1,146 books
—
358 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “I Am Brown” as Want to Read:
I Am Brown
by
I am brown. I am beautiful. I am perfect. I designed this computer. I ran this race. I won this prize. I wrote this book. A joyful celebration of the skin you're in--of being brown, of being amazing, of being you.
...more
Get A Copy
ebook, 40 pages
Published
March 3rd 2020
by Lantana Publishing
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
I Am Brown,
please sign up.
Recent Questions
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of I Am Brown

This is a vibrant book that shows a diverse array of non-white kids doing and being a variety of different things. It almost works for me... except for two things.
I find the emphasis on skin colour off-putting. The rest of the book (the vast majority of it, anyway... more on that in a second) is great. Kids are shown doing activities, eating food, speaking languages, worshipping, accomplishing goals... and that's all great. But it's all prefaced by, "I am brown. I am beautiful. I am perfect." Th ...more
I find the emphasis on skin colour off-putting. The rest of the book (the vast majority of it, anyway... more on that in a second) is great. Kids are shown doing activities, eating food, speaking languages, worshipping, accomplishing goals... and that's all great. But it's all prefaced by, "I am brown. I am beautiful. I am perfect." Th ...more

Jun 03, 2020
Alexander Fernandez
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
ages-4-8,
childrens,
parenting,
ages-3-5,
mindfulness,
multicultural,
latino,
hispanic,
african-american,
concept
This review originally appeared on Mr. Alex's Bookshelf: https://mralexbookshelf.com/2020/06/0...
When I asked for a review copy of this book a few weeks ago, I did not know that on the day I received it, the United States would literally be in flames; or that protesters would be confronting authorities over the treatment of black people at the hands of police officers. I did not know that federal officials would be deploying active duty troops to Washington, D.C. (almost a literal stone throw fr ...more
When I asked for a review copy of this book a few weeks ago, I did not know that on the day I received it, the United States would literally be in flames; or that protesters would be confronting authorities over the treatment of black people at the hands of police officers. I did not know that federal officials would be deploying active duty troops to Washington, D.C. (almost a literal stone throw fr ...more

Growing up in India, the color of your skin mattered a lot, be it a woman or man. If you are fair skinned, better are your prospects , if you are dark skinned then you must surely go slather yourself with thousands of creams that advertise to make you fair. Maybe no one came out calling you brown or black, maybe for some it was teasing, maybe for some it was more than teasing, but the brutal distinction of color was deep coded inside many. And the fairness ads blaring from the television or the
...more

This cute picture features Black children of various sizes, cultures, families in each page spread — celebrating their accomplishments, foods, homes, clothing, etc. No two “brown” children are exactly alike in each page spread. The point being that each child is unique and amazing, just as they are.
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo! ...more
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo! ...more

Yay for this book! It's needed and it's great!
...more

Timely and important picture book about all the reasons being brown is awesome. Should be read by everyone.
I especially liked the sections "I live in..." (An apartment, a mansion, a cottage, a hut) and "I eat..." (Vindaloo, tacos,) etc
The illustrations are also fun! ...more
I especially liked the sections "I live in..." (An apartment, a mansion, a cottage, a hut) and "I eat..." (Vindaloo, tacos,) etc
The illustrations are also fun! ...more

I Am Brown is a joy. I am adding this title to my “to-gift list” for baby showers and early birthdays. I Am Brown would be a marvelous pre-school and classroom library.
I Am Brown opens with a girl declaring herself to be brown before telling us what that means in equally declarative sentences like: I am beautiful; I am love; I am happiness… Lest you think it is just that she is these things, the “I” begins to include more brown children.
Brown children are seen dressed up and acting out vocation ...more
I Am Brown opens with a girl declaring herself to be brown before telling us what that means in equally declarative sentences like: I am beautiful; I am love; I am happiness… Lest you think it is just that she is these things, the “I” begins to include more brown children.
Brown children are seen dressed up and acting out vocation ...more

I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this book. Having said that I do like the moral of the story: our differences do not matter and children of any skin colour can achieve anything they want to. This book represents ethnic minority children and it’s crucial that children from all ethnicities they can see themselves in books and relate to the story and characters, especially when it has a moral as nice and strong as this one. It’s nice to see diversity being celebrated in a book.

A lovely book promoting diversity. I love how this book addresses different shades of brown coloured skin. It addresses all of the stereotypes and summarises how people with different coloured skin are no different to anyone else. They can wear what they like, enjoy hobbies like anyone else, have any kind of job, live in any kind of home etc. There is also some new vocabulary for children to learn such as types of languages and clothes. I found this really interesting.

Joyful and vibrant!

Great picture book that focuses on the message of "I can do anything". There are lots of people around the world with brown skin who identify in all sorts of ways and this book celebrates that.
...more

I wasn’t completely sure about this, because it is a list book. It doesn’t read like what I expected, I guess I was expecting some poetry or rhymes. I don’t know why though. However, my 4 year old stopped at the end and said, “that was really good.” We talk about mommy being brown and daddy being white and how racism affects us and systemically POC. So I think she really noticed how positive this book is. It just is. There’s no perceived diminishing of anyone, which in the past I feel like cause
...more

Simple, but powerful. Explores diversity in a unique way, and illustrates that a general skin color does not mean all people of that skin color share the same kind of life, culture, housing, religion, food, clothing, etc. The book further humanizes brown people by pointing out the many people in a person's life who are brown and what they have contributed to the world. Honest, heartfelt, and an easy intro to discuss a larger topic. Important. And truly excellent illustrations!
...more
...more

Jul 01, 2020
Abby Johnson
added it
Shelves:
picture-books,
4th_grade,
2nd_grade,
pre-k,
1st-grade,
3rd_grade,
5th_grade,
diverse,
kindergarten,
author-of-color
Love it, love it, love it. This book is a celebration of brown children all over the world and the many different things they do, wear, say, and dream of being. Special props for atheist representation on the religion page. Hand to all readers looking for affirmations for brown children and put this on your library shelves for families of all colors.

While not a storytime book, this lovely, celebratory picture book is an ode to brown people in all of their diversity and beauty. Each page focuses on a different aspect of identity, life, and/or being, such as "I come from...", "I wear....", or "I like to...." followed by various examples and joyful pictures. Wonderful for one-on-one or small group reading.
Themes: Black is Beautiful, Around the World, Black Lives Matter ...more
Themes: Black is Beautiful, Around the World, Black Lives Matter ...more

May 29, 2020
Iqra Fiaz
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
culture,
picturebooks,
family,
children,
international,
bame-main,
everyday-life,
acceptance,
diversity
Brown is Beautiful.
Brown is Amazing.
Brown is anything and anyone.
Brown does not conform to stereotypes.
Brown is Amazing.
Brown is anything and anyone.
Brown does not conform to stereotypes.

You really can't read this book without a big grin on your face. You just can't do it.
...more

So full of heart and beauty and affirmation! This is what we need to teach our children! The power of difference!

This 40 page celebration of diversity within the label “brown” is a sweet and powerful book that shows how the color of our skin is beautiful and perfect while at the same time making it clear that who we are and what we can be is not defined by our appearance. The book shows adorably illustrated brown children finding strength in different cultures, clothing, religions, languages and dreams, which will hopefully empower children everywhere (and of all colors) to take labels that may have negati
...more

Children of color from across the globe celebrate themselves, their cultures, their accomplishments, and their dreams.
"I am brown. I am amazing. I am you."
This picture book celebrates people of color not as disadvantaged, impoverished, downtrodden victims of oppression rising above their tragic past but as powerful creative individuals with agency and drive. Children with brown skin from around the world describe themselves -- what they look like, where they live, what languages they speak, what ...more
"I am brown. I am amazing. I am you."
This picture book celebrates people of color not as disadvantaged, impoverished, downtrodden victims of oppression rising above their tragic past but as powerful creative individuals with agency and drive. Children with brown skin from around the world describe themselves -- what they look like, where they live, what languages they speak, what ...more

May 23, 2020
Barbara
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
families,
friendship,
empathy,
identity,
self-esteem,
community,
empowerment,
cultural-identity,
picture-book,
emotions
Digital artwork and minimal but empowering text celebrate the wonders of having brown skin and being able to accomplish whatever goals one sets for him/herself. The book features images of various careers and professions as well as different places of origin for someone with brown skin. Language, dwelling places, clothing, favorite foods and pursuits, and even religious practices are featured as the book moves from exploring one's individual identity to reminding readers that they can find thems
...more

Oct 08, 2020
Viviane Elbee
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
picture-books,
diversity-picture-books-pb
This picture book celebrates global diversity in an affirming and positive way. The child characters presented in this book range from having light tan skin to dark brown skin, and come with different hair lengths, hair colors and eye colors. They engage in a variety of activities - from creating art, to helping others, to solving crimes, to coding computers. There is an emphasis on the fact that the characters come from all over the world, speak many different languages, and practice many diffe
...more

This book includes a collection of children from lots of different backgrounds. They are really well illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat. They all have brown skin but they are all very different. From the way they look, what they wear, what they eat, the languages they speak and how they pray. They have different talents and abilities and all of they believe that they can grow up to be what ever they want.
This is a very positive book for younger children. It shows the wide range of brown people on o ...more
This is a very positive book for younger children. It shows the wide range of brown people on o ...more

Joyful and affirming book about the many different and wonderful varieties of Brown people. From all around the world, from all different faiths (or no faith), wearing many different types of clothes, Brown is amazing!
The illustrations are adorable, though the choice to only portray children makes for a couple awkward moments-- for example, on the "I wear..." page, one little girl wears "...a wedding gown". It would also have been nice to see some disability representation among the kids, or vit ...more
The illustrations are adorable, though the choice to only portray children makes for a couple awkward moments-- for example, on the "I wear..." page, one little girl wears "...a wedding gown". It would also have been nice to see some disability representation among the kids, or vit ...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Author. Over 70 published books from HMH, PRH, S&S, Lantana, Scholastic, more. I AM BROWN (2020) is a Book Trust Great Book 2020. A KISS AFTER DYING (Penguin/Michael Joseph 2022). Type "AKB eBooks" on any Amazon website to find my work.
...more
News & Interviews
Need another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day.
To create our...
4 likes · 0 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »