Books about Colors

Visual discrimination is an important early literacy skill. Before children  learn to identify letters and numbers, they must develop their ability to see the difference between shapes and  colors! Helping children to differentiate colors (and then shades) hones their visual abilities, getting their eyes ready to identify the subtle differences in letter shapes when they begin to learn the alphabet later on. Supporting children to name the colors expands their vocabulary and supports their ability to talk about what they see in the world around them and express what they want to create.  Read below recommendations on my favorite books about colors. Then, click the photos to go to our affiliate link and buy your own copies!

Colores by Patrick George

Written in simple Spanish, Colores is an interactive book that features common nouns and basic colors. The book’s  translucent pages create different animals, objects, and shapes depending on which way the reader flips them. Children will delight in exploring the bright illustrations and guessing  what animals and objects will be formed with each flip of the translucent pages.

Tandem Tip: Ask your child to name the colors and objects they see on each page. Play “I spy” and ask children to find objects in the room with matching colors.

The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin

Printed in braille and regular type text, this book allows for children who are both visually impaired and sighted to enjoy the sensory experience of colors.  Each black page features embossed illustrations that sensually represent each color. A child can learn the word green and feel the fresh cut grass embossed on the next page. Not only will all children love the tactility of each page, but it also allows sighted children to have a taste of the experience of a child who cannot see.

Tandem Tip: Ask children to feel each page and guess what object they are touching. Talk with your child about difference, multiple perspectives, and individual ways of experiencing the world around them.

Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni

This book has social emotional themes about acceptance and belonging as well as concrete concepts about color mixing.  Best friends,  “Little Blue” and “Little Yellow,”  cannot find each other, and when they meet again, they hug each other and become green! Now unrecognizable to their yellow and blue parents, the families go on a journey to discover their true colors again. 

Tandem Tip:

• Build Social and Emotional Awareness: Discuss themes of belonging and difference with your child.
• Enjoy an Extension Activity:  Have fun mixing paints together! Have your child identify colors and predict what colors they will make when they mix them.