They Say Blue

A child explores colors and sensations through observations of the natural world around her. The young protagonist contemplates the sky, ocean, grass, and other elements while questioning what she sees versus what she knows to be true. Physical experiences and abstract concepts merge as the narrator moves through changing seasons and landscapes. Her contemplations range from the blueness of water to the warmth of a mother's embrace. Simple yet philosophical musings about perception, color, and the cycles of nature form the core of this picture book's narrative. The story speaks to how children process their surroundings and make sense of abstract ideas through concrete experiences.

Readers call this book a sensory exploration of color through a child's perspective. Parents and teachers report that children connect with the imaginative ways colors are described beyond basic visual descriptions. Likes: - Poetic, flowing text that works well when read aloud - Abstract art style that captures movement and emotions - Incorporation of science concepts (why the sky appears blue) - Cultural representation through the South Asian protagonist Dislikes: - Some found the narrative structure too loose and wandering - A few mentioned the abstract concepts may confuse very young children - Several noted the $17.99 price point feels high for the length Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (190+ ratings) Notable review: "Beautiful artwork but my 3-year-old lost interest quickly. Better suited for elementary school discussions about perception and metaphor." - Amazon reviewer Multiple librarians highlighted it as a strong choice for color-themed storytimes and art education.

Blue on Blue by Dianne White Each spread connects observations of nature through repetitive phrases and sensory details that mirror a child exploring their environment.

All the Colors of the Earth by Sheila Hamanaka The text flows through images of children from different cultures connected to colors found in nature.

Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger Die-cut pages reveal different shades of green through transformative scenes in nature.

Hello, World by Ethan Long A child moves through their day noticing colors and connections in the urban world around them.

Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds A young artist discovers that colors exist beyond traditional expectations when painting the sky for a school mural.

🎨 "They Say Blue" won the prestigious 2019 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Picture Books 📚 Author Jillian Tamaki is also a highly acclaimed comic artist who won both an Eisner Award and a Caldecott Honor for her graphic novel "This One Summer" 🌈 The book explores color perception through a child's eyes, blending scientific observation with imagination and poetry ✍️ Tamaki hand-painted all the illustrations using gouache, creating rich, fluid images that transform from page to page 🎭 The main character's movement and dance throughout the book was inspired by Tamaki's memories of her young niece exploring the world around her