All the Colors of the Earth

Sheila Hamanaka (1994), 32 pages

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Children come in all the colors of the earth – such as roaring browns, whispering golds, tinkling pinks just to name a few!

Inspired by her own children’s multi-ethnic heritage, Hamanaka has created a lasting and beautiful view of diversity. Descriptive and expressive, Hamanaka does double duty as both author and illustrator showcasing she can captivate equally a young audience’s eyes and ears … making this book a delightful story-time read! Her sweeping, painterly illustrations filled with warm sun-kissed yellows, rich browns, and crisp blues energize the story; the author’s language and images work in unison to share a life affirming quality.

The narrative is inclusive all of different of skin tones “cinnamon, walnut, and wheat” to “amber and ivory” and hair types too from bouncy curls to flowing locks. While celebrating individuality, Hamanaka reveals there is sameness; noting that while all children are different they are similar – the common denominator being love.

This book truly honors all children of color and is a great story-time read especially during January as Martin Luther King Jr. Day approaches – children can be proud of their differences and appreciate their unique attributes; a gentle and very approachable book on race/ethnicity for preschoolers.

Reviewed by: Katharine Conn, MLIS

If you liked this book, you may like: Whoever You Are by Mem Fox, The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler, Shades of People by Shelley Rotner or A Rainbow of Friends by P. K. Hallinan

Other books by this author: Bebop-a-do-walk, I Look Like a Girl, Grandparents Song, Peace Crane, and Screen of Frogs: An Old Tale

Beautiful Oops!

Barney Saltzberg (2010), 28 pages

Audience: all ages

Format: board book

Can you take a crumbled piece of paper and make it into a sheep’s coat? Can you turn a scrap piece of paper into something interesting? Why, yes you can! This book reminds everyone that mistakes are okay. In fact, making mistakes is a part of life – so why not celebrate them! Author and illustrator, Saltzberg delivers this message in a very creative and innovative way. Using a series of flaps, pop ups, and die cuts he produced a fun, interactive, and imaginative book that people (at any age) will appreciate. With some ingenuity, “Oops! A torn piece of paper” becomes a wide-smiling crocodile or watch as a little paint spill morphs into … a collection of purple puppies, a family of birds, even an elephant. Satlzberg proves that no matter the mistake, whether torn paper, a drip of paint, a stain, a hole, etc … it’s just a chance to make something unique and interesting. This board book is constructed well with durable, glossy pages … so that even young children can enjoy moving the pages and gain motor skills. Each interactive element is surprising and delightful for more details check out the publisher’s promotional video. It may just inspire you to get crafty and go make some mistakes of your own! With it’s movable parts, bright colors, and creative design-this book is both fun and functional and the authors message is timeless … mistakes provide an opportunity to be creative and imaginative and more importantly they are an opportunity to create something new … something beautiful!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Lines that Wiggle by Candace Whitman, or The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

Other books by this author: Kisses, Peekaboo Kisses, Crazy Hair Day, Star of the Week, Baby Animal Kisses, The Flying Garbanzos, and Cornelius P. Mud, Are You Ready for Bed?

Little Blue and Little Yellow

Leo Lionni (1959), 40 pages

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Written as a tribute to his two young grandchildren, Lionni’s first book Little Blue and Little Yellow is truly a satisfying read. Little blue loves playing with his friends, especially little yellow who lives across the street. One day, little blue goes looking for his best friend. After looking everywhere, little blue finally stumbles upon little yellow and they are so happy to see each other they hug and hug until they turn green! The two friends, now as little green have an adventurous day out playing in the park, running through tunnels, climbing mountains … exhausted they return home. But to their parents’ dismay, little blue and little yellow are gone – only little green remains. Saddened little blue and yellow cry themselves to pieces (little blue and yellow pieces) until “they finally pull themselves together” and return home to their parents. Mama blue and papa blue are so thrilled to see little blue – they hug and kiss him and hug little yellow too … but in doing so, they become green. Realizing what had happened, they go over to their neighbors to share the news with mama yellow and papa yellow and both families rejoice! Lionni’s use of simple language and minimal graphics make this a book young children can enjoy. At first glance, Little Blue and Little Yellow is a clever personification of color theory, but beneath that it illustrates the bond of friendship, acceptance of oneself, and racial unity.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Press Here by Hervé Tullet or Perfect Square by Michael Hall

Other books by this author: Geraldine, the Music Mouse, A Flea Story, In the Rabbitgarden, Let’s Play, and Matthew’s Dream

The Incredible Book Eating Boy

Oliver Jeffers (2006), 32 pages

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Have you ever heard the expression “a voracious reader?” Well, meet Henry, a boy who loves books … actually he loves EATING books. His habitat started out innocently enough by just eating a word, a sentence, then a page … but eventually, Henry eats entire books often swallowing them whole. Devouring book after book, he gets smarter and smarter and his knowledge supersedes even his parents and teachers. After awhile, Henry’s diet of books has adverse effects and he begins to feel ill. Eating so quickly, he doesn’t have enough time to digest (comprehend) all the information and facts start to get jumbled. As Henry’s intelligence wanes he looses confidence. Finally, Henry realizes he can’t continue eating this way so he gives up eating books. One day, rather than chomping down on the cover he opens the book and discovers that he loves to read … and reading books is a whole lot easier on the stomach then eating them! Henry knows that even though it may take a little longer he can still learn about everything by reading … although every now and then he may sneak a nibble or two.

A talented illustrator, Jeffers uses a variety of paper (graph, lined, discarded scraps of recycled dictionaries, maps, etc.) to create layered background textures so each page has depth and personality. The text is smart and snappy – making it a great read-aloud book for parents. Jeffers’ s clever spin on book consumption is rather creative and charming … children will love this fun-loving story and hopefully develop an appetite for reading as well.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: My Crayons Talk by Patricia Hubbard

Other books by this author: The Way Back Home, Lost and Found, Up and Down, How to Catch a Star, and The Heart and the Bottle

Spork

Kyo Maclear (2010), 32 pages

Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Constantly neglected Spork is lonely. Forks, spoons, knives, even chopsticks make their way to the dining table ... but never Spork. Born from a fork father and a spoon mother he was both a little round and a little pointy. Although his parents loved him as he was, Spork wanted to be easily identifiable, to be just one thing or another. After awhile, he decides to become more fork-like, but he still doesn’t fit in because all the other forks think he’s too round. Later, he tries to be a spoon, but that fails because he’s too pointy. Spork desperately wants to belong. Every night he wistfully watches from a distance as spoons play games and forks rake, mash, and twirl. Later they all enjoy a bubble bath in the sink. But, all that changes when the messy thing arrives. Food was flung here and there, everywhere ... spoons were tossed and forks were bent. "This messy thing smeared and spilled and flung and clumped and dripped without a care.” In all the chaos, Spork realizes he finally has a purpose – he was the perfect tool, a bit of both fork and spoon! Grabbing Spork, the messy thing shrieks with delight waving him around ... at last Spork has found his purpose! Being suitable for baby is the story of how Spork “finally and happily found his way to the table.”

Arsenault’s illustrations are so expressive the utensils seem animated. Her color palette is pale and muted mostly gray, white and pastel blue-green. However, she adds a sense of drama as the “messy thing” enters the story and dashes of bright crimson red flash across the pages. Author, Maclear born to British and Japanese parents revels in her own spork-ness; she presents a creative and fun

story for children to enjoy everywhere regardless of cutlery heredity. This story is a great lesson in learning how to appreciate differences in each other and oneself, may appeal especially to children with biracial backgrounds.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Zero by Kathryn Otoshi, or Only One You by Liinda Kranz

Other books by this illustrator: Migrant and Mr. Gauguin’s Heart, and Bonjour Les Hirondelles

The Carrot Seed

By Ruth Krauss (1945), 32 pages

Illustrated by Crockett Jonhson

Audience: toddlers, pre-K

Format: picture book

Continuously in print since 1945, this classic tale is one both children and parents will love. Who knew a simple act of planting a seed could be so courageous … well, one little boy proves just that! Even though everyone kept insisting “it won’t come up; it won’t come up.” The little boy never gives up and patiently tends to his carrot seed with conviction and confidence. Is he rewarded in the end? Why, yes! He manages to produce a carrot worthy of any state prize and even though others doubted him – our brave boy proves that it was possible all along. Krauss and Johnson use simple words and pictures to convey poise and self-assurance. This timeless story has wonderful morals threefold for children –to trust in themselves, practice patience and care, and reap the rewards of hard work!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: The Ant and the Grasshopper by Amy Lowry Poole, Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert, Jack’s Garden by Henry Cole, or Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

Other books by this author: A Hole is to Dig, A Very Special House, Bears, The Backwards Day, The Bundle Book, I Can Fly, The Growing Story, and The Happy Day

Other books by this illustrator: Harold and the Purple Crayon

Pezzettino

Leo Lionni (1975), 32 pages

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Pezzettino (Italian for little piece) is small compared to all other things. He is convinced he belongs elsewhere, a missing piece to someone bigger and stronger. He tries repeatedly … asking everyone (the Strong-one, the Swimming-one, the One on-the-mountain) if they are missing a piece? But, the answer is always the same; they respond incredulously … how could I be strong, swim, or climb mountains if I had a piece missing? Poor Pezzettino, he is unsure of who he is and where he belongs. But, all that changes when one day he sets sail for the Island of Wham where Pezzettino discovers a truth ... that he belongs to no one else, but himself! Celebrated children’s author and illustrator, Leo Lionni created a timeless classic sure to be enjoyed for future generations. Pezzettino, is a tremendously uplifting tale with an inspirational moral – to thine own self be true!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Shape by David Goodman, If by Sarah Perry, One by Kathryn Otoshi, The Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle

Other books by this author: An Extraordinary Egg, It’s Mine!, Inch by Inch (Caldecott Honor), Swimmy (Caldecott Honor), and Frederick (Caldecott Honor)

Corduroy

Don Freeman (1968), 28 pages

Audience: toddlers, pre-K

Format: picture book

Long before Pixar’s Woody and Buzz Lightyear became household names ... there was Corduroy, a plushy teddy bear, “who once lived in the toy department of a big store” and longed to be taken home by a loving child. Sadly, shoppers continually pass him by until one day, a little girl expresses interest. Unfortunately, her mother refuses pointing out a missing button claiming he “doesn’t look new.” Unaware that he’d lost a button Corduroy goes on an adventure in the department store to find his missing button and repair his overalls. Luckily, the little girl returns the next day and joyfully claims Corduroy as her very own. Freeman’s illustrations bring this adorable and endearing story to life making Corduroy impossible not to love!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: A Pocket for Corduroy or Manuelo the Playing Mantis by Don Freeman

Other books by this author: Beady Bear, Mop Top, Dandelion, A Rainbow of My Own, and Pet of the Met

Momma, Where Are You From?

Marie Bradby’s (2000), 32 pages

Illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

The story begins as a daughter asks her mother “Momma, where are you from? Where are you from, Momma?” and as her mother begins to recall her African-American rural roots she answers lyrically, “I’m from Monday mornings, washing loads of loads of clothes in the wringer washer ….” This book is so raw and sweet; it will touch and warm your heart. A perfect book for curious children and nostalgic parents … let this book evoke memories of your own and then share those stories with your child.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth, Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children by Sandra L. Pinkney, or Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman

Other books by this author: More Than Anything Else, The Longest Wait, and Once Upon a Farm

The Skin You Live In

Michael Tyler (2005), 32 pages

Illustrated by David Lee Csicsko

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler not only talks about skin's different colors & tones it also talks about all the fun things you can do in your skin … such as "the skin that you have fun in; the skin that you run in; the skin that you hop, skip, and jump in the sun in..." Ending with the moral that what's most important is not the skin, but what's within.

Supplement this book with an activity of coloring. Using Coloring Pages, a free online resource that offers printable templates (sorted by subject) print the "children" series and offer an array of skin tone options with Crayola's Multicultural crayons.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Shades of People by Shelley Rotner, The Colors of Us by Karen Katz, and What I Like About Me! By Allia Zobel Nolan

Other books by this illustrator: Behind the Lions: A Family Guide to the Art Institute of Chicago