Curious Colors by Shanelle Harrison
So says award-winning visual artist, educator and author Shanelle Harrison, who puts into practice what she preaches in the interactive children’s book Curious Colors (Uptown Press), a 58-page activity book that introduces young readers to colors, color theory and shapes.
The book, geared for ages four and up, helps establish the basics for young children, starting with the three primary colors and then expanding into secondary and tertiary. While children might already be familiar with basic colors, they may not be as clear about how others are created. Curious Colors lays out the basic framework and allows children to play within the pages to reinforce their knowledge of the colors and their relationships to one another.
EDUCATION FOR ALL AGES
The simple, clean book design provides a friendly guide to help children understand how some shades stand on their own and others are formed through particular combinations. The children are asked to write the names of colors, making associations with colorful shapes, and then connect the names of colors and shapes to produce a vibrant drawing on their own.
Some adults might even find the book a pleasant reminder of how some colors are created. For example, the six tertiary colors are made up of a mixture of a primary color and a secondary one.
“I created this book to merge my passions for visual art and teaching children,” Harrison says. “As an educator, my goal is to inspire students to embrace freedom of expression by enhancing their self-confidence and artistic consciousness so they become better citizens of the world.”
The book is designed to enhance creativity, promote exploration and develop fine motor skills while creating language structure for children through the use of color, playful illustrations and instruction. “Fine motor skills,” says Harrison, “are essential for coordination between small muscles like fingers and hands enabling functions like writing, hand-eye coordination, and properly grasping small objects like pencils.”
QUESTIONS ARE ENCOURAGED
Harrison says the lessons reinforce language through discussion between parents and children about shapes and colors, and children will have work they are proud to show. “It is important to remember children are curious and will have questions. Your curious colorer will need your encouragement and patience to build their confidence with decision making and enhancing their learning experience throughout the book.”
The book includes several pages at the end in the form of a mini-coloring book where children’s creativity can run wild. Such activity promotes exploration in children by providing opportunities for them to express their intelligence and learn as they grow.
Shanelle Harrison, through her illustrations and words, has created a valuable interactive introduction to colors and shapes for children. It is a fun and educational tool that provides a great bonding opportunity for parents and children.
You can purchase Curious Colors here.
