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Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1999 · Est. 4 min read-aloud
The Colors of Us
Written & illustrated by Karen Katz
Part of the Karen Katz series
A girl discovers the diverse shades of brown in her world.
32 pages· 426 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud
$18.99Save 5%
Bookroo's summary
Seven-year-old Lena embarks on a colorful journey with her mother, exploring the rich diversity of skin tones in their neighborhood. As they compare these shades to foods and nature, Lena learns to see beauty in differences and connections. What new perspectives will she uncover in her familiar world?
"Mom's teaching me how to mix colors. She says that if I mix red, yellow, black, and white paints in the right combination, I will have the right brown for a picture of me. 'The right brown? But Mom, brown is brown,' I say. 'That's not so,' Mom says. 'There are lost of different shades of brown. Let's take a walk. You'll see.'"
— from the book
From the publisher
Seven-year-old Lena and her mother observe the variations in the color of their friends’ skin, viewed in terms of foods and things found in nature. By the author of Over the Moon: An Adoption Tale.
At a glance
- Format
- Pages
- 32
- Words
- 426
- Reading age
- 4–8
- Audience
- Picture
- Lexile
- 570L
After the last page
Talk about it together
Talk about the people in your family and the people in your community. What color brown skin do they all have? Remember that even white people have melanin, and very very light tan skin. This is a great way to introduce the idea that all skin colors are beautiful.
What readers & critics say
Reviews
5.3
out of 7
The author & illustrator
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The fine print
Book details
Reading levels
- ATOS
- 2.5
- F&P level
- ~O
- AR points
- 0.5
- AR interest level
- LG
- AR quiz
- 44662
Publication
- Published
- September 15, 1999
- First published
- January 1, 1999
- Publisher
- Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Edition
- Language
- English
- Type
- Picture Book
- Illustration details
- The artist used collage, gouache, and colored pencils to create the illustrations for this book
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Top contributors: Kathy Ellen Davis · B is for Bookworm · Literary Leslie