books that taught the children something about African culture. We would do a lot about African animals, but I used books like this one, and WE ALL WENT ON SAFARI by Laurie Krebs (which taught the children how to count in Swahili). I would also use WE’RE GOING ON A LION HUNT by David Axtell which depicted African American sisters on an imaginary adventure to hunt for a lion.

Anyway, I digress. This specific book is a lovely book, and I was able to use it to add the concept of colors and patterns into the same storytime. While a children’s librarian is not a teacher per se, s/he still likes to teach concepts through the books and activities whenever possible. I fear this book is going out of print like so many of my favorite children’s books have done over the years which is a shame.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 4 out of 5]

11/21/2018 ~ A lovely description of the tradition of Kente cloth of the Ashanti and Ewe peoples of Ghana and Togo. Ward's illustrations are phenomenal, adding significantly to the spare text. I wish that the author's note had included illustrations of some of the patterns described.

Why I read this book: a treasure found on the shelves of my elementary school library.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this book in a storytime about western Africa, and Ghana in particular. The book worked well for me because I had brought in kente cloth and wanted to talk about it and its place in culture. The emphasis on colors also made it an educational choice for the mostly preschool-aged audience. It is a very simple, book, but it filled my niche well.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would be good for a story time on colors.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated concept book on colors for the very young with a positive message on heritage.

[Ashley Kempkes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a good colors concept book for kids.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blue means love. Ivory means joy.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Debbie Chocolate explains the cultural significance of the Kente fabric in this rich colorful work. Page after page she discusses the symbolism of each color in the Kente fabric and then finishes the text with a complete description of what Kente fabric is, how it is made and the importance of it to the people of Ghana and Ewe.

The illustrations are artfully done and full of life and color like the very fabric it is describing.

[Renae Williams]

Kente cloth is so colorful and bright and this book is presented in the same way. This book is appropriate for all ages because it is culturally informative and has a warm tone. Children can connect the history to the cloth that they have seen in stores and in their homes.

[Shone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful colors and illustrations.

The children enjoyed.

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the pre-k reading list. Read with my 4yo.