Just a smidge behind with the post this morning (oops! 😊) but woohoo! It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday!
It’s been awhile since I’ve seen a book I thought was gorgeous on this level. If you haven’t had a chance to read it, I highly recommend finding a copy because it is not to be missed!
Let’s have a look, shall we?
Title: Brown Is Warm, Black Is Bright
Written By: Sarah L. Thomson
Illustrated By: Keith Mallett
Publisher: Little Brown Books For Young Readers, August 30, 2022, lyrical fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: Brown, Black, natural world, dreams
Opening: “Brown is crisp. . .
crunch and crackle,
catch me as I fall.
Black is splash. . .
Spray! Splatter!
to send a puddle flying.”
Brief Synopsis: From the publisher: “Have you ever paused to savor the power and beauty of brown and black? Brown is strong as a tree and sweet as honey in tea; black is the hopeful promise of a seed and the grace of a bird in flight… and the quiet space where dreams begin.”
Links To Resources: what do Black and Brown (or other colors) mean to you? How do they make you feel? Draw a picture of it, or write a haiku or a poem about it. What do you think of when you think of Black or Brown (or other colors)? Recipes to make? Make them! Flowers or vegetables to plant? Plant them! What is one dream you have? Is it something you’d like to share? Or something to hold in your heart just for you?
Why I Like This Book: This book is a perfect example of what picture books should be – a beautiful marriage of text and art. It is a celebration of Black and Brown, but also of love and hope and wonder, strength and dreams and play, warmth and safety, and the beauty of the natural world. The words are lyrical and evocative, and the art is warm and lush and gorgeous. It makes you feel the text. And Keith Mallett’s skill with facial expression is remarkable. A lovely read that will create a feeling of calm and safety and encourage children to explore all that the world has to offer outside, and all the dreams they may have inside.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊
Susanna Leonard Hill 
What a beautiful book! Love the color palate. Thanks for highlighting this.
Isn’t it gorgeous, Robin? I love it too. In case you couldn’t tell by all the gushing and the 6 spreads I posted! 🤣
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
If you haven’t already read it, Gabi, it’s one to read. It has a quality that reminds me a bit of LISTEN 😊
💙💚💙
This book is breathtaking. I cannot wait to buy a copy for myself. Thank you for sharing!
It really is, isn’t it, Claire? I especially love the girl’s face. The expressions are so perfectly captured!
Wow, Susanna! Yessss, those facial expressions are exquisite! And the palette. Yes, a perfect marriage. My word, the whole book is gorgeous!
Isn’t it just, Jilanne? It’s usually text that grabs me, and this text certainly did. But it was the art, or maybe the combination of the art with the words, that really blew me away on this one.
Oh, and I’m not sure what’s going on with WordPress, but the list of books doesn’t show up above. I just see the header…..technology!
It took a few minutes, but the list is working now. Cheers!
Uh-oh! Totally missed that. I better go see what that’s about… sigh…
I think it was just slow. It took awhile to show up. But it seems fine now.
Oh, good! Because I was seeing it, so I couldn’t figure out WHAT could be wrong! 🤣
The illustrations are BREATHTAKING!!! I love this book, Susanna…thanks so much for sharing it!
You must have already read it, Vivian, (or possibly even reviewed it and I missed it!) But yes, it really is!
Beautiful! Lovely emotions and endearing illustrations. Thank you for warming my day.
I’m so glad you like it, Charlotte!
Gorgeous! I’ll be on the lookout for this one!
Yes, definitely read it if you can, Patricia! You’ll be glad you did!
I couldn’t give this a better review than you did, Susanna. Your description is spot on.
What a perfect picture book this is!
It really is, Phyllis! It blew my socks right off! 😊
Wow, truly gorgeous illustrations! What a lovely book all around. Thanks for bringing it to our attention!
My pleasure Marty! Everyone should get to enjoy this book! 😊
It blew mine off, too :)!
This really is a beautiful book. Thanks for the review.
It’s gorgeous, Rosie! If you haven’t gotten to see it in real life, try to if you can!
This book is absolutely gorgeous! I can’t wait to hold it in my hands andread it. Thanks for sharing.
It is absolutely that kind of book, Ellen!
The illustrations are simply beautiful! Looking forward to reading this PB! 🙂
Thanks for sharing it, Susanna.
My pleasure, Susan! It is really one worth reading!
This book is absolutely gorgeous! I would love to hold it in my hands and really dive into the pages! Thanks, Susanna!
You absolutely should if you get the chance, Angie!
Looks beautiful!
It really is, Norah! Get a look at it if you can!
What a gorgeous book, both visually and lyrically!
It really is, Jenny! If you haven’t seen it in real life, get thee to the library! 😊