Product Description

Brown-skinned mama, the color of chocolate milk and pumpkin pie. White-skinned daddy, not the color of milk or snow, but light with pinks and tiny tans. And their two children, the beautiful colors of both. For an all-American family, full of joy, warmth, and love,

this is the way it is for us
this is the way we are

When it was first published in 1973, Black is Brown is Tan featured the first interracial family in children's books. Decades later, Arnold Adoff and Emily Arnold McCully continue to offer a joyous and loving celebration of all the colors of the race, now newly embellished with bright watercolor paintings that depict a contemporary family of the twenty-first century. And the chorus rings true as ever:

black is brown is tan
is girl is boy
is nose is face
is all the colors of the race

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #487531 in Books
• Published on: 2002-03-14
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 40 pages

From Amazon.com
Originally published in 1973, Black Is Brown Is Tan was the first children's book to feature an interracial family. In this 21st-century version, with new, sunlight-drenched watercolors, Mom is still "a tasty tan and coffee pumpkin pie / with dark brown eyes and almond ears," and Daddy is "light with pinks and tiny tans / dark hair growing on my arms / that darken in the summer sun / brown eyes / big yellow ears." The happy, normal family goes about their day, drinking milk, barbecuing, spending time with grandmas and aunts and uncles, and reading stories. Throughout, they celebrate "all the colors of the race":

black is brown is tan
is girl is boy
is nose is
face
is all
the
colors
of the race

This warm and loving story is just as meaningful today as it was decades ago. Readers from multicultural families, especially, will appreciate this tribute to the diversity of the American family from renowned poet Arnold Adoff (Touch the Poem) and Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator, Emily Arnold McCully (Mirette on the High Wire). (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly
Arnold Adoff's 1973 poem black is brown is tan, featuring the "first interracial family in children's books," according to the publisher, appears here with Caldecott Medalist Emily Arnold McCully's new watercolors.

From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-A beautiful picture of an interracial home in which there is fun, security, and plenty of love. The text was first published in 1973 and remains the same. Members from both sides of the extended family come for visits. One of the lovely scenes shows "granny white" and "grandma black" arriving at the same time and then sitting congenially with the children "telling stories of ago." McCully has updated the illustrations with watercolor paintings to show the brown-skinned momma, the white daddy, and the two children in a 21st-century setting. For example, the earlier edition showed the father and son sitting in front of a typewriter, while in the updated version they are sitting in the same position, but the typewriter has been replaced by a computer. Children from interracial families will love reading about a family like their own and other youngsters will be provided with a window into such a home.
Dorothy N. Bowen, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Customer Reviews

30 Years Later
I first read this book when the librarian at my elementary school in Worthington, Ohio had the insight to order it! I was the first student to check it out. I was in Fifth Grade at the time. I have to say that at the time, I had a friend that was black (like coffee in the pot) and I am white (with pinks and brown freckles). She lived with an all white family as a foster child. My family had real issues that the two of us were friends. Reading this book helped make things easier for me. 16 years ago, I bought this book for my bi-racial daughter, Samantha. She loved it. Now, all three of my children and many of our neighbors' children have borrowed it, read it, and live it. I can't think of any better way to breach the subject of race and to explain our differences and most importantly, our similarities. Black is Brown is Tan... for 30 years this book has helped me and my family!

A Joyous Celebration of Family.....
"black is brown is tan/is girl is boy/is nose is face/is all the colors/of the race // is dark is light/singing songs/in singing night/kiss big woman hug big man/black is brown is tan // this is the way it is for us this is the way we are" Originally published in 1973, Arnold Adoff's joyous, lyrical, story-poem is as fresh and relevant today, as is was almost thirty years ago. Meet this wonderful extended family, from Momma, a "brown sugar gown/a tasty tan and coffee pumpkin pie/with dark brown eyes and almond ears", and Dad, not white like milk or snow, but "with pinks and tiny tans...brown eyes big yellow ears", and their kids, the color of both races, to golden haired aunts, tan colored uncles, granny white and grandma black "kissing both your cheeks and hugging back..." Mr Adoff's simple, rhythmic text is filled with love and pride as it celebrates his interracial family, and is complemented by award winning illustrator, Emily McCully's warm and cheerful artwork. Together word and art paints an engaging portrait of a strong, happy, loving family. Perfect for youngsters from 3 to 93, Black Is Brown Is Tan is a timeless classic, best read aloud and shared, that honors all families and the things that make them special.

A definate favorite in our home...
This book (Black is Brown is Tan) has been a favorite of my daughter since she was one year. There are very few children's books that stress the positive of being a member of a bi-racial family. Black is Brown Is Tan shows the harmony and love between parents, children, and other family members. We love the fact that the extended family (the tan-skinned Uncle, Grandma White and Granny Black) are prominent figures in this book. The book highlights the differences and similarities between the races. It is a great read for all families no matter what their ethnic background. It has become the main staple in my baby shower gift baskets.