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©Carolyn Gabb

Category: Poetry - (whole book is a one poem)
(written by college student of Dr. Gabb)

Book Title: COLOR
Author: Christina Rossetti
Illustrator: Mary Teichman
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
Date: Illustrations - 1992
ISBN: 0-06-022626-9

Christina Rossetti’s poem, COLOR, is brought to life with the illustrations by Mary Teichman. COLOR, as you might have assumed, teaches young children about the colors that paint our world. Rossetti’s poem introduces young children to world of colors through her poetry.

COLOR also allows young children to be exposed to the world of rhyming and poetry. The verses of the poem are written throughout the book, and the last page of the book contains the poem written in its entire original form. The first page of the unnumbered book, contains a large bright "blob" of the color pink. The page opposite the pink "blob" contains the question of "What is pink?" The following pages are filled with pink roses and a flowing fountain. The next color that appears is red. Again the question is asked "What is red?", and again the question is answered on the two pages that follow. The entire book flows in this manner.

Teichman’s illustrations that accompany Rossetti’s poem make the words breathe life. Each color "blob" has a definite shape (there is a beginning and ending). The illustrations that accompany the answer to the question "What is . . .?" fill the entire two pages. For example the brilliant blue sky and white clouds float off both of the pages. The illustrations are continuous, meaning the illustrations are not contained on both of the pages. The objects that define the colors are outlined with black thin lines, allowing them to have definite shapes. The illustrations are so life like that they made me long for a bouquet of brilliant pink roses, ripe yellow pears, and sailing white swans.

Eight colors are addressed in the poem/book. The colors consist of pink, red, blue, white, yellow, green, violet, and orange. I suggest reading the poem/book in conjunction with other poems or books about colors, if you are teaching young students colors. COLOR can also be used to teach children the concepts of rhyming, prediction, and unfamiliar sight words. Every other two pages end with words that rhyme. One example of a pair of rhyming words is "violet" and "twilight." Young children or students may not be familiar with the word "twilight", as a result students may be asked (by their teacher) to define what they think the word "twilight" means. Teachers may use the vibrant illustrations to help define "twilight" or other unfamiliar words. Rossetti’s poem also allows teachers to expose students to the concept of "word play." For example, "A poppy’s red in its barley bed," or "A swan is white sailing in the light." This poem/book allows for teachers to generate various lessons, from teaching colors to poetry.

Another feature of the book that I am impressed with, is the book’s jacket cover. The inside flaps of the jacket describe the content of the book, and information about the author and the illustrator. From the information included on the inside flaps of the jacket, teachers may even teach history or geography lessons. Teachers may use the dates in which Rossetti lived, as well as, where she was born as history and geography lessons.

The book COLOR, has made an ever-lasting impression with me. The vibrant colors and "word play" take me back to my childhood. I have given several suggestions as to how Color can be used in the classroom, but I have failed to mention that this book is great for anyone to read to children not just in a classroom setting. COLOR will decorate the bookshelves of my future classroom.