Picture storybooks depend on illustrations for much of their meaning, but blind children miss out on the visual part of the storytelling. The Black Book of Colors meets the demands of a concept book for visually challenged youngsters on multiple levels: Braille text empowers those who can read it with independence, but alphabetic print is included for the sighted. Descrip tions infused with sensory impressions provide mental images for any reader, while embossed illustrations supply an additional means of perception for blind and sighted readers. Menena Cottin’s Braille text is complemented by Rosana Faría’s bas-relief, glossy black images on flat, black paper. The descriptive white alphabetic print is the only part that is immediately visible for sighted readers. 2007 Bologna New Horizons Prize, New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book Awards. lmp

Originally pub lished as El Libro Negro de los Colores in Spanish by Ediciones Tecolote Mexico, in 2006. Translated by Elisa Amado.

A New York Times Book Review choice as one of the 10 Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2008

It is very hard for a sighted person to imagine what it is like to be blind. This groundbreaking, award-winning book endeavors to convey the experience of a person who can only see through his or her sense of touch, taste, smell or hearing.

Raised black line drawings on black paper, which can be deciphered by touch, complement a beautifully written text describing colors through imagery. Braille letters accompany the text so that the sighted reader can begin to imagine what it is like to use Braille to read. A full Braille alphabet at the end of the book can be used to learn more.

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.1

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