Two boys sit on a rock, their feet dangling into the fresh water of a stream.

Isaac can see. Luke cannot.

“Do you know about colours, Luke?” asked Isaac.

When Luke replies he doesn’t understand them, Isaac decides to give him the gift of colour using different senses than sight.

Yellow is holding your face up to the sun.

Green is the feel and smell of tree ferns all around.

Brown is the crackle and crunch of leaves and dirt underfoot.

Isaac’s kindness also shows Luke red and blue. Luke isn’t the only one to experience different senses on this sunny summer afternoon. Isaac closes his eyes and asks Luke about his hearing and the wonder of it.

On the way home together, Luke asks about the stars, and just like all the other colours of the day, Isaac later shares the marvel of the stars overhead. His way of teaching Luke colours has allowed Luke to imagine them high above as they both gaze up into the sky.

I loved this story when it was first published and am thrilled to see it not only rereleased for another generation of children but also in a bilingual (English/Māori)  format for this 10th Anniversary.

This book not only celebrates diversity, kindness, thoughtfulness and empathy between two boys, it can also kick off indoor or outdoor adventures into other colours than can be felt or experienced with different senses than sight.

American illustrator Keinyo White has captured the boy’s moods perfectly in his colourful spreads. Curiosity, Joy, Calm, Intrigue, Happiness, and the connection that is Friendship.

Simple but stunning!

Authors – Dawn McMillan / Ngaere Roberts

Illustrator – Keinyo White

Find Teacher’s Notes here

(2022, Republished, Scholastic NZ, Colours, Senses, Friendship, Kindness, Sharing, Diversity, Adventure, Summer, Aotearoa New Zealand, Fern, Stars, Sky)