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I Am Brown
I am brown. I am beautiful. I am perfect. I designed this computer. I ran this race. I won this prize. I wrote this book. A joyful celebration of the skin you're in--of being brown, of being amazing, of being you.
40 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
June 8, 2020
This is a vibrant book that shows a diverse array of non-white kids doing and being a variety of different things. It almost works for me... except for two things.
I find the emphasis on skin colour off-putting. The rest of the book (the vast majority of it, anyway... more on that in a second) is great. Kids are shown doing activities, eating food, speaking languages, worshipping, accomplishing goals... and that's all great. But it's all prefaced by, "I am brown. I am beautiful. I am perfect." There's nothing wrong with that statement by itself. But books like this are inevitably going to be read by white kids, and that's going to bring up some complicated conversations (such as why it's not okay for them to say, "I am white. I am beautiful. I am perfect"). Because of the strength of the pictures, I don't even know if the skin colour needed to be mentioned in the text. It's pretty obvious that we're talking about brown kids here.
My second issue, though, really took me aback. The illustrations depict children. Sometimes, they appear to be talking about things they're going to do one day (be a doctor, a president, etc.); they're drawn as children acting out these jobs. But on the spread about clothes, there's a little girl wearing an actual wedding dress. The first thought that sprang to my mind was "child bride". Unfortunately, that's still a thing in some countries, and I was kind of shocked to see this in a picture book. While the implication might have been that she would wear a wedding dress one day, the fact is that there was a child drawn wearing a child-sized wedding gown. I just found that deeply off-putting.
It's a shame, because the overall premise of the book is good and it depicts so many possibilities, opportunities, and variations of human children within its pages. So... this one kind of got a mixed reaction from me. I'm not even sure whether I'd recommend it. I guess parents need to use their own discretion when deciding if this is something they want their kids to read.
I find the emphasis on skin colour off-putting. The rest of the book (the vast majority of it, anyway... more on that in a second) is great. Kids are shown doing activities, eating food, speaking languages, worshipping, accomplishing goals... and that's all great. But it's all prefaced by, "I am brown. I am beautiful. I am perfect." There's nothing wrong with that statement by itself. But books like this are inevitably going to be read by white kids, and that's going to bring up some complicated conversations (such as why it's not okay for them to say, "I am white. I am beautiful. I am perfect"). Because of the strength of the pictures, I don't even know if the skin colour needed to be mentioned in the text. It's pretty obvious that we're talking about brown kids here.
My second issue, though, really took me aback. The illustrations depict children. Sometimes, they appear to be talking about things they're going to do one day (be a doctor, a president, etc.); they're drawn as children acting out these jobs. But on the spread about clothes, there's a little girl wearing an actual wedding dress. The first thought that sprang to my mind was "child bride". Unfortunately, that's still a thing in some countries, and I was kind of shocked to see this in a picture book. While the implication might have been that she would wear a wedding dress one day, the fact is that there was a child drawn wearing a child-sized wedding gown. I just found that deeply off-putting.
It's a shame, because the overall premise of the book is good and it depicts so many possibilities, opportunities, and variations of human children within its pages. So... this one kind of got a mixed reaction from me. I'm not even sure whether I'd recommend it. I guess parents need to use their own discretion when deciding if this is something they want their kids to read.
June 10, 2020
This review originally appeared on Mr. Alex's Bookshelf: https://mralexbookshelf.com/2020/06/0...
When I asked for a review copy of this book a few weeks ago, I did not know that on the day I received it, the United States would literally be in flames; or that protesters would be confronting authorities over the treatment of black people at the hands of police officers. I did not know that federal officials would be deploying active duty troops to Washington, D.C. (almost a literal stone throw from my house) to provide “security.” I did not know that the President would be tweeting from the bunker of the White House. There is a lot of stuff I did not know. There is a lot of stuff I still do not know. And, it worries me. What I do know, is that we have a problem. Race, still sharply divides this Country.
But, why am I writing about civil rights when I usually reserve this space to review children’s books? Well, it’s not really a complicated answer. Oscar Hammerstein II eloquently answered it for all of us in the score of South Pacific back in 1949: you’ve got to be carefully taught. Funny thing about that song. People always remember the hook, but they forget the verse:
You’ve got to be taught
To be
Afraid
Of people
Whose eyes are oddly made
And people whose skin is a different shade
You’ve got to
Be carefully
Taught
You’ve got to be taught
Before it’s too late
Before you are six
Or seven
Or eight
To hate all the people
Your relatives hate
You’ve got to
Be carefully taught
OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
To hate all the people your relatives hate . . . . Bold, right? Hammerstein II wasn’t messing around. He was outright telling us that children were being taught to hate, in that case Asians; and, that that hate was forged into their very beings, as part of a national programming. That was over 70 years ago. Have things changed?
What have we been taught? What exactly have we been taught? What have we been teaching our six, seven and eight-year-olds? Or more importantly, what have we learned, that in over 140 years since the Emancipation Proclamation, 52 years since Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered and 28 years after Rodney King was brutalized by the police, we still see George Floyd on the ground pleading for his life? It looks like not much. On a broad scale, society still acts like black people are less than. Society has been carefully taught.
Well, it’s time to start teaching other things. It’s time to change the narrative on People of Color.
I am Brown, written by Ashok Banker in his picture book debut, is not a political book. Rather, it is a testament to everything diversity is; which is everything. Through simple recitation, it illuminates who a Brown child is, can be, and will be. It tells you that Brown people are everywhere and can do everything, With its gorgeous, rich, vibrant illustrations it is a simple, joyous celebration of being. And, although it is not a political book, it does make a political statement, albeit one that should not be political at all.
In humble, elegant writing, Banker extolls the universality of Brown. Although I normally do not like “list” books, this one is different. Banker, aided by Prabhat’s beautiful imagery (and the precision with which she captures multiple cultures and ethnicities) needs to make lists to capture the totality of everything required to fit in this book. And, it’s the ability to capture the totality of experience (or at least a great portion of it) that makes the book work. Because brown can be everything and anything, or as Banker writes, “I am amazing. I am you.” the book needs the breadth of the lists it contains. Banker knows that within each child is the potentiality for anything. With the book, he tries to make certain that that potentiality is fulfilled.
I am Brown is sadly revolutionary. Revolutionary because it speaks truth to power in a gentle, understated, innocent way. Sadly, because it has to fight the same revolution that’s been fought for many, many years. And, if it is revolutionary to teach six and seven year olds that they are capable of everything their lighter-skinned counterparts are, sign me up for the revolution.
Lastly, let us not forget that this is a children’s book–although some adults would benefit greatly from reading it. There are those that will want to limit its influence; because, well, that’s what people do. By no means, however, should it be limited to children of one or another race. It is a universal book; that children, unencumbered by the prejudices of adults, will understand. Children, after all, have to be carefully taught.
My thanks to Lantana Publishing for providing a Copy of this book. The views expressed herein are my own.
When I asked for a review copy of this book a few weeks ago, I did not know that on the day I received it, the United States would literally be in flames; or that protesters would be confronting authorities over the treatment of black people at the hands of police officers. I did not know that federal officials would be deploying active duty troops to Washington, D.C. (almost a literal stone throw from my house) to provide “security.” I did not know that the President would be tweeting from the bunker of the White House. There is a lot of stuff I did not know. There is a lot of stuff I still do not know. And, it worries me. What I do know, is that we have a problem. Race, still sharply divides this Country.
But, why am I writing about civil rights when I usually reserve this space to review children’s books? Well, it’s not really a complicated answer. Oscar Hammerstein II eloquently answered it for all of us in the score of South Pacific back in 1949: you’ve got to be carefully taught. Funny thing about that song. People always remember the hook, but they forget the verse:
You’ve got to be taught
To be
Afraid
Of people
Whose eyes are oddly made
And people whose skin is a different shade
You’ve got to
Be carefully
Taught
You’ve got to be taught
Before it’s too late
Before you are six
Or seven
Or eight
To hate all the people
Your relatives hate
You’ve got to
Be carefully taught
OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
To hate all the people your relatives hate . . . . Bold, right? Hammerstein II wasn’t messing around. He was outright telling us that children were being taught to hate, in that case Asians; and, that that hate was forged into their very beings, as part of a national programming. That was over 70 years ago. Have things changed?
What have we been taught? What exactly have we been taught? What have we been teaching our six, seven and eight-year-olds? Or more importantly, what have we learned, that in over 140 years since the Emancipation Proclamation, 52 years since Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered and 28 years after Rodney King was brutalized by the police, we still see George Floyd on the ground pleading for his life? It looks like not much. On a broad scale, society still acts like black people are less than. Society has been carefully taught.
Well, it’s time to start teaching other things. It’s time to change the narrative on People of Color.
I am Brown, written by Ashok Banker in his picture book debut, is not a political book. Rather, it is a testament to everything diversity is; which is everything. Through simple recitation, it illuminates who a Brown child is, can be, and will be. It tells you that Brown people are everywhere and can do everything, With its gorgeous, rich, vibrant illustrations it is a simple, joyous celebration of being. And, although it is not a political book, it does make a political statement, albeit one that should not be political at all.
In humble, elegant writing, Banker extolls the universality of Brown. Although I normally do not like “list” books, this one is different. Banker, aided by Prabhat’s beautiful imagery (and the precision with which she captures multiple cultures and ethnicities) needs to make lists to capture the totality of everything required to fit in this book. And, it’s the ability to capture the totality of experience (or at least a great portion of it) that makes the book work. Because brown can be everything and anything, or as Banker writes, “I am amazing. I am you.” the book needs the breadth of the lists it contains. Banker knows that within each child is the potentiality for anything. With the book, he tries to make certain that that potentiality is fulfilled.
I am Brown is sadly revolutionary. Revolutionary because it speaks truth to power in a gentle, understated, innocent way. Sadly, because it has to fight the same revolution that’s been fought for many, many years. And, if it is revolutionary to teach six and seven year olds that they are capable of everything their lighter-skinned counterparts are, sign me up for the revolution.
Lastly, let us not forget that this is a children’s book–although some adults would benefit greatly from reading it. There are those that will want to limit its influence; because, well, that’s what people do. By no means, however, should it be limited to children of one or another race. It is a universal book; that children, unencumbered by the prejudices of adults, will understand. Children, after all, have to be carefully taught.
My thanks to Lantana Publishing for providing a Copy of this book. The views expressed herein are my own.
July 8, 2020
Growing up in India, the color of your skin mattered a lot, be it a woman or man. If you are fair skinned, better are your prospects , if you are dark skinned then you must surely go slather yourself with thousands of creams that advertise to make you fair. Maybe no one came out calling you brown or black, maybe for some it was teasing, maybe for some it was more than teasing, but the brutal distinction of color was deep coded inside many. And the fairness ads blaring from the television or the neighbor aunt’s homemade fairness tips or the phone filters that could easily tone down your darkness was a constant reminder that your color wasn’t acceptable. In short the color of your skin weighed more precedence than the quality of your soul.
.
Over the years things have changed, people are ditching the fairness cream, accepting themselves for who they are & bringing about change.
But even now in many parts of my home country, there will be a mom who is worried about how her child’s skin color might affect her child’s tomorrow. Even now a little child of color, somewhere in the corner of his/her room, recoiled in their loneliest moment, must be wondering, does their skin color decide their fate? To that little kid & thousands like them, I just want to say, I wish you & everyone who made you feel miserable because of your skin color, gets to read this book.
.
I am brown is an absolutely stunning book written by @ashokkbanker and resplendent illustrations by @sandhyaprabhat. Throughout the book, several kids from varied backgrounds, culture & different walks of life come together claiming what is it that they can achieve despite the color of their skin. And it urges the reader to look at the joy they bring into the things they do and the lives they touch. The book embodies a beautiful message that says my skin color and me are here to stay, I have accepted myself. I also love how diverse kids from different parts of the world & their subtle differences are depicted yet the common thread has been their smile & enthusiasm to take on the world.
The positive affirmations in the book makes you feel proud of being brown!
.
V & my fav line :I am brown,I am amazing,I am you!
.
Over the years things have changed, people are ditching the fairness cream, accepting themselves for who they are & bringing about change.
But even now in many parts of my home country, there will be a mom who is worried about how her child’s skin color might affect her child’s tomorrow. Even now a little child of color, somewhere in the corner of his/her room, recoiled in their loneliest moment, must be wondering, does their skin color decide their fate? To that little kid & thousands like them, I just want to say, I wish you & everyone who made you feel miserable because of your skin color, gets to read this book.
.
I am brown is an absolutely stunning book written by @ashokkbanker and resplendent illustrations by @sandhyaprabhat. Throughout the book, several kids from varied backgrounds, culture & different walks of life come together claiming what is it that they can achieve despite the color of their skin. And it urges the reader to look at the joy they bring into the things they do and the lives they touch. The book embodies a beautiful message that says my skin color and me are here to stay, I have accepted myself. I also love how diverse kids from different parts of the world & their subtle differences are depicted yet the common thread has been their smile & enthusiasm to take on the world.
The positive affirmations in the book makes you feel proud of being brown!
.
V & my fav line :I am brown,I am amazing,I am you!
May 27, 2020
Timely and important picture book about all the reasons being brown is awesome. Should be read by everyone.
I especially liked the sections "I live in..." (An apartment, a mansion, a cottage, a hut) and "I eat..." (Vindaloo, tacos,) etc
The illustrations are also fun!
I especially liked the sections "I live in..." (An apartment, a mansion, a cottage, a hut) and "I eat..." (Vindaloo, tacos,) etc
The illustrations are also fun!
February 28, 2023
I found myself crying in the library last week after I started flipping through this book after spotting it on display. A wonderful self-affirming book for brown-skinned kids that I wish I had when I was younger. It opens slow and gentle ("I am brown. I am beautiful. I am friendship."), works its way to food ("I eat noodles, tacos, biryani, jhat muri, steak"), tackles stereotypes ("I am a doctor. I am a lawyer. I am an athlete. I am an electrician."), addresses beliefs ("I pray at... a temple, a church, a synagogue, a gurdwara, nowhere"), and does it all in a joyful, bouncing, inclusive, loving way.
September 18, 2020
I Am Brown is a joy. I am adding this title to my “to-gift list” for baby showers and early birthdays. I Am Brown would be a marvelous pre-school and classroom library.
I Am Brown opens with a girl declaring herself to be brown before telling us what that means in equally declarative sentences like: I am beautiful; I am love; I am happiness… Lest you think it is just that she is these things, the “I” begins to include more brown children.
Brown children are seen dressed up and acting out vocations like: a doctor; writer; astronaut; athlete (a particularly charming image); president; prime minister (in her hijab). In a classroom/community room setting, these children will continue with more “I” statements: I make art; I design rocket ships; I study germs; I solve crimes (delightful). Huddled around a globe, “I come from” all over. Next, “I speak” a lot of languages (e.g. German, Russian, Tamil, Arabic, Teluga). And to follow in a silly playful way, “I have” different types of hair, if hair is had at all, and different colors of hair or eyes. Brown children live in different types of homes: a riverboat; a mansion; a bungalow… Brown children “like to” do a lot of different things like travel; read; collect; swim.
The “I eat” section offers a variety of dishes that could read like to “to try” list (e.g. samosa; biryani; barbecue; jhal muri). The “I wear” page continues in variation of culture and occasion (I love the prom dress wearer next to the business suit wearer). The inclusion of an “I am” declaration of relationship is beautiful: I am your roommate, classmate, boss, guru… As is the inclusion of “I pray at;” which not only lists a number of places, but ”everywhere” and “nowhere,” too. The paper-cut-out banner linking the buildings (like dolls) makes sense for the thematic space (community/class room), but I like how it works to reinforce (inter)connection.
We return to more familiar content where brown children have accomplished goals: I drew that picture; built this building; ran this race. This celebration launches us into an exclamation we’ve long suspected: “I am amazing.” The key here is how “I am amazing” is situated between “I am brown” and “I am you”—a statement any brown child reading/listening to this will believe after their journey through this book.
There is wisdom in the saying, if you can see it, you can be it. And Sandhya Prabhat makes ‘seeing it’ a lot of fun. The dressing up for careers keeps it within the realm of childhood dreaming and play while suggesting real future possibility. It functions as a form of permission, which is echoed under the accomplishments part. The double-page spreads are packed with activity; bright, warm color and texture; and yet Prabhat manages to focus each moment around its text. And even before we fully explore the sheer variation of appearance, language, origin or practices we’ve already noticed the diversity of brown. Indeed, this isn’t one of those children of the world encyclopedic efforts. Each child isn’t assigned a language, food, origin, or dress code. For one, there are more languages listed than children… “I am brown” is a liberating statement. It can mean a lot of things—all of them good in I Am Brown.
Too often brown can be (and has been) presented in monolithic ways; the variations on a theme limited by white supremacy. This is why I Am Brown should not be limited to brown audiences. Banker and Prabhat not only invite children to celebrate (their) being brown, but invite curiosity and imagination about brown people. To envision a depth and fullness to what it means to be brown; touching on so many aspects of a human life in a delighted, accepting way.
Banker and Prabhat cast no judgement on the choices or actualities inside this record of joy and goodness. They merely observe the knowable: to be brown is to be beautiful, perfect, love, friendship, happiness…amazing.
I Am Brown opens with a girl declaring herself to be brown before telling us what that means in equally declarative sentences like: I am beautiful; I am love; I am happiness… Lest you think it is just that she is these things, the “I” begins to include more brown children.
Brown children are seen dressed up and acting out vocations like: a doctor; writer; astronaut; athlete (a particularly charming image); president; prime minister (in her hijab). In a classroom/community room setting, these children will continue with more “I” statements: I make art; I design rocket ships; I study germs; I solve crimes (delightful). Huddled around a globe, “I come from” all over. Next, “I speak” a lot of languages (e.g. German, Russian, Tamil, Arabic, Teluga). And to follow in a silly playful way, “I have” different types of hair, if hair is had at all, and different colors of hair or eyes. Brown children live in different types of homes: a riverboat; a mansion; a bungalow… Brown children “like to” do a lot of different things like travel; read; collect; swim.
The “I eat” section offers a variety of dishes that could read like to “to try” list (e.g. samosa; biryani; barbecue; jhal muri). The “I wear” page continues in variation of culture and occasion (I love the prom dress wearer next to the business suit wearer). The inclusion of an “I am” declaration of relationship is beautiful: I am your roommate, classmate, boss, guru… As is the inclusion of “I pray at;” which not only lists a number of places, but ”everywhere” and “nowhere,” too. The paper-cut-out banner linking the buildings (like dolls) makes sense for the thematic space (community/class room), but I like how it works to reinforce (inter)connection.
We return to more familiar content where brown children have accomplished goals: I drew that picture; built this building; ran this race. This celebration launches us into an exclamation we’ve long suspected: “I am amazing.” The key here is how “I am amazing” is situated between “I am brown” and “I am you”—a statement any brown child reading/listening to this will believe after their journey through this book.
There is wisdom in the saying, if you can see it, you can be it. And Sandhya Prabhat makes ‘seeing it’ a lot of fun. The dressing up for careers keeps it within the realm of childhood dreaming and play while suggesting real future possibility. It functions as a form of permission, which is echoed under the accomplishments part. The double-page spreads are packed with activity; bright, warm color and texture; and yet Prabhat manages to focus each moment around its text. And even before we fully explore the sheer variation of appearance, language, origin or practices we’ve already noticed the diversity of brown. Indeed, this isn’t one of those children of the world encyclopedic efforts. Each child isn’t assigned a language, food, origin, or dress code. For one, there are more languages listed than children… “I am brown” is a liberating statement. It can mean a lot of things—all of them good in I Am Brown.
Too often brown can be (and has been) presented in monolithic ways; the variations on a theme limited by white supremacy. This is why I Am Brown should not be limited to brown audiences. Banker and Prabhat not only invite children to celebrate (their) being brown, but invite curiosity and imagination about brown people. To envision a depth and fullness to what it means to be brown; touching on so many aspects of a human life in a delighted, accepting way.
Banker and Prabhat cast no judgement on the choices or actualities inside this record of joy and goodness. They merely observe the knowable: to be brown is to be beautiful, perfect, love, friendship, happiness…amazing.
May 13, 2021
En god grunn til å gi denne boken en høy score er de nydelige illustrasjonene av Sandhya Prabhat. Tegningene fyller sidene helt ut i kanten, er varierte og har et mylder av farger uten at det føles masete å se på. Og nettopp dette med variasjon, eller kanskje heller allsidighet, er dét boka ønsker å formidle; at man er mye mer enn bare hudfargen sin. Boka er som en eneste stor selvbekreftelse (eller "affirmation", som liksom ikke helt lar seg oversette til norsk) for barn (med brun hud), og selv om jeg digger hva boka prøver å formidle, er jeg usikker på om metoden er den beste. Jeg må ærlig innrømme at det ble litt kjedelig for både poden og meg selv med så mye oppramsing, og jeg kjenner på at boka, ved å minne om at barn med brun hud kan være allsidige, perfekte og at de kan bli hva de vil, samtidig gjør oss oppmerksom på at det ikke er den gjengse oppfatningen.
Jeg tror budskapet kunne blitt formidlet på mindre insisterende vis ved å bruke en klassisk fortelling der allsidigheten er en naturlig, men viktig del av historien, men uansett er det forfriskende med en bok som kun har brune barn. Poden og jeg kommer nok heller til å bla gjennom boka og undre oss frem til en egen historie ved å titte på tegningene fremfor å lese teksten på nytt, men det kan bli vel så bra.
Jeg tror budskapet kunne blitt formidlet på mindre insisterende vis ved å bruke en klassisk fortelling der allsidigheten er en naturlig, men viktig del av historien, men uansett er det forfriskende med en bok som kun har brune barn. Poden og jeg kommer nok heller til å bla gjennom boka og undre oss frem til en egen historie ved å titte på tegningene fremfor å lese teksten på nytt, men det kan bli vel så bra.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2020
This cute picture features Black children of various sizes, cultures, families in each page spread — celebrating their accomplishments, foods, homes, clothing, etc. No two “brown” children are exactly alike in each page spread. The point being that each child is unique and amazing, just as they are.
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
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July 2, 2020Love it, love it, love it. This book is a celebration of brown children all over the world and the many different things they do, wear, say, and dream of being. Special props for atheist representation on the religion page. Hand to all readers looking for affirmations for brown children and put this on your library shelves for families of all colors.
September 15, 2021
This is a great book as it celebrates diversity. Growing up I have always been reading books that I could never relate to. Every book that I read had a white character and I could never find a picture of a brown girl. This book not only talks about one kind but celebrates various ethnicities.
May 29, 2020
Brown is Beautiful.
Brown is Amazing.
Brown is anything and anyone.
Brown does not conform to stereotypes.
Brown is Amazing.
Brown is anything and anyone.
Brown does not conform to stereotypes.
October 6, 2020
Yay for this book! It's needed and it's great!
October 23, 2020
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this book. Having said that I do like the moral of the story: our differences do not matter and children of any skin colour can achieve anything they want to. This book represents ethnic minority children and it’s crucial that children from all ethnicities they can see themselves in books and relate to the story and characters, especially when it has a moral as nice and strong as this one. It’s nice to see diversity being celebrated in a book.
August 20, 2021
Tengo sentimientos encontrados con este libro. No sé hasta qué punto es correcto hacer tanto hincapié en el color de piel que se tiene. Creo que los niños lo toman con mucha más naturalidad simplemente con imágenes o con la vida misma que dando explicaciones demás. Comprendo cuál es el objetivo del libro, que por cierto cuenta con ilustraciones muy bellas, sin embargo podría ser más sutil y así más eficaz.
March 19, 2020
A lovely book promoting diversity. I love how this book addresses different shades of brown coloured skin. It addresses all of the stereotypes and summarises how people with different coloured skin are no different to anyone else. They can wear what they like, enjoy hobbies like anyone else, have any kind of job, live in any kind of home etc. There is also some new vocabulary for children to learn such as types of languages and clothes. I found this really interesting.
March 17, 2020
What a lovely idea! Showing colour had no boundaries and no matter what colour you are, you’re just like everyone else. Beautiful book.
April 4, 2021
Goed onderwerp, mooie platen waar genoeg te zien is, maar er zit niet echt een verhaal in waar je gemakkelijk met kinderen over kunt praten. Dat is jammer.
May 25, 2020
LOVE!!!
March 9, 2020
Great picture book that focuses on the message of "I can do anything". There are lots of people around the world with brown skin who identify in all sorts of ways and this book celebrates that.
March 10, 2020
Not really a read-aloud kind of book, but perfect as a gift book.
July 23, 2020
A great book to read with primary students. It has been written so well.
October 2, 2022
This book is a great read for younger elementary level students. The author leaves the culture of this book relatively open by not saying exactly which culture it is directed to. The images are all very positive and the strong use of the word "I" in this book is so incredibly powerful. Using the word "I" before every phrase shows that your students can do anything and give them the power to believe they can do anything. It is such a simple, yet powerful book. In terms of illustrations, they are incredible. The illustrator did an amazing job making sure that no child was the same throughout the pages. This is so important, because it allows more students to use this book as a mirror.
October 20, 2022
As a future educator, I would love to have this book available in my classroom library for my students. This beautifully illustrated picture book is an uplifting reminder about self-love, depicting children with brown skin celebrating their brown skin color and doing anything they set their minds to. The pictures show anything from future careers, to ethnic backgrounds, languages, food, hair, and even hobbies/activities. The short sentences allow for the author to get their message across, but don't take away from the illustrations that do most of the talking. Every child/person drawn in this book is unique. No two images are the exact same, really highlighting the message of being you. Although the story focuses own the beauty of brown skin, that doesn't mean this book will only be meaningful for children with brown skin. The tone of the story is very joyous, and would be a perfect read aloud for younger students, who may be struggling with self-acceptance.
November 4, 2022
I Love how there are pictures and very minimal words for pre-schoolers, but I also notice that the words in the book are high-level words, and when I read to the little ones they were so confused with what I was saying but they proceed to keep looking at the pictures and follow along. The pictures in the book look cartoonish but also have lots of colors and look very realistic in some parts of the book.
September 17, 2020
I wasn’t completely sure about this, because it is a list book. It doesn’t read like what I expected, I guess I was expecting some poetry or rhymes. I don’t know why though. However, my 4 year old stopped at the end and said, “that was really good.” We talk about mommy being brown and daddy being white and how racism affects us and systemically POC. So I think she really noticed how positive this book is. It just is. There’s no perceived diminishing of anyone, which in the past I feel like causes her some anguish knowing that she’s mixed and racially ambiguous. Maybe I’m explaining that poorly, but we have books that discuss whiteness and although I explain to her that being white is different from upholding whiteness, she doesn’t quite understand the difference yet. So this book was really nice for her.
July 16, 2020
Simple, but powerful. Explores diversity in a unique way, and illustrates that a general skin color does not mean all people of that skin color share the same kind of life, culture, housing, religion, food, clothing, etc. The book further humanizes brown people by pointing out the many people in a person's life who are brown and what they have contributed to the world. Honest, heartfelt, and an easy intro to discuss a larger topic. Important. And truly excellent illustrations!
January 25, 2021
I Am Brown is a cute book that shows a variety of non-white children and points out a variety of future occupations, physical traits, and activities.
The only disconcerting part is that it shows a prom dress and a wedding dress, which have no reason to be in a book for children - when I was a kid I wanted to be a princess, and that was the only 'gown' I imagined.
It would've been cool to show a page of different hairstyles - it seems like something that isn't shown enough is the variety in which hair can be done.
The only disconcerting part is that it shows a prom dress and a wedding dress, which have no reason to be in a book for children - when I was a kid I wanted to be a princess, and that was the only 'gown' I imagined.
It would've been cool to show a page of different hairstyles - it seems like something that isn't shown enough is the variety in which hair can be done.
June 9, 2020
While not a storytime book, this lovely, celebratory picture book is an ode to brown people in all of their diversity and beauty. Each page focuses on a different aspect of identity, life, and/or being, such as "I come from...", "I wear....", or "I like to...." followed by various examples and joyful pictures. Wonderful for one-on-one or small group reading.
Themes: Black is Beautiful, Around the World, Black Lives Matter
Themes: Black is Beautiful, Around the World, Black Lives Matter
June 14, 2020
A lovey book to promote diversity in the classroom. The beautiful story and illustrations celebrates children’s individual differences and shows them that everyone can do/ be anything they would like to be.
June 8, 2020
You really can't read this book without a big grin on your face. You just can't do it.
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