Customer Reviews

Black Is Brown Is Tan

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Arnold Adoff is the wonderfully insightful author of this easy to read, realistic poem/book. We originally bought one copy of this book about 16 years ago and since have donated it to elementary and middle school libraries all over out city.

Mr.Adoff instills a sense of self esteem in all members of a multi-racial/multi-cultural family while using poetry to make it even more memorable. The artwork will entice you to discuss the theme and allows little ones to not only see themselves, but to tell you how they see their family members on the pages too.

Moms and Dads of multi-ethnic children will want to thank Arnold Adoff for his no-drama approach to everyday life...and all the special little things our families get to share as we venture into raising kids and growing up like we do!

Moms and Dads whose children are not bi-racial or bi-cultural will find support in teaching acceptance to their little ones while not making this topic seem so "clinical."

So, while you may be tugging on wet hair of wiggly little girls or shooing your babies up to bed...take time, share this poem, and enjoy ...there's nothing more special than seeing confident little eyes smiling as they look into the bright shiny mirror that this and all of Arnold Adoff's work offers every one of us!

This book (Black is Brown is Tan) has been a favorite of my daughter since she was one year. There are very few children's books that stress the positive of being a member of a bi-racial family. Black is Brown Is Tan shows the harmony and love between parents, children, and other family members. We love the fact that the extended family (the tan-skinned Uncle, Grandma White and Granny Black) are prominent figures in this book. The book highlights the differences and similarities between the races. It is a great read for all families no matter what their ethnic background. It has become the main staple in my baby shower gift baskets.

I was 17 before I read this book, when a 4yo in the preschool I volunteered at handed it to me. I fell in love with this book immediately! It is so beautifully written. As a bi-racial child, I had seldom seen images of bi-racial families growing up, much less one so like my family (my father is white, my mother is black)! Even at 17 it felt good to have such a beautiful story reflect my own heritage in such a positive light. I am now 22 and have finally bought myself a copy for my own bookshelf. I can't wait to share this with my own children someday.

"black is brown is tan/is girl is boy/is nose is face/is all the colors/of the race // is dark is light/singing songs/in singing night/kiss big woman hug big man/black is brown is tan // this is the way it is for us this is the way we are" Originally published in 1973, Arnold Adoff's joyous, lyrical, story-poem is as fresh and relevant today, as is was almost thirty years ago. Meet this wonderful extended family, from Momma, a "brown sugar gown/a tasty tan and coffee pumpkin pie/with dark brown eyes and almond ears", and Dad, not white like milk or snow, but "with pinks and tiny tans...brown eyes big yellow ears", and their kids, the color of both races, to golden haired aunts, tan colored uncles, granny white and grandma black "kissing both your cheeks and hugging back..." Mr Adoff's simple, rhythmic text is filled with love and pride as it celebrates his interracial family, and is complemented by award winning illustrator, Emily McCully's warm and cheerful artwork. Together word and art paints an engaging portrait of a strong, happy, loving family. Perfect for youngsters from 3 to 93, Black Is Brown Is Tan is a timeless classic, best read aloud and shared, that honors all families and the things that make them special.

I first read this book when the librarian at my elementary school in Worthington, Ohio had the insight to order it! I was the first student to check it out. I was in Fifth Grade at the time. I have to say that at the time, I had a friend that was black (like coffee in the pot) and I am white (with pinks and brown freckles). She lived with an all white family as a foster child. My family had real issues that the two of us were friends. Reading this book helped make things easier for me. 16 years ago, I bought this book for my bi-racial daughter, Samantha. She loved it. Now, all three of my children and many of our neighbors' children have borrowed it, read it, and live it. I can't think of any better way to breach the subject of race and to explain our differences and most importantly, our similarities. Black is Brown is Tan... for 30 years this book has helped me and my family!

Being a proud parent of a child who was born in my heart it is important that my daughter know that families come about in all different ways and that beauty is not just skin deep but also comes from the inside. This book celebrates how beautiful our families are and is done so in a very poetic way! Cheers to both the author and illistrator! I can't wait to purchase more copies of this book for my daughter's future elementary school!

Although the message of this book is good I think this is the most sterotypical book I have ever read. It talks about an African American mother cooking fried chicken and corn, a Old African American man playing a pot, and white man cooking hamburgers. This books is supposed to be about acceptance and what a beautiful thing interracial families are but it stereotypes the people in the book when it's supposed to be about acceptance.

Was not what I was expecting!Not a story book, more like a bad poem. hard for younger kids to follow & enjoy.

My hubby and I have been searching for books that reflect our family to our two daughters. They are one and two......when they saw the cover they started pointing and saying "Mama and Dada!" I have bought the book for other children and parents are always surprised when I tell them how old the book is! I would recommend this for any child's library!

This book is well meaning and may have conveyed a positive message at the time it was written. Nevertheless, it tends to reduce people to their skin colors, calling the grandmas "Grandma White" and "Grandma Black" etc.I think multicultural families are more commonplace and normal than this book seems to imply -this book stressing difference rather than commonality. Good for the archives & the pictures are great, but I'm not reading it to my daughter