Common Sense Media Review
By Stephanie Snyder
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Moving story encourages self-love and pride in diversity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In I COLOR MYSELF DIFFERENT, athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick recounts an important moment from his childhood that fortified his pride in his identity. Narrated by young Colin, the story opens up with a look at the type of kid he is: He likes books and sports, games and friends, and he's quite confident about the fact that he is unique. His brown skin and curly hair set him apart from his adoptive White family, but he loves the fact that he is one of a kind. In school one day, the students are tasked with drawing pictures of their family. Colin excitedly colors himself in with a brown crayon -- different from his family -- but is shocked when his classmates ask why he colored himself a different color than the rest of his family. He taps into his reserve of self-love to teach his classmates that what makes him different makes him magnificent.
Is It Any Good?
There's a lot for young readers to take away from this relatable and engaging book. I Color Myself Different is written from young Colin's perspective, with word choice and a voice that kids can identify with. His confidence and positive messaging make it easy to really like Colin's character from the very beginning. The book tackles a lot of issues in a way that kids can understand; yet the realism of Eric Wilkerson's illustrations remind readers that these topics are reality to so many. The "I'm me, and I'm magnificent!" chant will undoubtedly be echoed by many young readers inspired to love what makes them unique.
Some readers may feel that I Color Myself Different takes on too many topics, resulting in a bit of misalignment of the conflict. Colin's classmates ask him why he colored himself a different color than the rest of his family, and the questions make him feel bad -- but he doesn't tell why they make him feel bad. Without that piece, young Colin's reaction feels more like an adult reaction to a racial microaggression than a kindergarten student's reaction to questions by his peers who may not have been exposed to adoptive families yet.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the author's note in I Color Myself Different. Why was Colin Kaepernick's experience of coloring himself with a brown crayon as a kid so important to him? What important lessons did he learn about his identity growing up? What does he want readers to understand after reading his book?
Who's in your family? What makes your family unique?
Look at the pictures of influential Black leaders in the story. Which of the people do you know? What do you know about them? Learn more using the list at the back of the book.
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Eric Wilkerson
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Activism , History
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Scholastic Inc.
- Publication date : April 5, 2022
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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