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THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN by Desirée Acevedo

THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN

by Desirée Acevedo ; illustrated by Silvia Álvarez ; translated by Jon Brokenbrow

Pub Date: Nov. 1st, 2021
ISBN: 978-84-18302-40-4
Publisher: Cuento de Luz

A young girl questions the labeling of a skin-colored pencil when the hue doesn’t represent herself or those around her.

While drawing at school, Vega is approached by her friend Alex. He asks to borrow her “skin-colored pencil.” This is a Spanish import, and many literal-minded young readers in the United States may be puzzled, as “flesh” has not been a Crayola color since 1962, when it was renamed “peach.” Nevertheless, they will understand how Alex’s request prompts Vega to question both the label and the concept of a universal skin color as she reflects on the skin tones of the people in her community. While each individual is depicted with a unique complexion, none embodies the “kind of light pink” that matches the skin-colored pencil. Both children wonder about the origins of the label since neither they nor the people in their community share that particular skin color. Vega, who presents White, posits that “the person who discovered it must have…forgot[ten] to add the rest of the colors.” This simplistic reasoning mischaracterizes the label as a harmless error, completely avoiding White supremacy, racism, and colorism as potential factors. Sidestepping these points diminishes the empowering message of inclusivity the book has tried to convey. Later, both children work together to create art with “all of the pencils and crayons and paints they thought could be ‘skin color,'” which includes six different shades but omits any dark brown ones.

Well meaning but poorly executed.

(Picture book. 4-8)