The Color of Your Skin

by Desirée Acevedo

Vega and her colored pencils were inseparable. Together they created the most impressive drawings that were later exposed in the best museum in the the refrigerator at home. Vega used all the colors you can imagine for her red, yellow, blue, gold… At school, Vega was immersed in one of her new creations when her friend Alex stopped by, and peered into the box of pencils Vega had on her table. “Can you lend me the skin-colored pencil, please?” he asked. Skin-colored? Vega and Alex wondered why there is such a color in the box. With curiosity and creativity they will explore the diversity of skin tones of people who are part of their daily lives and they will discover that the “skin-color” can have a thousand shades and not just one. Vega y sus lápices de colores eran inseparables. Juntos creaban los dibujos más impresionantes que luego colgaban en el mejor museo del la nevera de casa. Sus pinturas contenían todos los colores que os podáis rojo, amarillo, azul, dorado… En el colegio, Vega estaba sumergida en una de sus nuevas creaciones cuando su amigo Álex se acercó a ella y, mirando la caja de colores que tenía Vega, le preguntó: ―¿Me dejas el color carne? ¿El color carne? Vega y Álex se preguntaron por qué en la caja de lápices de colores hay uno que se llama así. Con curiosidad y creatividad explorarán la diversidad de tonos de piel de personas que forman parte de su día a día y descubrirán que el “color carne” puede tener mil tonalidades y no solo una.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship

32 pages, Paperback

Published May 7, 2024

Reviews

[Susan Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sincere and earnest, this is an excellent book combining communication and artistic perception. Vega and her friend Alex ponder the confusion of a crayon labeled "skin colored". They tour through the possibilities, because, doesn't it depend on whose skin is the subject? The beauty of their skin tone tour is that it is descriptive and innocent and objective. This lovely book would be a wonderful integration between art and an equity-inclusion-diversity focus.

[Bailey Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Color Of Your Skin is a moving, thought-provoking, beautiful, stunning, and inclusive story! This book is truly a must read! Alex's request to Vega for a crayon turns into a very important discussion. Vega is a curious loving child who sees a diverse world and loves it for its beauty. With gorgeous illustrations, powerful text, and delightful characters this book explores why a skin color crayon is skin color in such a diverse beautiful world.

[Andrea W · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vibrant journey through the perception of color and identity. Filled with bold strokes & brilliant hues, this lovely story outlines the beauty of collective art and of looking past differences to find common ground. The weight of the book is substantial both emotionally and in physical heft as it’s printed entirely on Stone Paper, an ecologically sound material that happens to produce the most satisfying page flip imaginable.

[Lynsaroo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our differences make us beautiful! Be proud of the skin you're in.
Alex asks Vega for a skin-colored ✏️ pencil to complete his drawing and this gets her thinking. Whose skin color? They are all so different. After reflection, they create a picture together with all the beautiful shades of humanity.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a book about color, this publisher went all in on the paper and the printing. It's a jewel.

[Tori Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vibrant illustrations and an innocent exploration of the variety of "skin colors" in an artists coloring box.