Dive into this curated list of books about colors for kids that engage, educate, and inspire young reader Exploring the world of colors is an essential part of early childhood learning, and books are a wonderful way to introduce this vibrant concept.
Whether your child is a toddler just starting to recognize colors or a preschooler diving into the magic of creativity and emotions, these books about colors for kids offer something for everyone.
Book #1: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
Recommended Ages: 1-4 years
Summary: This classic picture book uses rhythmic, repetitive text and classic Eric Carle illustrations to take young readers through a series of colorful animals. Each page introduces a new animal and color, creating a predictable pattern that engages toddlers and early readers.
There are of course many books like this by Eric Carle. This is the one we start with in our family because I think the animals are the most basic. We start here and expand to “Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What do you see?” and “Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?”
Themes: Colors, animals, repetition, early learning.
Book #2: Bear Sees Colors by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
Recommended Ages: 2-5 years
Summary: In this charming rhyming book, Bear and his friends discover colors in their environment as they explore the world around them. The cheerful illustrations and playful text make it a delightful read for young children.
We love this book to talk about finding colors around us. I will ask my kids after we read this book to point to red things, blue things, or whatever color they are working to identify.
Themes: Exploration, nature, friendship, colors.
Book #3: The Color Monster by Anna Llenas
Recommended Ages: 3-7 years
Summary: This engaging story introduces young children to emotions through the metaphor of a Color Monster. Each emotion is represented by a different color, helping kids understand and identify their feelings.
This is a great book about emotions and colors. My kids love to color their emotions after we read this book. If my kids are also having a hard time naming their emotions, I will often ask them what color they are right now. It works really well.
Themes: Emotions, self-expression, emotional intelligence, colors.
Book #4: A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman
Recommended Ages: 3-6 years
Summary: A young boy dreams of having a rainbow as a companion and sets out on a whimsical journey of imagination. The story captures the joy of discovery and the beauty of nature.
I love a good book about a rainbow when it comes to color. I try to point out rainbows to my kids in sky. It sometimes takes them awhile to catch on to what I am trying to show them, but this book helps!
Themes: Imagination, nature, discovery, colors.
Book #5: How Do Dinosaurs Learn Their Colors? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
Recommended Ages: 2-5 years
Summary: Part of the beloved “How Do Dinosaurs” series, this book uses playful rhymes and delightful illustrations to teach children about colors through the antics of dinosaurs.
My child is going through a dinosaur phase…as most children do. So this book is on repeat in our house right now. Lucky for me it is a fun, catchy read.
Themes: Dinosaurs, learning, colors, humor.
Book #6: Swatch: The Girl Who Loved Color by Julia Denos
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Summary: This beautifully illustrated story follows Swatch, a girl who adores colors and learns to embrace their wild nature. The book celebrates creativity and the beauty of individuality.
I love this little book about the girl who loves to color. It helps me to remember to appreciate color more and communicate their magic to my kids.
Themes: Creativity, individuality, colors, art.
Book #7: Color Dance by Ann Jonas
Recommended Ages: 3-7 years
Summary: This simple yet visually striking book explores the concept of color mixing through a creative dance performed by children. It’s an engaging way to introduce young readers to primary and secondary colors.
I think this book is quite clever. It helps my littles learn about color mixing in a fun way with dancing. They often want to mimic the dancing as I read this book.
Themes: Colors, mixing, movement, creativity.
Book #8: Born To Stand Out: A Story About a Chameleon Who Finds His True Colors by Tami Boyce
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Summary: This inspiring story follows a chameleon who learns to embrace his unique colors instead of blending in. It’s a heartwarming tale about self-acceptance and being true to oneself.
This is a great book to talk about how everyone is unique. Color is a way to express and communicate with children how everyone is different, but beautiful.
Themes: Individuality, self-acceptance, uniqueness, colors.
Book #9: Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Summary: This thoughtful book uses colors to explore themes of diversity and harmony. The story begins with colors living separately until they learn to mix, creating something beautiful together.
We love this book to talk about and identify colors in our home, but also about how we can work together to do new and different things. We talk about how everyone can bring different skills (or colors) to the table to create something different.
Themes: Diversity, unity, collaboration, colors.
Book #10: Monsters Love Colors by Mike Austin
Recommended Ages: 3-6 years
Summary: In this lively and colorful story, monsters mix primary colors to create new ones while expressing their love for vibrant hues. It’s a playful introduction to color theory.
I am always looking to add a friendly monster book to our collection. It is a fun book with little creative monster characters.
Themes: Colors, creativity, fun, color mixing.
Book #11: A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni
Recommended Ages: 3-6 years
Summary: This touching story follows a chameleon who feels out of place because he lacks a consistent color. He finds friendship and learns to embrace change and adaptability.
I usually don’t have books that are too similar, but I couldn’t decided which color chameleon book I liked betters. So they both found their way into our home. The illustration style is different enough that it makes it new and exciting.
Themes: Friendship, change, identity, colors.
Book #12: Elmer’s Colors by David McKee
Recommended Ages: 1-4 years
Summary: Elmer the patchwork elephant introduces young readers to different colors in this simple, engaging board book. The vibrant illustrations capture children’s attention and make learning about colors fun.
This is a great one for your littlest reader. My babies and my toddlers enjoy this book. Little Elmer with his patchwork-colored body is so cute and eye-catching.
Themes: Colors, individuality, animals, early learning.
Books about colors for kids are not only a tool for learning but also a gateway to imagination, creativity, and self-expression for young children. The stories above offer diverse approaches to exploring colors—from identifying and mixing them to linking them with emotions and celebrating individuality.
Grab a book, snuggle up, and let the colorful journey begin!
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