Book Review: Hidden Animal Colors by Jane Park

Hidden Animal Colors by Jane Park is nonfiction picturebook. Why should the bright and flashy animals get all of the attention? If you look closely at some seemingly ordinary animals, you may find a colorful surprise. A lizard is brown. A hippo is gray. But wait! The lizard has a blue tongue to scare predators, and the hippo has pink "sweat" that protects it from the sun! Brilliant photos accompany author Jane Park's rhyming nonfiction text in this playful exploration of animals' hidden colors.

Hidden Animal Colors is a great book for reading alone or together. The page design with photographs of animals and text placement worked very well to capture and keep the attention of readers of all ages. I loved the idea of showing young readers that even the most ordinary creatures could be hiding some interesting features, and that even the less exciting feature do have a purpose that can help animals survive and thrive in the wild. This is a great book for all readers, even if they just want to look at some great pictures and enjoy the book on that level alone. 

Early Book Review: Crayola ® Our Colorful Earth: Celebrating the Natural World by Marie-Therese Miller

Crayola ® Our Colorful Earth: Celebrating the Natural World by Marie-Therese Miller is a nonfiction picturebook currently scheduled for release on September 7 2021. Readers explore rainbow mountains, pink sand beaches, and more and learn the science behind some of nature's most colorful geographical formations.

Crayola ® Our Colorful Earth is a wonderful pairing of bold photographs and scientific details. Each page offers readers a look at a colorful feature of nature, and the scientific explanation as to why the they are the color they are.  I think the pictures used are chosen well, and the interactions suggested by the text (answering simple questions and looking for specific colors) will keep less engaged readers on task. The information is short but interesting, making them engaging and accessible. I like that the book includes a glossary, additional facts, a hand on experiment, and options to explore for further reading. I think this book would be great in home and classroom libraries.

Book Review: The Colors of History by Clive Gifford, Marc-Etienne Peintre

The Colors of History is a children's non fiction book written by Clive Gifford and illustrated by Marc-Etienne Peintre. Color has played an important part in history, in unexpected ways that most of us never realize. Why did Roman emperors wear purple? Which color is made from crushed beetles? What green pigment might be used to build super-fast computers of the future? Find out the answers to these and many more questions in this vibrant exploration of the stories behind different colors, and the roles they've played throughout history. From black to white, and all the colors in between, every shade has a story to tell. Each color group is introduced with a stunning and interpretive double-page spread illustration, followed by illustrated entries exploring the ‘colorful’ history of particular shades. With vivid, thought-provoking illustrations and engaging bite-sized text, this book is a feast for the eyes and the mind, ready to enthrall budding artists and historians alike.

The Colors of History is a well organized collection of information about the importance and roles of color in the world in general, and history in particular. The combination of well done illustrations and interesting information about the different shades of yellow, red, purple, blue, and green. Shades of black, white, and those grays in between is included at the end just prior to the index. I found the information to be well researched and written. I think it will capture the interest and attention of middle grade and older readers. I knew some of the information, but enjoyed the read and learning new bits of information very much. I found the read to be fascinating and entertaining, and I think that many others will enjoy it as well.