A Taste of Colored Water
By Matt Faulkner
The Story
Two children in the segregated South spot a sign for a 'colored water' fountain and imagine something magical and rainbow-bright — only to discover a far harder truth about the world around them.
Why It's Special
For families ready to talk about hard history through a child's eyes, this book turns a real, painful moment into a starting point kids can actually grasp.
- Big idea: Innocence can crack open painful truths — and how the grown-ups around a child respond to that moment matters.
- Vibes: Quiet, reflective, historically grounded, with a gut-punch of realization underneath a gentle surface.
Perfect For Kids Who
- are beginning to learn about the civil rights era
- ask big questions about fairness and unfairness
- respond well to stories told through a child's perspective
- are ready for honest conversations about history
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & understanding: What did the children think the 'colored water' sign meant before they found out the truth?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think the children felt when they realized what the sign really meant?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever found out something you believed was actually not true — how did that feel?
- History & meaning: Why do you think the illustrations show this story from a child's point of view instead of an adult's?
- Imagination: If you could ask the children in the story one question, what would you want to know?
