SOLVED. Children’s Picture Book. A black-and-white Snake is sad because it's not colorful, so it starts eating all sorts of fruits and vegetables. Published in 1970s/1980s.

[Kim]

Help please! I am looking for the name of a children’s book that was published in the 70s or 80s about a black and white snake that was sad about not being colorful. He started eating all sorts of fruits and vegetables and his skin started to change into colorful skin. He ate up so much that he hogged it all from all of the other animals and they were mad at him. Later on he shed his skin and gave it to the animals so they had color too

[Rainbowheart]

Did you definitely read it before 1990?

[Kim]

Yes, it was from the 70s/80s. I remember one of the illustrations was after the snake ate his first food which was an Apple. It turned his cheek rosy red in the shape of a circle. When he finally shed his skin the animals dropped it all over them like shawls and then the animals turned colorful.

[Kris]

Kim, is this a short picture book (roughly 32-48 pages)?

Are the illustrations realistic or cartoon-like, simple or detailed?

I copied some book details to the topic header. Feel free to edit it.

[Kim]

Yes it’s a short picture book. The illustrations are more real looking than cartoon character like. Thanks for the questions. I still have not figured it out.

[David]

Kim wrote: "Help please! I am looking for the name of a children’s book that was published in the 70s or 80s about a black and white snake that was sad about not being colorful. He started eating all sorts of ..."

I'm pretty sure you're thinking of "Petali and Gurigoo, or How the Birds Got Their Colours" (1971).

(I found this thread because I was trying to remember what it was called too. I just ordered a copy for my son.)

[Amber (Daisymau)]

Petali and Gurigoo or, How the Birds Got Their Colours: A Legend of the South American Indians for the link

[Kim]

This is it!!!! Thank you David and Amber. So happy I know now.