The Black Book of Color <br> <small> by Menena Cottin</small>

The Black Book of Color

by Menena Cottin
Illustrated by Rosana Faria
Translated by Elisa Amado.

There is always something to surprise me hiding in the picture book section of my library. No matter how many times I check through them, no matter how often I peruse the new arrivals or reshelve titles, I always miss something until it finds my fingers and catches my attention.

It’s understandable I might have overlooked this one. It’s a small, unassuming rectangle with a black cover and gray title. It isn’t flashy or attention grabbing—but luckily I know only too well not to judge a book by it’s cover.

The Black Book of Colors is a book that contains no visual colors whatsoever. It is entirely crafted with black pages and spare white text. So why did this book have me excitedly shoving it under the noses of my fellow librarians and other book-lovers?

It’s a book that encapsulates what colors would mean to a person without sight. Above each line of text, the sentence is written in raised Braille. To the right of the text an entire image has been placed in raised texture on the page, but without any color pigment added to distinguish it from the black page background. The sample challenges listeners and readers to use their sensory imagination. “Thomas says yellow tastes like mustard, but is as soft as a baby chick’s feathers.” (on the right side of the 2-page layout are feathers). The entire book is a sensory feast, while avoiding sight, the one sense usually associated with picture books. It’s a perfect way to introduce to children what it might be like to be blind, or an exercise in exploring other senses and how they can be used to describe something. At the back, the author includes the entire alphabet translated into Braille—a helpful inclusion, as most children have little exposure to any Braille text.

It’s a beautiful book, originally published in Mexico and now translated to English so that a wider audience can appreciate the artistry and imagination. It’s difficult to find examples of Braille in the standard library collection, so I’m delighted to have this example to share with teachers and parents.

Normally I like to recommend other books that are similar in some way—but I’m having a hard time coming up with anything. This book is singular, fascinating and great book to share with children Pre-K and up. It won’t make for a great group read aloud (touch is necessary to make this a worthwhile experience) but it’s a good pick for a one-on-one.

Happy Reading! ^_^ Shanshad

The Black Book of Colors

Accelerated Reading level : 2.6