I Color Myself Different

Reach for this book when your child starts noticing physical differences between themselves and their peers, or if you want to fortify their sense of belonging within a diverse family. It is especially resonant for families formed through adoption or those navigating transracial identities. The story follows young Colin during a simple school art project where he must decide how to represent himself and his family on paper. By choosing a brown crayon to color himself differently than his white family members, he makes a powerful statement about self-acceptance. At its heart, this is a celebration of Black identity and the beauty of being unique. It teaches children that they do not have to look like everyone else to belong, and that their inherent worth is something to be celebrated loudly. Best suited for children ages 4 to 8, it provides a gentle but firm foundation for conversations about race, heritage, and the power of radical self-love.