Susie’s Book Nook - New Children’s Book Review: “All the Colors of the Earth”

Every day one of my longest prayers is for a kinder and gentler world filled with peace. I pray that each one of us will begin to see each other as more the same when we look inside even when on the outside, we may look different. I believe each of us wants to be loved, cared for, appreciated, and valued for who we are and what we can do no matter our limitations. To me, social justice begins here with each of us truly recognizing each other valued as the gift each of us can be in our world.

There are days when I get very discouraged as the kinder, gentler, peace centered world seems buried behind cultural discord, greed, anger, and people looking out for their groups rather than helping each other be better as a whole. I wonder how one person, or even a few can begin to make a bigger and important difference. The hard question is, where should we begin?

For me, I would begin at home with the new generations to come. I would begin recognizing the diversity of our families, “all laughing, loving, and glowing with life” as mentioned in “All the Colors of the Earth” written and illustrated by Sheila Hamanaka. What a beautiful story this author reveals as she looks at children and how they can embrace their own beauty through all the colors present in this beautiful world we actually live in.

Perhaps you share colors with the “roaring brown of bears and soaring eagles.” Or maybe your colors imitate the “whispering golds of late summer grasses” and lions. How about those who have “tinkling pinks of tiny seashells by the rumbling sea?” Look around and see, “hair like bouncy baby lambs” or “curls like sleeping cats in snoozy cat colors.” Sheila Hamanaka’s illustrations bring out the richness of all these colors and so many more that make up our earth and those of us in it.

Whether you are the reader or the one being read to, you will certainly find your colors in All the Colors of the Earth. Where will you let it take you? Though the read itself can be very short and quick, the essence of its message can live with you every day as you encounter others who are simply different shades than you.

Our earth is beautiful because of all its wonderful color and shades. We marvel as each season changes and reveals new colors and textures. Now let us learn to marvel at each other and the colors we bring forth from the earth. Let us treasure our amazing variety of shades and colors and not let it stand in the way of our recognizing the unique value of each individual. Let us truly work to “love our neighbor as ourselves” and “respect the dignity of every human being.”

All the Colors of the Earth can be a creative inspiration for your family helping the new generation to be inspired by the variety of splendid colors and shades. Let us grow in understanding moving more toward social justice in our communities and beyond.