Hudson, Cheryl Willis and Bernette G. Ford. Bright Eyes, Brown Skin. New Jersey: Just Us Books, 1990.This book is in the form of a poem emphasizing the beauty and characteristics of all children and African American children in the form of the children enjoying typical activities at school. The children are very positive and portrayed as having lots of confidence and self-esteem. It celebrates a positive self-image of African American children by using phrases such as “teeth that glisten” and “very special hair and clothes.” This book is written by an insider author, Cheryl Willis Hudson, who is a co-founder of Just Us Books, Inc which is a premiere publisher of African American Interest books for children and young adults. Their website is a very valuable website for other high quality, authentic African American texts: www.justusbooks.com
This book is intended for students of preschool or kindergarten age. Hudson starts off the story as describing the characters in the story as “Bright eyes, brown skin.” This establishes with the readers the race of the characters in a very positive way. Hudson continues by very thoroughly depicting the children in the story as average, typical children by stating their characteristics that all children have such as “Bright eyes, cheeks that glow, chubby fingers, ticklish toes.” The drawings, which are also illustrated by an insider illustrator, George Ford, portray the children as regular students who go to school, and their routine activities. Hudson has done an excellent job of writing an authentic book that can build self esteem and positive self-image in African American readers. She is also successful in writing a book that outsiders can read and enjoy that will promote a message of inclusion and acceptance. Overall, this book is outstanding and should be included in every preschool classroom to promote a positive image and acceptance of African American students.
Book Review by Ashley Zimmerman
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