Black Is Brown Is Tan

by Arnold Adoff

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0064436446
• ISBN13: 9780064436441
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 8.5" x 11.0"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Only wish I had found it sooner!

I was 17 before I read this book, when a 4yo in the preschool I volunteered at handed it to me. I fell in love with this book immediately! It is so beautifully written. As a bi-racial child, I had seldom seen images of bi-racial families growing up, much less one so like my family (my father is white, my mother is black)! Even at 17 it felt good to have such a beautiful story reflect my own heritage in such a positive light. I am now 22 and have finally bought myself a copy for my own bookshelf. I can't wait to share this with my own children someday.

A must have book!!

Being a proud parent of a child who was born in my heart it is important that my daughter know that families come about in all different ways and that beauty is not just skin deep but also comes from the inside. This book celebrates how beautiful our families are and is done so in a very poetic way! Cheers to both the author and illistrator! I can't wait to purchase more copies of this book for my daughter's future elementary school!

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.

Black is Brown is Tan : Our Special "Family Poem"

Arnold Adoff is the wonderfully insightful author of this easy to read, realistic poem/book. We originally bought one copy of this book about 16 years ago and since have donated it to elementary and middle school libraries all over out city. Mr.Adoff instills a sense of self esteem in all members of a multi-racial/multi-cultural family while using poetry to make it even more memorable. The artwork will entice you to discuss the theme and allows little ones to not only see themselves, but to tell you how they see their family members on the pages too. Moms and Dads of multi-ethnic children will want to thank Arnold Adoff for his no-drama approach to everyday life...and all the special little things our families get to share as we venture into raising kids and growing up like we do! Moms and Dads whose children are not bi-racial or bi-cultural will find support in teaching acceptance to their little ones while not making this topic seem so "clinical." So, while you may be tugging on wet hair of wiggly little girls or shooing your babies up to bed...take time, share this poem, and enjoy ...there's nothing more special than seeing confident little eyes smiling as they look into the bright shiny mirror that this and all of Arnold Adoff's work offers every one of us!