The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin and Rosana Faria
What is it like to experience colors if you are blind? This is the question that The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin and Rosana Faria asks and attempts to answer. This book of colors is lacking in the color department and that’s a good thing. Instead, it is completely black with white text and raised black line drawing which are meant to be deciphered by touch. The text is also translated into braille, so that the sighted reader can begin to imagine what it is like to read by touch.
From the criticisms that I’ve read of the book and a discussion that we had at book club is the fact that the braille text is virtually unreadable as braille. The raised dots simply are not raised high enough off of the paper. I’d be curious to know if a blind individual could actually read the book.
But the book isn’t intended for the blind but rather those with sight and it’s very cool. I enjoyed feeling the raised line art. I knew what I was feeling for as I could see the image that the line art created but I would often close my eyes to see if I could figure out what I was feeling.
Thomas thinks that without the sun, water, doesn’t amount to much.
It has no color, no taste, no smell.
He says that green tastes like lemon ice cream and smells like grass that’s just been cut.
But black is the king of all the colors. It is as soft as silk when his mother hugs him and her hair falls in his face.
How does one describe a color? A very creative book that would be a welcome addition and a different type of reading experience for any children’s library.
Links of interest: More book blogger reviews.
Genre: Picture Book, approx ages 4-8.
Publisher: Groundwood Books. June 28, 2008.
Hardcover, 24 pages. ISBN 0888998732
The Black Book of Colors is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.
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Category: Book Reviews, Nonfiction, Picture Books
Tags: A-D Author, A-D Title, book club, children's literature book club selection, E-H Author, female author, Non-Fiction, published 2008
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I guess it would be difficult to even imagine how it feels to not know colours. If a book attempted at giving us a view from the other side, I guess it will be worth a read.Thanks for showcasing this book .
on November 7th, 2009 at 10:50 amWhat an interesting idea for a book. I have never heard of it before, but now I am interested. Might have to see if I can track down a copy of it so I can see for myself. I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to not know colours… Great review!
on November 7th, 2009 at 12:26 pmWow! This book sounds really cool, and actually makes me think it would be a good object lesson for discussing analysis with my students. I’ll definitely have to check it out!
on November 7th, 2009 at 1:21 pmthis sounds really cool. You did a great job conveying what it seems like in person–tough to do online review of such a textile book. Also, I can’t imagine the e-reader edition would be that great.
on November 7th, 2009 at 7:53 pmMy kids liked this one when we checked it out. It’s a really interesting concept.
on November 8th, 2009 at 1:57 pmI like this book, too. I’ve never actually closed my eyes as I’ve ran my fingers over the pictures, though.
on November 8th, 2009 at 8:25 pmI just read this myself the other week! I found it fascinating. Interesting comment about the braille not actually being readable. I too was wondering if a blind person could tell what the pictures are illustrating. Might be difficult…
on November 9th, 2009 at 7:04 pm