Books celebrating colors
A list in honor of fall
It’s September, and for those of us in the northern hemisphere, that means fall is quickly approaching. It’s a time for back-to-school, cooling temperatures, and days growing shorter. It’s also a colorful time as autumn flowers bloom and the leaves on trees begin to change. In my garden, the Black-eyed Susans are still showing off their summery yellow petals, and the asters are just beginning to open up their dainty purple blooms. Red tomatoes continue to ripen on the vine, and there is a just hint of orange on the tips of the neighbor’s maple tree. Potted mums of every color are showing up on people’s porches!
In honor of fall and all of the colors it brings, we have put together a list of books that celebrate color. Not just changing leaves or fall blooms, but colors wherever (and whenever) they may be found.
We hope this list inspires you to take notice of the colors around you and perhaps spend some time exploring or experimenting with colors too. Maybe break out the paint brushes?
Read: Any book about color, like one from this list!
Little Red: Autumn on the Farm by Will Hillenbrand. This is a cute fall story about a little red truck who stops to help others around the farm as they prepare for a harvest festival.
What Color is Night? by Grant Snider. A lyrical book about the colors you see at night if you’re willing to look for them.
10 Cats by Emily Gravett. This is a cute and comical (and colorful) story about several kittens who get into buckets of paint!
Every Color Soup by Jorey Hurley. A simple and bold book about making a pot of soup with every color from the rainbow. Includes a recipe!
Red Sings from Treetops by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. This beautiful book of poetry celebrates colors throughout the seasons.
The White Book: A Minibombo Book. This delightful wordless book tells the story of a little boy painting various colors on white walls. Every time he does, animals appear, and then come to life! Here are some activities to pair with this book.
Shapes and Colors by John Canty. A bright and bold concept book about shapes and colors.
Green is a Chile Pepper by Roseanne Greenfield Thong, illustrated by John Parra. An engaging concept book about colors that features Hispanic cultural traditions and weaves some Spanish language into the text. Includes a glossary of Spanish words and phrases at the end.
Some of These are Snails by Carter Higgins. This is a unique and charming concept book about colors and shapes.
The Black and White Factory by Eric Telchin, illustrated by Diego Funck. A silly story about some black and white characters who run a factory making black and white things, until color somehow makes an appearance. This book has interactive elements which makes it ideal for toddlers and preschoolers.
Blue vs. Yellow by Tom Sullivan. A cute book about Blue and Yellow debating which of them is the better color until an incident causes their colors to mix.
Spicy Hot Colors: Colores Picantes by Sherry Shahan, illustrated by Paula Barragán. A zesty, rhythmic book about colors in English and Spanish.
Note: Some links will take you to the Read, Discuss, Do bookshop.org storefront. Purchasing a book from the storefront will support independent bookstores and help maintain Read, Discuss, Do at no additional cost to you.
Discuss:
Talk about the book you read. Is it fiction or nonfiction? What part does color play in the story?
What is your favorite color?
Take a look around you right now. What colors do you see?
What is the color you see most often when you’re outside?
What time of year is it the most colorful?
What happens to the colors around you when the light gets low?
Do: Try one of these colorful activities!
Head outside and look for fallen leaves. How many different colors can you collect? How many colors can you see in one leaf?
Do a color mixing activity with poster paint or watercolor.
Paint or color a rainbow on a large sheet of paper.
If you have toddlers, do a color sorting activity using small toys or other items around the house.
Enjoy a colorful snack
Make leaf rubbings. Place a leaf under a sheet of paper (vein side up), then rub over it with the side of a crayon. Experiment with different colors or multiple colors on one leaf.
Make leaf prints. Find an assortment of leaves that are still green and flexible. Gather some poster paints, a paint brush, a cup of water for rinsing, and some paper. Using a paintbrush and your chosen color, coat a leaf with paint. Then, place the leaf paint side down on a sheet of paper and gently press it down. Lift it up carefully to reveal your leaf print! Repeat it with other leaves in other colors for a leaf print collage.
A leaf print collage made with various leaves from my garden.
Thanks for the list. I'm a fan of Red Sings from the Treetops and 10 Cats!
RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS is one of my favorites! Wonderful list of books 🍁