What do you think?
Rate this book
What Color Is Caesar?
One dog’s quest for self-definition is anything but black and white in this delightfully droll, enlightening tale by an acclaimed former poet laureate.
Caesar is a large white dog with a great many black spots. Or is he a large black dog with even more white spots? That’s the he doesn’t know which, and though nobody in the family seems to care, he won’t rest until he uncovers the truth. So off he traipses, beseeching one animal after another to find out what color he is, basically. From celebrated poet Maxine Kumin comes a doggedly quizzical hero, brought comically to life by Alison Friend’s expressive watercolors — a lovable picture-book character who ultimately learns that it’s not what’s on the outside that counts.
Caesar is a large white dog with a great many black spots. Or is he a large black dog with even more white spots? That’s the he doesn’t know which, and though nobody in the family seems to care, he won’t rest until he uncovers the truth. So off he traipses, beseeching one animal after another to find out what color he is, basically. From celebrated poet Maxine Kumin comes a doggedly quizzical hero, brought comically to life by Alison Friend’s expressive watercolors — a lovable picture-book character who ultimately learns that it’s not what’s on the outside that counts.
56 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1978
17 people want to read
About the author
Maxine Kumin
134 books76 followersMaxine Kumin's 17th poetry collection, published in the spring of 2010, is Where I Live: New and Selected Poems 1990-2010. Her awards include the Pulitzer and Ruth Lilly Poetry Prizes, the Poets’ Prize, and the Harvard Arts and Robert Frost Medals. A former US poet laureate, she and her husband lived on a farm in New Hampshire. Maxine Kumin died in 2014.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 30, 2021
Kumin didn't disappoint this time, and Friend's illustrations have lots of charm. But I definitely want to see the original art, because Evaline Ness is terrific, and, based on the cover image of that edition, I can imagine what technique she used and have confidence it would be perfect.
Be warned that the story is a bit long... but in a good way.
What color are you, basically?
Be warned that the story is a bit long... but in a good way.
What color are you, basically?
September 19, 2013
I read this book as a TumbleBook online. I thought it was a cute interactive book with nice illustrations. It is about a black and white spotted dog that goes on a journey to discover what color he basically is, white with black spots or vice versa. He goes around asking other black and white animals what color they basically are but they never given him the answer he expects. Finally he discovers his true color and finds happiness. The illustrations in this story seemed to be painted but what made them really interesting is that being in a TumbleBook they moved and were interactive. Although there were a few spots in the story when the wrong image would appear. For example, it would take about a pony and a picture of a zebra would pop up. This would be a good book to use in the classroom to teach that it is not what a person looks like on the outside that matters it is what is underneath that defines them. Every one of the animals were black and white but underneath they all had their own unique colors. The TumbleBook version is also nice to use in the classroom because it teaches students to use emotion and voice when they are reading. My reaction to this book was that it had a good message for children and drives their interest to figure out color Caesar really is.
March 25, 2024
To most readers, I suppose, this is a sweet little picture book about a dog who enlists the help of other animals to help him decide "what color" he is. When he is two colors, black and white. (Assuming that one agrees that black and white are colors in the first place.)
Basically, the premise here is that the hero, Caesar, is a large dog. Mostly white fur with many black spots. Alternatively, he could consider himself mostly black with a whole lot of white spots.
Based on that premise, and acknowledging the beauty of the artwork by Alison Friend, I'll rate this book at FIVE STARS.
That is my policy, rating books based on the perspective of the intended readership.
NOW, HOW ABOUT I SHARE MY PERSONAL REACTION
I fiercely dislike this book. How come?
1. Because I don't believe in trying to get a sense of self based on the opinions of others.
2. Equally off-putting to me? Dogs do not have human consciousness. It's one thing if E.B. White gives us a childlike character like Charlotte the spider, an animal who can think in a simple way in order to advance the plot of a book.
3. Think about context here. This "color" business is like an exercise in gestalt psychology. Of course one can flip from one gestalt to the other and thus see the dog as either black or white.
4. Dogs, not having consciousness, are really-really unable to understand concepts of gestalt psychology.
5. Finally, I'm somewhat indignant that the whole book is based on such a foolish premise. If one's fur is black and white, why get all bothered about having those two colors of fur in the first place?
We humans can give ourselves ulcers over speculation like this, but dogs? I really don't think so.
Basically, the premise here is that the hero, Caesar, is a large dog. Mostly white fur with many black spots. Alternatively, he could consider himself mostly black with a whole lot of white spots.
Based on that premise, and acknowledging the beauty of the artwork by Alison Friend, I'll rate this book at FIVE STARS.
That is my policy, rating books based on the perspective of the intended readership.
NOW, HOW ABOUT I SHARE MY PERSONAL REACTION
I fiercely dislike this book. How come?
1. Because I don't believe in trying to get a sense of self based on the opinions of others.
2. Equally off-putting to me? Dogs do not have human consciousness. It's one thing if E.B. White gives us a childlike character like Charlotte the spider, an animal who can think in a simple way in order to advance the plot of a book.
3. Think about context here. This "color" business is like an exercise in gestalt psychology. Of course one can flip from one gestalt to the other and thus see the dog as either black or white.
4. Dogs, not having consciousness, are really-really unable to understand concepts of gestalt psychology.
5. Finally, I'm somewhat indignant that the whole book is based on such a foolish premise. If one's fur is black and white, why get all bothered about having those two colors of fur in the first place?
We humans can give ourselves ulcers over speculation like this, but dogs? I really don't think so.
March 13, 2020
Meet Caesar, a white dog with black spots....or is it a black dog with white spots? Cue a journey of self-discovery because poor Caesar just isn't sure. On his quest to decipher the truth he meets a horse, a zebra and other animals who have their own opinion on just what he is. Eventually Caesar realizes he has to look inside himself to see just what color he is. This story was cute and had amazing watercolor illustrations that would be enjoyable for everyone. However, it was a long book (we could have skipped the extra character or two) and the metaphor was a little too obvious for my liking. I rated this three out of five stars.
February 11, 2025
This book is loooong especially for a children’s picture book. Like it took me 20 mins to read this to my 4 year old but he miraculously listened to the whole thing. I do voices and expressions so maybe that’s why. So yes it’s very long, but pictures are great and grab your attention. It’s about a black and white dog that’s trying to figure out basically what color he is, black with white spots or white with black spots. So he goes in an adventure to figure it out.
March 23, 2024
While I liked the message of figuring out who you are - and how it doesn't really matter on the surface - it was a bit long. I definitely wouldn't be able to do this for a storytime without a bit of streamlining or abridging. Still, I enjoyed the illustrations and the message. So maybe one I'd recommend for a one-on-one read.
July 7, 2021
Caesar goes on a fact finding mission to have a question answered that will put his mind at rest. His quests takes him far away from his home as he seeks a valid answer. At the end of his journey the answer he is given puts his mind at ease.
May 30, 2021
Even better, in my opinion, with the older art by Evaline Ness. See for yourself on OpenLibrary.org. Are you a see-through guru? Or what color are you, basically?
August 23, 2021
I just listened to a reading of this on video through Tumble Books. Great story for primary aged children. Basically it's about what you are and being happy with what you are. Loved it.
March 20, 2011
THEMES - IDENTITY, HOW OTHERS MIGHT IDENTIFY YOU AND HOW YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF; UNDERLYING BUDDHIST THINKING WITH A GURU-FORTUNE TELLER AT A CIRCUS WHO CHOOSE THE COLOR OF AIR (TRANSPARENCY) AS HIS COLOR
From Booklist
First turned into a picture book in 1978, Kumin’s tale is an identity story in which the protagonist is a dog who’s worried about his looks. “He was either all white with a great many black spots or all black with even more white ones. . . . He didn’t know which.” Friend’s playful gouache illustrations capture both the sweetness and the anxiety of Caesar as he sets out from his comfortable home in search of answers. He gets his favorite one from a carnival guru who loves lollipops: “On the surface you are the color you are . . . deep down in your heart. . . . You are whatever color you want to be.” This is a longer-than-usual picture book with more than the usual amount of text, but Kumin’s engaging story and its many whimsical details (the dog’s doctor is a black-and-white woodpecker, for instance) will keep young readers’ attention as Caesar realizes that he is actually all seven colors of the rainbow. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Abby Nolan
From Booklist
First turned into a picture book in 1978, Kumin’s tale is an identity story in which the protagonist is a dog who’s worried about his looks. “He was either all white with a great many black spots or all black with even more white ones. . . . He didn’t know which.” Friend’s playful gouache illustrations capture both the sweetness and the anxiety of Caesar as he sets out from his comfortable home in search of answers. He gets his favorite one from a carnival guru who loves lollipops: “On the surface you are the color you are . . . deep down in your heart. . . . You are whatever color you want to be.” This is a longer-than-usual picture book with more than the usual amount of text, but Kumin’s engaging story and its many whimsical details (the dog’s doctor is a black-and-white woodpecker, for instance) will keep young readers’ attention as Caesar realizes that he is actually all seven colors of the rainbow. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Abby Nolan
May 8, 2010
Clip some pages together or the kids will leave you on the rug. This is a great story with an important message about color, race, self-perception. However, this very prolific author has taken too long in trying to reach her audience. Maybe grades kindergarten to 2 were not her intended benefactors. However, I really don't see it as a read-a-loud for grades 3 to 4 either because of the simplicity of word choice.
I chuckled out loud many times over the thoughtful illustrations of Maxine Kumin and how many ways she cleverly wove the black and white theme through the story. I did enjoy and will use it with my students but I will have to make choices over how much to read of the 56 pages at one time.
I chuckled out loud many times over the thoughtful illustrations of Maxine Kumin and how many ways she cleverly wove the black and white theme through the story. I did enjoy and will use it with my students but I will have to make choices over how much to read of the 56 pages at one time.
Read
October 4, 2014Kumin M. (2010). What Color Is Caesar?. Candlewick Press
Library of Virginia
Tumblebooks
This book is about a worried dog that does not know how to categorize himself on the surface and is looking for answers, but as he embarks on his journey the answer becomes even more complicated. What Color Is Caesar is a great book to use in the classroom to begin a discussion on diversity and identity. This terrific book is available in Tumblebook format on the Library of Virginia’s site. On the site, the reader hears the storyteller read the book with fluency and great expression, so readers can model her inflections as they attempt to read along. The text is also highlighted as it is read, so young readers can follow with ease.
Library of Virginia
Tumblebooks
This book is about a worried dog that does not know how to categorize himself on the surface and is looking for answers, but as he embarks on his journey the answer becomes even more complicated. What Color Is Caesar is a great book to use in the classroom to begin a discussion on diversity and identity. This terrific book is available in Tumblebook format on the Library of Virginia’s site. On the site, the reader hears the storyteller read the book with fluency and great expression, so readers can model her inflections as they attempt to read along. The text is also highlighted as it is read, so young readers can follow with ease.
October 30, 2012
Caesar's search for an answer to his question of black with white or white with black turns into a really charming story about figuring out who your are as a person and being an individual. I think it may be too long to read with younger elementary students. They may not "get" the concept, but for upper elementary students dealing with social pressures for the first time it would be an awesome read aloud. I don't think I would do an academic activity with this book but instead let it be brain food for the type of person they want to be.
November 29, 2015
Deep inside everyone wants to know who they are; it doesn’t matter if you’re a dog or a person. All Caesar wants to know is if his color is black with white spots or white with black spots. So Caesar goes on a long journey away from home to learn who he really is…
On his journey Caesar runs into many black and white animals who all seem to know who they are. There is one important lesson to be learnt “On the surface you are the color you are, and basically, under the skin, deep down in your heart, you are whatever color you want to be”.
On his journey Caesar runs into many black and white animals who all seem to know who they are. There is one important lesson to be learnt “On the surface you are the color you are, and basically, under the skin, deep down in your heart, you are whatever color you want to be”.
February 16, 2011
I thought this book did a good job at getting the message across that you are who you are on the outside but ultimately it is who you are on the inside (what colors you believe you are) that really defines who you are. I thought it was a well written story with a good message and enjoyable to read!
March 21, 2011
It's a sweet idea, but it is way too verbose, and unnecessarily so. Many books have said the same thing in far fewer pages. Terrible for a storytime, and I don't know what age kid would sit through it.
February 25, 2010
Looks like a nice story about differences.
June 28, 2010
The message is great...your color on the outside has little to do with who you are...but the story is too long!
June 15, 2012
Great message, but wayyy too long. My kids were very restless so I had to skip over several chunks to try to get through it.
November 11, 2015
It's Very Good!
May 3, 2016
We listened to this story on Tumblebooks.
I should pay more attention to Tumblebooks stories. I tend to use it when I need to be doing something else.
He's a dog trying to find himself?
I should pay more attention to Tumblebooks stories. I tend to use it when I need to be doing something else.
He's a dog trying to find himself?
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews