Colors Come from God... Just Like Me

Writing for her ""Ethiopian princess""/ granddaughter, Forche has produced a book that speaks to the needs of all children to feel acceptance and pride in who and how they are. Using the book of Genesis (with biblical references cited on each page), she stresses the variety in all creation. Of obvious interest to African American children (""God made me a beautiful brown"" is a leitmotif), the book so employs the rainbow theme that it can speak to every child. Unfortunately, Cox's large watercolor-and-ink illustrations, while workmanlike, are not up to the job at hand. Likewise, Forche's vacillation between rhyming quatrains and free verse is jarring when read aloud; but even given these caveats, the spirit of this book is beyond reproach and its message desperately needed. Ages 3-9. (Feb.)