Land of Many Colors

Review of Land of Many Colors by the Klamath County YMCA Family Preschool and illustrated by Rita Pocock.

Written especially for young children, this story illustrates the negative outcomes of judging people based on unalterable traits.  Each group of people, Purples, Blues, and Greens, segregated themselves from the other groups.  Purples wore purple clothes, ate purple food, and lived with purple people.  Blues and Greens behaved the same way.  The attitude displayed by each group in the beginning of the story resulted in hard feelings toward the others and, ultimately, war.  A child’s voice was finally heard in the din.  The message was simple.  Why are we hurting each other?  Why are we fighting?  We are the same.  No one could tell whether the child was purple, blue, or green.  Covered in the filth of the war, they could only see that he was dusty.  All heard the wisdom of his words and each group realized they were headed for destruction.  As the groups learned to work and live together, peace reigned.  Food was shared.  Houses were rebuilt through cooperation of all people. 

The writing style and illustrations make this complex concept understandable to young children.  Written during the Persian Gulf War, the teachers at Klamath County YMCA wrote this book with the help of the children.  Older children and adults should hear the message the story holds, as well.