I See Color

Acknowledging how "not seeing a person's color erases a big part of who that person is," Bolling and Pew highlight nearly two dozen nuanced tones in this intersectional work. An introductory page calls out how the misguided idea "I don't see color" ignores "the experiences of people of color, their humanness, and the everyday effects of racism." Free-verse text subsequently establishes that "color is history./ Color is our story./ I see color" before segueing into concise descriptions of activists, leaders, and allies. On one page, "SMOKY QUARTZ" introduces Elizabeth and Roy Peratrovich "writing the words that would change history," while "WARM BEIGE" references Sue Ko Lee "striking against poor working conditions and demanding higher pay." Frazier's digital drawings lean into emotive portraiture, while backgrounds hint at the context behind the presented figures' actions, throughout this high-level work that underscores "all that can be achieved together." Authors' notes and more about featured activists conclude. Secondary characters are portrayed in fanciful monochrome palettes. Ages 4-8. (June)