Color Gallery: Introducing first colors through art

by Isabel Otter, Sophie Ledesma (Illustrator)

Introduce children to colors and art styles with this fun, quirky board book that includes peek-through gatefolds and questions to encourage active reading.

Children are invited into the world of art and color in this bright, quirky board book! Colors as well as basic art styles, such as mosaics, portraits, sculptures, landscapes, and more, are introduced with the help of adorable animal friends. Questions for the reader on each spread encourage active reading, while a summary page of art styles at the end of the book allows for review and recall.

Genres: Art, Picture Books, Childrens, Animals

14 pages, Board Book

Published April 23, 2024

About the author

Isabel Otter is a children's book editor and writer. She grew up in rural Herefordshire and is happiest climbing mountains in muddy boots. Isabel loves weaving stories and writing about the world around her.

Reviews

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A passel of cute, whimsically colored animals visits the Color Gallery. On each spread, they enter a room with a different kind of art – mosaics, portraits, sculpture, landscapes, and abstract art. Each room in the gallery is also a different color, and there’s a fold to open, with a peek-a-book cut-out for guessing who’s behind it. More interactive elements ask readers to find or count elements, such as how many purple cupcakes are on the shelf, or what Alligator is doing. And there’s a little mouse to find on every spread. The last spread gives a very simple definition of the art styles.

The animals – lion cub, baby rhino, young alligator, zebra colt and giraffe colt – are dressed in quirky clothing that contains shapes to learn – stripes, dots, pockets, etc. Even before baby can discern styles of art, the gentle questions, counting, and naming colors make this a fun, cheerful dialogic book to share.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blending an introduction to primary colors--red, yellow, and blue--and secondary colors--green, purple, and orange--with an introduction to art styles, including mosaics, portrait, sculpture, landscape, still life, and abstract, this board book follows Gigi, a giraffe, and four little animals as they explore a gallery brimming with works of art. There's a fold-out flap on each right-hand page, which lifts to reveal more information about art and some activities. There are cutouts and humorous images and actions that add to the kid-friendly nature of this book. Its uniqueness derives from doing exactly what the title specifies--introducing first colors through art. Gosh! I'm sure I'm not the only adult who wishes that this book had been published decades ago.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so lovely for art lovers and their littles. A colorful introduction to important styles of art and a color primer as well. I will say, the text can be a little stilted -- but you likely won't be sitting to read this book. This is more of an explore as you go. Delightful.

[Kris Reguera · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has so many layers for a board book!

The little windows into the pages ahead, the colors, the real-life art represented, how interactive it is, how sturdy, how engaging… everything about it makes it a top board book for us this year.

[Abbigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked how this book asked a lot of questions throughout and was very interactive, but I didn't like how it was sometimes hard to know where to read next. My main qualm. Also liked the overview of art styles at the end.

[Y.Poston]

delightful exploration of color and art

[R. L. Peterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too mature for the age it was intended for.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

12/18/24 2.5

[Ms. Madalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not suitable for storytime.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

This concept board book will be welcomed by a wide age range of readers.

Combining a "tour" of 6 art style "galleries" (mosaics, portraits, sculpture, landscape, still life, and abstract) with colors, youngsters will move ahead with Rhino, Zebra, Alligator, and Tiger as they are lead by Giraffe through the museum. Each gallery has a fold-out page with a peekaboo hole for kids to pay guess who or poke their little fingers through. The text often includes questions to engage the reader. Brightly colored graphic images will also attract youngsters.

Recommended for ages 18-36 months.