The Colors of Us

Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Children's Book
Review: I am an elementary school counselor and read this book to second graders. They love the comparisons of skin colors to foods, and it leaves everyone feeling good about the way they look. It is a strong multicultural book, but the presentation is very subtle, and not preachy.

Rating:
Summary: Makes a GREAT gift
Review: My 3 1/2 year old son loved this book so much that I decided to give it as gifts to all of his friends this year (as we go through the birthday party circuit). Besides the cute pictures and the lovely prose, it has a wonderful message that is appropriate for anyone.

Rating:
Summary: What a beautiful book
Review: We saw this at the library, and immediately loved it. Lena's Mom is an artist, so she is used to noticing color in everything. As she and her Mom walk through town, they notice how everyone's skin color varies in depth or pigmentation, but they find a way to compare it to something scrumptious. Mr. Pellegrino is the color of pizza crust, a golden brown. Lena's best friend, Jo-Jin, is the color of honey. Lucy has skin that's peachy and tan. Mr. Kashmir, who sells spices, is the color of ginger and chili powder.
People come in all colors, not just nationalitites. After someone told my 5 year old daughter that we were "white", she said (pointing to her cornea), "THIS is white, I'm peachy tan!" I felt warm and toasty reading this book, like the way I feel when I drink hot chocolate and eat warm bread on a cold day. We need to teach love, not tolerance, and this book is a great tool for doing this.