[.ca] Shades of Black (ISBN 0439802512)

Unique book on skin hues,eyes,hair:
1/1/03 Author Sandra L.Pinkney & photographer Myles C. Pinkney's book "Shades of Black" which give much pride to all skin colors/ using their favorite deserts:e.g.:(pale)creamy white frost/vanilla ice cream;milky smooth brown/chocolate bar;midnight blue/licorice stick;golden brown/sugar;velvety orange/peach;coppery brown/pretzel;radiant brassy yellow/popcirn;gingery brown/cookie...2.hair:soft puffs(cotton);stiff ringlets(lamb wool);straight edge(blade of grass);twisted corkscrew/rope;long;short;"all my hair is good"(even tangled and snarled)..3.eyes delicate streaks of amber(tigers-eye);warm luste of green(unakite);brillant flashes of blue(Lapis);shimmering glow of ebony/onyx..the book gives most of the colors of skin hue(red,dark comlexion,light complexion,mahogoney,medium complexion) and hair grade(straight and wiry) and eye color(bright eye/brown eyes) and fits its description voiced by the children "Unique".

The beauty of color:
I saw this book and had to get it for my baby girl!! What a FIND!!!! My daughter is a gorgeous cocoa skinned little girl ~ I am white and her Papa is black. I thrive on showing my daughter how beautiful people of every color are!!! Though she is only a baby now I want to raise her so that she finds the beauty in every human being! I bought this book to show my little girl even more colorful faces - black, white, yellow, honey, ginger, brownsugar and more! This book is such a gem! What a treasure- gorgeous pictures, lovely text - a message as strong as the smiles on those adorable faces of so many Shades of Black.

Must-have book for African-American children:
I was first introduced to this book while keeping my goddaughters over a weekend. I was informed that it was their favorite bedtime story. Now I see why. The pictures are fabulous and it teaches a valuable lesson about the differences in African Americans. I have given this book as a goft to several other children in my life and received it as a gift when my daughter was born. I read it to her now, at the young age of 2.5 months. She really looks at the photos and "studies" them! But this book would be great for kids up to age 7 I'd say. The reading level is basic enough. I think every black child needs this book in their personal library!

Fantastic..:
I bought this book for my 7 year old son for Christmas- he can read it himself. I am so impressed with the poetry and images of many different shades of children. They should have had something like this ages ago.. I am more than impressed with this book. I just know my son will love it.. It's right up there with Brown Sugar Babies (which I bought for my 4 month old daughter)..

Beautiful:
I love this book. This is a must for all black children. This book celebrates our many different shades through vibrant pictures of our children doing everyday things in bold colors that complement their complexions. The words are also simple for the beginning reader and descriptive enough for the older reader to realize the pride in their own shade of black.