Customer Reviews

Tan to Tamarind: Poems About the Color Brown

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There needs to be more books like this. Wonderful poems that really hit home about skin colors from light to dark brown that actually make kids feel good about themselves and shows the beauty of the word brown (most Americans say brown is their least favorite color and associate it with dirt -- combine that with only a handful of picture books for non-white audiences and you can see how children might feel). The pictures are fantastic and show children from Southwestern/Native American to South Asian to African American to Asian American to Hispanic American; it does not just sit on one on one race/ethnicity. The book has lead to wonderful discussions with my daughter also; I agree with the reviewer above.

My daughter (4) absolutely loved this book. The poems are just simply beautiful. We live in 74% Caucasian Portland, OR. And it was hard for my daughter to even imagine other kids who look like her. This book really breaks through in recognizing all the shades among minorities. We also love Malathi's account of her own experience being brown at the end of the book. It made my daughter realize she is not alone, as we compared our brown hands before going off to bed.

Apart from helping with raising self-esteem of minority kids who look different than others in the class and feel isolated, this is a great book to learn poetry, vocabulary and learn to appreciate beauty all around us. Poems are very pleasing; vivid and beautiful illustrations add to the message. All kids of all skin colors can benefit from the message of the book.