Blue Spruce nominee, 2015. A young girl explores the different moods, symbols and impressions that various colours prompt in herself, her family and friends. This is a short story more centered upon impressions and descriptive language than plot. Soft-wash monochromatic acrylic illustrations provide a child-like dream landscape for each colour palatte explored in the text. Discussion prompts include: how point of view matters to interpretation, what do different colours make you think of? Can that change depending upon your mood, hunger-level, etc? This book is Jessica Young's picture book debut and I think she did awesome. This story challenges the audience on the stereotypes or assumptions that we have about certain colors and what they mean or make us feel. Maybe blue isn't a sad color but a happy one and maybe pink isn't pretty, instead it could be annoying. Young uses a little girl as her main character to tell everyone in her life that the colors they say is a certain mood or feeling aren't to her. In this story it makes it interesting for children to talk about their colors but also gives them the freedom of thinking about what a color means to them instead of what it means to everyone else. This really demonstrates the possibility of independence and free thinking. This is also a great tool to teach children to respect each other's points of view. Everyone doesn't see things the same exact way and this story is a great example of that. Along with the wonderful story-line and great moral, the illustrations by Catia Chen make the story really pop and come to life. The illustrations look exactly what you would imagine a child would be thinking when talking about these situations. Overall it is a great read for children and a good tool to use for instructional purposes.
What do You think about My Blue Is Happy (2013)?
Really nice look at colors and feelings, but also perspectives and opinions. Well done.
—Shell
E YOUNG, J. How colors make people feel--enriched vocabulary.
—Christie
