Swatch: The Girl Who Loved Color, by Julia Denos

There’s something magical about those first days in which your child begins to identify colors. It’s like his whole world suddenly opens up to him- he can label, identify and ask for things with so much more clarity and confidence; his world becomes brighter, more crisp, more vibrant. Enter Swatch: The Girl Who Loved Color, by Julia Denos. Oh how I love the way the colors in this book dance wildly off the pages and into your heart! But this story is so much more than a simple one exploring ROYGBIV, and I wouldn’t even dub this a concept book. Not Swatch. This beauty is a book about adapting, listening, being empathetic, but also remaining true to yourself and those around you.

This is a spellbinding story about Swatch, a wild little girl with even wilder black hair. Swatch is a color tamer. She jars up colors and collects them on her shelves, and she longs to harness all of the colors of her world. But Swatch eventually discovers that some colors refuse to be tamed, causing a drastic change in her master plan. The result? Something special and luminous, resulting in a story and illustrations your kids will pore over again and again.

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Swatch’s theme transcends color, alone. It is applicable to the world around us in so many ways, and it is such a beautiful story to help kids understand that some things can’t be tamed, or changed, no matter how much they may wish it; some things simply need the freedom to be themselves. It is a story about being true to who you are, while, at the same time, helping little ones learn to listen to the desires of others and adapt when those desires may not reflect your own. It is a story with wildly gorgeous illustrations in which color becomes a sentient being- a breathing, loving life force with energy and emotions all their own. It is a masterpiece, a keeper, and one that belongs on every child’s bookshelf. Well done, Julia Denos. Well done!!

*** Looking to go beyond the book? Make sure to check out All the Wonders (on Instagram as @_allthewonders; www.allthewonders.com) for an incredibly fun painting activity you can do at home with your kids, a story about the making of Swatch, and much more. Enjoy!

Want the book? Get it here! Swatch: The Girl Who Loved Color, by Julia Denos.  *This is an affiliate link.