The Colors of Us

A budding artist wants to paint pictures of all her friends in The Colors of Us by Karen Katz. She tells her mother that “brown is brown” and that is where the journey through her neighborhood begins. The young girl looks at the skin color of her friends and neighbors to give the reader beautiful and unique descriptions of the differences in our skin tones. I never mind reading this book because I love the way “tawny and tan” and “coffee toffee” sound when reading aloud. The Colors of Us does a nice job at emphasizing the beauty of our differences and how special we each are.

*Describe your own skin using an original simile or metaphor. My skin is like…

Freckleface Strawberry

I have never been big on celebrities-turned-children's-book-writers, but I have to admit that we really like this one. Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne Moore introduces us to a fiery little red head who is like everyone else except for those pesky freckles. We love (but had to discuss our house rules) that she tries to draw on herself with a pink marker in order to 'connect the dots.' She is so tired of these freckles that she finally decides that the best plan is to hide them and wear a ski mask at all times. Not only is it hot and itchy, but she misses her friends and her friends miss her. Loud and clear, we get the message. So I asked M and B, my two little ones, what makes them special. M said the way she plays with her tea set. And B said, mixing (that is any pretend food in a bowl.) Can't argue with that!

*Love all of the talking bubbles, great for teaching kids dialogue.