Today I am very excited to share with you a new picture book about race, racism and racial pride. When I read this book for the first time I knew I had to share it with you. It is that amazing!! The book is The Proudest Color by Sheila Modir and Jeff Kashou and illustrated by Monica Mikai. It is recommended for ages 5 to 8.
From the Publisher:
For me, brown is more than feeling proud.It’s the color I see when I see me.
Zahra sees the world in vivid color. When she’s happy, she feels a razzle-dazzle pink in her hands. When she’s sad, she feels a deep blue behind her eyes. But she isn’t quite sure how to feel about the color of her skin. Kids at school tell her she is different, but her mother tells her to be proud! From a diverse team and based on extensive research, The Proudest Color is a timely, sensitive introduction to race, racism, and racial pride.
From Me:
This book took me back to a Christmas long ago. I believe I have shared this story previously, but I was out shopping with a friend. My friend was making a purchase at Macy's. I was waiting for her and saw a young Black girl see the beautiful Black Holiday Barbie display. Her eyes went big and she walked over to it and said, "Pretty." Then she went around the display and saw the white Holiday Barbie (in the same dress but white skinned and blonde) and she said, "Prettier." My heart broke. I regret that I didn't say anything to the girl or the women who she was with (that were also purchasing something and over at the counter with my friend). I think of that young girl who thought the white doll was prettier than the doll that looked more like her when I read this book. I wish I could give this book to that girl.
Zahra experiences her emotions as colors. Red when she is angry and blue when she is sad. Purple when she is nervous and brown when she is proud. She also has brown skin and is very proud of it. Then she goes to a new school and she is the only one with brown skin there. Someone says something about her skin color. The perfect time to discuss racism with young kids as well as how our words can hurt others. She goes home and tells her parents and they share with her reasons to be proud--reasons being people--to have brown skin.
I LOVE how the people she looks at are from different ethnicities. There is her abuela, a principal that looks Native American, Dr. Martin Luther King, Malala, Cesar Chavez, Barack Obama, Frida Kahlo and Kamala Harris. There is a range from Latinx, Black, Middle Eastern, and Native American and all have brown skin. At the end of the book there is a page for the adults to help with discussion and expanding on this book. There is also a page where the girl who made the racist comment sends an apology to Zahra and shows the two becoming friends. Inside the back cover of the illustrations (by Zahra) of famous brown people and Zahra. Some of the people include Mae Jemison, Nelson Mandala, Christiane Amanpour, and Zaha Hadid. Then there are even more resources on the book's website. This is a must check out book!! A book it would pair well with is The Colors of Us.
