I Feel Teal

Infused with the pure pleasure of color, this debut from Rille and Sicuro (illustrator of The Moon Inside) links particular hues with particular moods, giving younger children a concrete way to talk about their feelings. Each of a dozen different spreads, outlined in black ink, is washed with a single color. A dark-haired, preschool-age girl wakes in her bedroom to the sunrise. All the objects in the room are bathed in shades of pale rose. "You're pink," the text begins. A page turn reveals the girl gazing thoughtfully through the water of her fish's bowl ("You're teal") as everything in the room falls into teal-colored shadow. Some of the colors associated with the girl's feelings derive from widely recognized expressions ("You're green" shows the girl gazing with envy at a child who was faster at finding the right block), while others represent looser associations, as when nap time is associated with the color lilac. A final encouraging message about accepting feelings ("So when you feel them, let them through!") concludes this reflective, rather than active, exploration of emotions--a good choice for a mood-quieting readaloud or a springboard for discussion. Ages 3-8. Illustrator's agent: Andrea Morrison, Writers House. (July)

PreS-Gr 2--Ostensibly about matching colors to emotions, this book fares better as a vehicle for honing visual literacy skills and enhancing vocabulary development. Some children may know that certain colors suggest emotions. This book expands on that concept by introducing some lesser-known hues including teal, magenta, ecru, jade, scarlet, lilac, and mauve--and clarifying their meanings with artwork (rendered in ink, watercolor, and gouache, and assembled digitally). For all of the colors, the childlike illustrations of a young girl and her classmates demonstrate how they're feeling. In some instances, readers will understand clearly what emotions the characters represent; in others, facial expressions, body language, and scenes are open to interpretation. Occasionally, some colors are confusingly or questionably rendered, as several shades may appear on the same page but are identified with only one name. The author also states that children are the colors rather than that they feel them--a point not all kids will understand; in the case of colors readers didn't know, this distinction may be lost entirely, especially where the illustrations are unclear. VERDICT An additional purchase. Use for "I Spy"-type games, encouraging students to identify classroom, household, and neighborhood objects that bear the color names in the book. Use also as a springboard for group and/or individual art projects, including color mixing.--Carol Goldman, formerly at Queens Library, NY