Brown Is Beautiful
What’s inside...
A picture book about recognizing the beauty around you and within you. Brown is beautiful. On a hiking adventure with her grandparents, a young Indian-American girl observes the brown elements in nature such as a nurturing mother bear, deep twisting roots, and a wild mustang. She collects these brown items for a scrapbook to share with her new baby brother, celebrating the idea that brown is everywhere and that it is a beautiful color that represents her and her family.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What are some of the ways the book shows that every color is beautiful?
How do the characters in the book celebrate their own unique qualities?
Can you think of a time when you felt different and how you embraced it?
Why do you think it's important to appreciate and respect everyone's differences?
How can we show others that we think their uniqueness is beautiful?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use positive affirmations about diversity and self-love before and after reading the book to reinforce its messages.
Encourage your child to draw a picture of their favorite scene from the book, focusing on how it made them feel.
Share personal stories where you felt proud of your heritage or unique traits, creating a personal connection with the book's themes.
Ask your child to point out other books or TV shows that promote similar messages about diversity and discuss them together.
Create an inclusive and supportive environment during the discussion, affirming your child’s thoughts and feelings.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Embracing Diversity
Explanation: The book portrays characters from diverse backgrounds learning and playing together.
Real-World Application: Children can understand the value of inclusivity and apply this by embracing peers from various cultures and backgrounds in school or at the playground.
Example Lesson: Self-Acceptance
Explanation: The narrative encourages children to appreciate their own unique traits and qualities.
Real-World Application: Kids can boost their self-esteem by focusing on their personal strengths and unique attributes in real-life situations.
Example Lesson: Respecting Differences
Explanation: The story highlights how differences make each character special and valuable.
Real-World Application: Children learn to respect and appreciate differences in others, leading to more harmonious interactions at school and in their communities.
Example Lesson: Kindness
Explanation: Characters in the book display acts of kindness towards each other, regardless of their background.
Real-World Application: By observing kindness in the story, children are inspired to practice kindness in daily interactions with family, friends, and strangers.