The Colors of Us
By Karen Katz
The Story
A seven-year-old girl preparing to paint her self-portrait walks through her neighborhood with her mother and discovers that brown skin comes in as many shades as cinnamon, honey, and chocolate.
Why It's Special
For the kid who's just starting to notice differences and ask big questions about them, this book hands them a warm, curious way to look closer.
- Big idea: Skin color is worth noticing and naming — and every shade of brown has its own kind of beauty.
- Vibes: warm, observant, gentle and affirming
Perfect For Kids Who
- are curious about why people look different from each other
- enjoy comparing things to food and nature
- are working on seeing differences as something to celebrate
- like art and painting activities
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & noticing: What are some of the things Lena compares her friends' skin to on her walk?
- Real-life connection: What color would you use to paint a picture of yourself?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Lena felt when she noticed all the different shades of brown?
- Imagination: If you walked through your neighborhood like Lena did, what colors do you think you'd find?
- Family connection: What foods or things from nature remind you of the people you love?
