The Colors of Us : Picture Book

The Colors of Us 

Karen Katz

Summary 

In this  story, Lena is  the   daughter of an artist. She decides to paint a painting of herself. Lena's mother begins to teach her how to mix paints to make "the right brown" for the color of her skin. Lena  responds by saying "brown is brown." 

 The two go for a walk and  see many neighbors who were Lena's friends. The mother identified the colors of their skin with tasty foods. When they returned home , Lena sits down to paint  her portraits of the people they've visited, using different colors to remember all of the beautiful colors she saw. 

Evaluation 

This book is under the category of a picture book ,

The Colors of Us is an uplifting book .

The author associates all skin colors  with delicious foods . This form a positive connection in the reader's mind. her mother is the color of French toast; Lena is a cinnamon roll and her best friend, an Asian girl, is the color of honey. 

 The book celebrates  culture and diversity! 

 In  every picture of this book the characters  are smiling, happy, radiant individuals

 No races are  represented in a derogatory  manner and there are no behavioral stereotypes linked to any of the races 

This book celebrates life and the love all man kind. 

Motivational Activities 

This book is a wonderful asset to any classroom , all classrooms are filled with diverse cultures and skin tones. I would use this book to promote love of all races being open minded to adventures

Activity 1 : After reading this book I would provide all students with paint and ask them to paint a portrait of another student. This activity would be used to open the students eyes to all of the diversity in the class room.

Activity 2 : After reading this book I would have each student choose 6 -10 ten words to describe their own skin tone with a pleasurable food .  

Activity 3 : After reading this book ; I would request that each student write a poem about the diversity of skin tones in the class room by using foods also. 

Relative to Saint Leo's Core Value of Respect 

 This short picture book shines a light on respect . A core value that Saint Leo University prides greatly. The campus is filled with students of all races. This book values respect and the university does.

Author 

Karen Katz is a New York native who made a living as  an illustrator and graphic designer. Her first book, Over the Moon, is about her daughter Lena's adoption. 

Lena is from Guatemala, the diversity in her home was the inspiration for  Colors of Us .

Personal Comments 

This book is lovely and an asset for school and home . Katz does an excellent at showing cultural diversity is a manner that was not negative . I applaud her work

References.

 The Colors of Us Analysis. (n.d.). The Colors of Us Analysis. Retrieved from http://www.umich.edu/~childlit/ColorsOfUs/display1.htm