Bibliography
Theme 2: Colors All Around
The books listed below may be available through publishers, distributors such as bookstores or online retailers, or library systems.
Recommended Books for Browsing
Green by Mary Elizabeth Salzmann
Sandcastle 1999 (24p)
Photos and simple text describe familiar objects that are the color green. See others in series.
Multicultural
Freight Train by Donald Crews
Greenwillow 1978 (24p)
A train of colored cars journeys through tunnels, by cities, and over trestles.
Classic
Yellow Ball by Molly Bang
Morrow 1991 (24p) also paper
A boy's yellow ball drifts out to sea and washes up on a distant shore.
Multicultural
Carmen's Colors by Maria Diaz
Lee & Low 2000 (8p)
A Mexican American girl and her mother buy an array of colorful items at an outdoor market.
Multicultural
Color Dance by Ann Jonas
Greenwillow 1989 (32p)
A dancer waving a scarf demonstrates different color combinations.
Multicultural
* Tell Me a Season by Mary McKenna Siddals
Clarion 1997 (32p)
Simple text describes the colors of the changing seasons.
Butterfly Colors by Helen Frost
Pebble 1999 (24p)
Photographs present the colors and patterns of butterfly wings.
Science
Kente Colors by Debbi Chocolate
Walker 1996 (32p) also paper
A celebration of the traditional, colorful kente cloth made
by the peoples of Ghana and Togo.
Multicultural
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
Harcourt 1988 (32p) also paper
Planting a garden of flowers, a child learns the colors of the rainbow.
Science
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Harcourt 1989 (32p) also paper
Three white mice experiment with jars of red, yellow, and blue paint. Available in
Spanish as Pinta ratones.
Recommended Books for Teacher Read Aloud
Harold and the Purple Crayon
by Robert Kraus
Harper 1955 (64p) also paper
A boy draws himself exciting adventures with a purple crayon. Available in Spanish
as Harold y el lápiz color morado.
Classic
A Color of His Own
by Leo Lionni
Knopf 1997 (32p) paper
A chameleon goes in search of a color he can call his very own.
All the Colors of the Earth
by Sheila Hamanaka
Morrow 1994 (32p)
Young people of all colors dance across the pages of this poetic celebration of diversity.
Multicultural
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
by Kevin Henkes
Greenwillow 1996 (32p)
The new purple plastic purse Lilly takes to school gets her into trouble.
Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present
by Charlotte Zolotow
Harper 1962 (32p) also paper
A rabbit helps a girl create a colorful birthday gift for her mother. Available in
Spanish as El señor Conejo y el hermoso regalo.
Classic
Animals Black and White
by Phyllis Limbacher Tildes
Charlesbridge 1996 (32p) also paper
Questions and answers present information on black-and-white animals.
Science
Chidi Only Likes Blue
by Ifeoma Onyefulu
Dutton 1997 (32p) also paper
Chidi's older sister teaches him about the colors they see in their Nigerian village.
Social Studies
George Paints His House
by Francine Bassède
Orchard 1999 (32p)
George the duck's animal friends give him ideas on what color to paint his house.
Recommended Books for Shared Reading
A Beasty Story by Bill Martin Jr.
Harcourt 1999 (32p)
In a rhyming story incorporating color words, four mice who explore a dark house get a surprise.
* Mary Wore Her Red Dress and Henry Wore His Green Sneakers by Merle Peek
Clarion 1985 (32p) also paper
On Katy's birthday her animal friends come to the party dressed in clothes
of different colors.
Music
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
Holt 1992 (32p)
Animals answer the repeated question "What do you see?" in a playful book about color.
Classic
One Gray Mouse by Katherine Burton
Kids Can 1997 (32p)
Readers count from one gray mouse to ten red snails in this rhyme.
Math
Teeny, Tiny Mouse by Laura Leuck
Bridgewater 1998 (32p)
A teeny, tiny mouse names objects of various colors he sees around his house.
My Crayons Talk by Patricia Hubbard
Holt 1996 (32p)
Rhyming verse celebrates color as a child imagines her crayons talking.
Let's Go Visiting by Sue Williams
Harcourt 1998 (32p)
A boy visits his farmyard friends, from one brown foal to six yellow puppies.
Math
New Shoes, Red Shoes by Susan Rollings
Orchard 2000 (32p)
Bouncy verse tells how a girl goes shopping for a new pair of shoes with her mother.
Recommended Books for Phonics Read Aloud
A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman
Puffin 1978 (32p)
A small boy who longs to have a rainbow of his own has his
wish fulfilled.
Classic
Miss Mary Mack by Mary Ann Hoberman
Little 1998 (32p)
A purple elephant jumps over a fence with funny consequences.
Who Said Red? by Mary Serfozo
McElderry 1988 (32p) also paper
As a girl suggests colors he might like, a
boy looks for his red kite in this rhyming story.