The Black Book of Colors

Menena Cottin (2008), 24 pages

Illustrated by Rosana Faria

Translated by Elisa Amado

Audience: All ages

Format: picture book

This is quite possibly the most unusual and innovative children’s books I’ve ever seen. Originally written in Spanish as El Libro Negro de los Colores, this book has now been translated into several other languages, including English, French, and German. Printed in black ink on black paper –this book explores Tomas’s world of color –without actually using any!

For most sighted people it’s impossible or unfathomable to imagine seeing through taste, touch, or smell. Well, this book explores just that … what would it be like to experience color using alternative sensory experiences? Take yellow, for instance, “Thomas says that yellow tastes like mustard, but is soft as a baby chick’s feathers.” The color red is another story ... “red is sour like unripe strawberries and as sweet as watermelon. It hurts when he finds it on his scraped knee.” As the story builds, each color is uniquely described and accompanied by an image for a multisensory experience. A truly fascinating way to explore color! Text is printed in Braille at the top of each page, then translated in crisp white lettering at the bottom; line drawings are engraved and embossed into the paper (creating a textured-image experience). A complete Braille alphabet is included at the end the book.

This book works double duty as an educational tool to discuss the senses, such as touch, smell, taste, etc and as a way to explore color ... for instance, have children close their eyes and describe colors ... what is blue? what is green? Using these techniques I bet you'll discover a whole new world of color!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Is it Rough? Is It Smooth? Is It Shiny? by Tana Hoban or Through Grandpa’s Eyes by Patricia MacLachlan

Other books by this author: Numeros/Numbers, Equilibrio/Balance, and Al Reves/Upside Down