Colors of the Wind

A Weekly Low Down on Kids Books

Title: Colors of the Wind

Author: J.L. Powers

Publisher: Purple House Press

Genre: Picture Book/ Children’s

“J.L. Powers! I love that guy!” Kiddo shouts when she hears me telling my husband that we got a new picture book to review in the mail today.  Never mind that J.L. Powers is a woman and that we’ve never read her work before.  Kiddo just loves getting new books in the mail, love discovering new authors as much as I do.

Colors of the Wind is the story of George Mendoza, two time blind Olympian runner who sees the world like a kaleidoscope and has become a painter.  The picture book is visually stimulating and intentionally motivational to do your best and pursue your dreams, no matter what trials you may face.

“That book is beautiful, like Grandmother’s Cabin,” she says when we’re done.  Artistically speaking, Grandmother’s Cabin is the picture book by which all others are now measured in my three year old’s eyes.  Colors of the Wind gets her art stamp of approval and  she was particularly intrigued by the tribute to other paintings at the back that were not included in the story.  She’s officially asking when we can meet George and we can’t wait to share this story with the cousins, our friends, and the homeschooling groups we are a part of.

“An illumination of the persistent power of art.  Colors of the Wind reminds us all that our biggest burdens are often our greatest gifts,” Kathi Appelt is quoted on the marketing packet.  I couldn’t say it better.