Kente Colors [Paperback]

Debbi Chocolate (Author), John Ward (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A joyful ode to kente celebrates the beauty and tradition of this West African fabric that is now so popular in America. Rhythmic verse shows the special meaning of colors and patterns while glorious paintings show kente as it is used and worn in Ghana, from babies' blankets to dancers' capes. An author's note further explains kente's rich symbolism. Readers young and old will delight in discovering the connections between African culture and the colorful cloth we love to wear.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The traditional kente cloth of the Ashante people of Ghana stretches to become the stuff of story hour. The cloth's vivid tones (red, yellow, blue, black and gold) are explored for their symbolic values and matched with scenes from African and African American culture and daily life. A spread devoted to "emerald kente," symbolizing a bountiful harvest, shows colorfully garbed characters reaping fruit. Indigo blue is the color of African skies, sheltering a lone shepherd and his flock. This latter choice may confuse some readers, however, as Chocolate (On the Day I Was Born) specifies in a preface that blue represents "love." Ward's (The Adventures of High John the Conqueror) high-intensity hues and kente-patterned borders suit the subject matter like a custom-made, bright silk kente robe. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3?A richly illustrated book that celebrates the tradition and use of the African kente cloth. The simple, rhyming text describes the multiplicity of colors used and the numerous ways the Ashanti of Ghana and the Ewe of Ghana and Togo incorporate the fabric into their daily lives. In an endnote, Chocolate explains the weaving process and the colors' meanings. Ward's lush paintings are wonderful. Deep blues, bright reds, blacks, golds, and purples fairly leap off the pages. This book is important in that it is the first to convey an understanding of kente cloth's history and cultural significance for a young audience.?Carol Jones Collins, Montclair Kimberley Academy, NJ
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Walker Childrens (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802775284
• ISBN-13: 978-0802775283
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 9 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #813,797 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #41 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Explore the World > Africa

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kente Cloth, July 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Kente Colors (Paperback)

A warm multicultural book, that gives an enlightining look at the traditional hand weaving of the Kente Cloth. The book is an exciting celebration of culture by the Ashante people of Ghana and the Ewe of Ghana and Togo. The steady rhythum of rhyming text along with its bright and colorful illustrations are sure to attract the attention of young readers. As an educator I would use this book to introduce colors and weaving activities to young children. The use of rhyme is a great springboard for strenghthening students phonemic awarness. I would give this book 5 stars.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book!, December 27, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kente Colors (Paperback)

It is easy to read with very beautiful colors. I have three Ewe students from Togo and am hard pressed to find books to reflect their culture. I'm sure that the Ewe in Ghana and Togo are related and my students will be able see some of their culture reflected in the book. Thanks Deborah!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The artwork, expressed in fabric, of the cultures of Western Africa, March 13, 2009

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Kente Colors (Paperback)

Kente Colors refer to the multi-colored fabric worn by the people in Western Africa. In general the colors are bright, with stripes or other alternating designs. This book is a demonstration of many of the most widely used designs as well as the traditional purpose for the wearing of the design. It originated as the cloth worn only by the royalty of the Ashanti Kingdom that flourished in the region of West Africa in the sixteenth century only now it is worn by people at all levels of society.
This book is an excellent one for elementary school courses in multiculturalism and how other cultures adopt the fashions of another. It is easy to read and the images of the designs are striking and clear.