Scan barcode
A review by tashrow
My Blue Is Happy by Catia Chien, Jessica Young
4.0
Colors can be seen in many different ways and the little girl in this picture book tends to see them very differently than her family and friends. Her sister says that blue is sad, but for her blue is happy like favorite jeans or the swimming pool. Her mother says yellow is cheery, but for her yellow is worried like a wilting flower. Her father says brown is ordinary, but it is also the color of chocolate syrup so it’s special too. Useful for color identifying, this book takes it a level deeper to the feelings that colors evoke in each of us.
Young has created something of a poem here in her prose. She uses a format with repetitive structures, each new person and their reactions to colors a stanza and also a set of pages. Within this strong format, the exploration of feelings is done with a confidence that will allow young readers to voice their own. Young takes unusual reactions to colors and makes them concrete with her examples too.
Chien’s illustrations have a wonderful softness to them that frees the imagination. Filled with the color that is being discussed, the illustrations celebrate each color and invite thoughts from children listening to the book.
A lovely take on colors, this picture book will lead to plenty of discussion and would be a great jumping off point for craft and art projects. Appropriate for ages 4-5.
Young has created something of a poem here in her prose. She uses a format with repetitive structures, each new person and their reactions to colors a stanza and also a set of pages. Within this strong format, the exploration of feelings is done with a confidence that will allow young readers to voice their own. Young takes unusual reactions to colors and makes them concrete with her examples too.
Chien’s illustrations have a wonderful softness to them that frees the imagination. Filled with the color that is being discussed, the illustrations celebrate each color and invite thoughts from children listening to the book.
A lovely take on colors, this picture book will lead to plenty of discussion and would be a great jumping off point for craft and art projects. Appropriate for ages 4-5.