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liftyourheavyeyelids's review against another edition
5.0
Reread the 2002 edition today and I just love this book so much. I originally read this while working on my MLIS portfolio paper on mixed race representation in children's picture books, with the perspective of an adult child of an interracial marriage. It is so lovely to see the mixed race representation of the children, but now that I am in an interracial relationship myself it is *also* wonderful to see the mixed race parents. I'd say overall this book, which was originally published in 1973, has aged very well and is still timely.
bookgirl4ever's review against another edition
5.0
A poetic explanation of different skin colors (is anyone really true "black" or true "white", with a multiracial family that ascends gender roles.
Recommended ages 4-7.
Recommended ages 4-7.
val_halla's review against another edition
4.0
A very sweet and relatable children's book, written in the form of a lilting poem. Its only drawback is that the speaker is often unclear - is the mom, dad, child, or a third person narrator talking?
24hourlibrary's review
1.0
A celebration of mixed race families, Black Is Brown Is Tan features a family modeled after Arnold Adoff's own. Told in an abstract poem, Adoff makes a passe in describing the children's skin tone in relation to food (chocolate, almonds, etc.). Additionally, when the children are compared to brown things, they are like those things according to the poem, yet when they are compared to snow, they are stated as not being like snow (despite being described as "white" in other sections). Though the children resemble their mother's black phenotypes to a greater degree, this strategy seems to work against the point of the book -- that neither "half" is greater than the other.
Overall, the book is confusing and sends mixed messages on top of having a complex and abstract poem structure.
Overall, the book is confusing and sends mixed messages on top of having a complex and abstract poem structure.
just_fighting_censorship's review against another edition
5.0
A must read!
This is a lovely poem about an interracial family. Different stanza focus on the characteristics of each family member and what makes them unique and beautiful.
The artwork is soft and matches the sweetness of the overall sentiment.
Lovely, charming, timeless.
This is a lovely poem about an interracial family. Different stanza focus on the characteristics of each family member and what makes them unique and beautiful.
The artwork is soft and matches the sweetness of the overall sentiment.
Lovely, charming, timeless.
g_krueger's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Black is Brown is Tan is written by Arnold Adoff. It was written in 1973. This book is about a family that look different from each other, but are still family. It is a great poem that illustrates the beauty in diversity. I would recommend this book to students who are in 1st through 3rd grade. This book could be used as a read aloud book or as a book read independently. The book is well written describes diversity in a beautiful way. <diversity> <poetry> <picture book>
stefhyena's review against another edition
5.0
Quite a beautiful book and poem. Some of the words are reminiscent of Galatians 3:28 but you don't need to read the bible to get the point. Connections across barriers. Types of people ultimately dissolve into a shared personhood of food and bed-times, bickering and music and darkness and light.
This book was quite activist when it was first written and also true to the author's (and his wife's) actual experience.
It is an anti-racist book. A pro-human book. A celebration of family and of love. Beautiful
This book was quite activist when it was first written and also true to the author's (and his wife's) actual experience.
It is an anti-racist book. A pro-human book. A celebration of family and of love. Beautiful
amdame1's review against another edition
5.0
CIP: Describes in poetic form a family with a brown-skinned mother, light-skinned father, and their various relatives.
Review: This book is an absolutely fabulous way to talk about the topic of multi-racial families. It points out everyone's unique traits and how beautiful they are because of them. Bonus points because it is based on the author's family and you can just "see" the love they have for each other.
PW says: "Fragmented verse lovingly explores the colors of various multicultural families."
SLJ says: "A beautiful picture of an interracial home..."
Review: This book is an absolutely fabulous way to talk about the topic of multi-racial families. It points out everyone's unique traits and how beautiful they are because of them. Bonus points because it is based on the author's family and you can just "see" the love they have for each other.
PW says: "Fragmented verse lovingly explores the colors of various multicultural families."
SLJ says: "A beautiful picture of an interracial home..."
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