Module 8: Living Color

Jenkins, Steve. 2007. Living Color. Illus. by the author. Houghton Mifflin: Boston. ISBN: 0-618-70897-9.

Color is one of the first things learned as young children develop. Steve Jenkins uses this knowledge of color and explains the uses and value of colors in the animal world. Different animals use special colors for varying reasons. The first color profiled is red. Many animals’ usage of the color red for survival, hunting, or mating is explained. The word RED, the main heading for each explanation, and the parts of the animal are each a vibrant shade of red. The informational text is black. This contrast draws the reader’s eyes to each informational panel. In addition to red, blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, and pink are included. Readers have an opportunity to learn about the rainbow of color in the animal kingdom. Illustrations are detailed, vibrant, and masterfully done. They immerse the reader in each color as s/he proceeds through the book. At the conclusion of the book, a further examination of color is presented. Readers are enlightened as to why some animals are so dull and how colors are created. Following this section, specific physical details and descriptions about every animal in the book are included. This book will make the reader see color in a brand new way.