20 Vibrant Books About Colors for Preschoolers and Toddlers
Books about colors are some of our favorite learning books for preschoolers and toddlers. Who doesn’t love when their child tries to pronounce words like yellow and orange? Or even better, when they try to pronounce chartreuse.
These are some of our favorite books about colors and we hope you love them as much as we do.
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Books About Colors for a 1-Year-Old
Plot
A fun book that has all different color swatches in a given color family with an animal buddy to match.
Why Jackie loves it
I love looking at all the different shades of colors with my kids. This is a fun one to take out into the world and find the matching colors in the wild!
Find this book in: Best Books for a 1-year-old / Books About Colors
I Like Fruit and I Like Vegetables
Author: Lorena Siminovich
Illustrator: Lorena Siminovich
Year: 2010
Genre: Board Book
Age: 0 – 2
More info:
Plot
Any book that introduces children to healthy foods from an early age is OK in my book. Add in the lessons about colors in I Like Fruit and also the lesson of opposites in I Like Vegetables and you have two winners. Oh! And did I mention these are textured and perfect for babies to explore with their fingers too?
Why Jackie loves it
Textured pages are perfect for tactile learning about colors and opposites.
Find this book in: Color Books / Best Board Books / Food Books for Children
Planting a Rainbow
Author: Lois Ehlert
Illustrator: Lois Ehlert
Year: 1988
Genre: Board Book
Age: 1 – 4
Plot
Caldecott Honor-winner, Lois Ehlert, teaches kids about colors in this story about planting a garden and watching it grow.
Why Kirsten loves it
His artwork reminds me of Eric Carle. It will draw your child into the beautiful garden depicted within.
Find this book in: Best Books for a 1-year-old / Books About Colors
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
This classic children’s book is about 3 white mice who discover the primary colors. Soon they are dancing their way into mixing up colors as they create orange, purple, and green on the paper and their own white bodies!
Books About Colors for a 2-Year-Old
Freight Train
Author: Donald Crews
Illustrator: Donald Crews
Year: 1978
Genre: Board Book
Age: 1 – 3
More info: Caldecott Honor Book
Plot
This is another classic book for kids that has both trains and colors. What could be better? The simplicity of this book adds to the fun. If you have a child who can only sit for a very limited time, this book is a perfect choice.
Why Kirsten loves it
With high-contrast images, this story is the perfect introduction to colors for train-loving children. I love this
Find this book in: Color Books / Best Board Books / 1-year-old Books / Classic Kids Books
Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See
Author: Bill Martin Jr.
Illustrator: Eric Carle
Year: 1996
Genre: Board Book
Age: 0 – 3
Plot
Brown Bear, Brown Bear is a classic for a reason. It uses Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle’s signature style to teach about colors and animals. The repetitive pattern is addictive.
Why Jackie loves it
It’s a great introduction to colors and animals. There are so many activities that can be done with this great book for toddlers. But the colors and pictures are perfect for even the littlest reader.
Find this book in: Color Books / Newborn Books / Best Board Books / 2-year-old Books / Classic Kids Books
How Do Dinosaurs Learn Their Colors by Jane Yolen
I love the “How do dinosaurs” series for so many reasons. If your child loves dinosaurs, it will obviously be a hit, but the trouble these dinos get into will have any child giggling.
In this particular story, the dinosaurs learn their colors through routine objects found around their homes. Ask your toddler to find the colors in your home too!
Blue Hat Green Hat
Author: Sandra Boynton
Illustrator: Sandra Boynton
Year: 1984
Genre: Board Book
Age: 1 – 3
Plot
This board book is the perfect first book about colors for babies and young toddlers. It identified red, green, blue, and yellow as well as different clothing items.
Why Jackie loves it
Your kids will laugh out loud as the turkey incorrectly wears the clothing each time.
Find this book in: Books About Colors / Best Books for 2-Year-Olds
Books About Colors for a 3-Year-Old
Mix it up
Author: Hervé Tullet
Illustrator: Hervé Tullet
Year: 2014
Genre: Board Book
Age: 18 months to 4 years
Plot
This book is amazing. Although you can use this book with older kids, the fun of this book is not only learning the colors but beginning to learn how to colors mix to make new colors. Let your baby try some finger painting to try this for themselves.
Why Jackie loves it
This book can be used in so many ways to promote learning while giving children a chance to interact with the book.
Find this book in: Books About Color / Books for a 2-Year-Old / Interactive Books For Children
Little Green Peas
Author: Keith Baker
Illustrator: Keith Baker
Year: 2014
Genre: Board Books
Age: 1 – 3
More info: The Peas #3
Plot
Like the alphabet book LMNO Peas, Little Green Peas is a charming walk through the rainbow with everyone’s favorite little green peas!
Why Kirsten loves it
This picture book has a nice rhythm and there is so much to point out to your 3-year-old when looking at the illustrations in this book about colors.
Find this book in: Best Books for a 1-year-old / Books About Colors
Bear Sees Colors
Author: Karma Wilson
Illustrator: Jane Chapman
Year: 2014
Genre: Board Book
Age: 1 – 4
More info: Part of The Bear Books
Plot
This charming, rhyming picture book about colors has everyone’s favorite bear walking through the forest finding colors all around!
Why Kirsten loves it
The repetition and bursts of color are perfect for toddlers just learning their colors.
Find this book in: Books About Colors / Best Books for 3-year-olds
The Mixed-Up Chameleon
Author: Eric Carle
Illustrator: Eric Carle
Year: 1988
Genre: Board Books
Age: 2 – 4
Plot
As the chameleon travels around, he changes colors. When the chameleon visits the zoo, he starts to get mixed up, becoming a crazy-colored creature!
Why Jackie loves it
This fabulous picture book uses Eric Carle’s signature style to teach colors. Any thing by Eric Carle is a winner in my book!
Find this book in: Books About Colors / Best Books for 3-year-olds
Books About Colors for a 4-Year-Old
The Day the Crayons Quit
Author: Drew Daywalt
Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers
Year: 2013
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 3 – 6
More info: The Day the Crayons Quit #1
Plot
The classic color story that launched a series! The Day the Crayons Quit is about overworked crayons that decide to go on strike. Each color airs its grievances to Duncan, who just wants to color! Can Duncan find a solution to make his crayons happy?
Why Kirsten loves it
Poor Duncan! I read this story to my boys before a trip to the crayola factory and it was a huge hit. It quickly became a go-to story during creative time at home too.
Find this book in: Books About Colors / Best Books for 4-year-olds
I Don’t Draw, I Color!
Author: Adam Lehrhaupt
Illustrator: Felicita Sala
Year: 2017
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 4 – 8
Plot
This is a lovely book that explores creativity as opposed to artistry. I love how the child in this book can express feelings and emotions with colors.
Why Jackie loves it
Often, it is so difficult for children to express themselves verbally and I love how this book gives another way to do this.
Find this book in: Books About Colors / Books About Feelings / Books for 5-year-olds
Festival of Colors
Author: Surishtha Sehgal, Kabir Sehga
Illustrator: Vashti Harrison
Year: 2018
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 2 – 6
Plot
I adore this vibrant book about Holi, the Indian festival of colors. Two children get ready by collecting colorful blooms that they will use to make fine powders.
Why Kirsten loves it
This book about colors also exposes your little one to traditions from another culture. It’s an absolutely gorgeous book about colors.
Find this book in: Books About Colors / Best Books for 4-year-olds
Chameleon’s Colors
Author: Chisato Tashiro
Illustrator: Chisato Tashiro
Year: 2007
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 4 – 8
Plot
Chameleon is unhappy about the fact that he blends in so well, his friends never see him. Hippo wishes he could change colors like Chameleon. Hippo asks to be painted pink and this starts a trend. All Chameleon’s friends want to be painted.
Why Jackie loves it
I love this adorable book about color and your 4-year-old will love it too.
Find this book in: Books About Colors / Best Books for 4-year-olds
Books About Colors for a 5-Year-Old
Mixed: A Colorful Story
Author: Arree Chung
Illustrator: Arree Chung
Year: 2018
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 2 – 5
Plot
The blues, reds, and yellows live together in harmony until one day each color declares its color is the best and they don’t like the colors mixing.
But when yellow and blue fall in love, they make a little green baby. Soon colors start to mix and make new colors. They realize that the colors are better when they are mixed together.
Why Jackie loves it
This book is really a wonderful way to introduce racism to your children and teach them their colors at the same time.
Find this book in: Best Books for 5-year-olds / Books About Colors
One World Many Colors by Ben Lerwill
This beautifully illustrated book about colors explores colors as they are found all over the world. From the yellow cabs of New York and the sunflower fields of Spain to the pink blossoms of Japan and the feathers of a flamingo, this book explores colors as they have never been seen before.
Pocket Full of Colors: The Magical World of Mary Blair, Disney Artist Extraordinaire
Author: Amy Guglielmo, Jacqueline Tourville
Illustrator: Brigette Barrager
Year: 2017
Genre: Nonfiction Picture Book
Age: 4 – 8
Plot
The pictures in this book are captivating, the colors are brilliant but, the best part is that it is true. Based on the story of Mary Blair, this story tells how one woman broke the mold and created “It’s a Small World”.
Why Jackie loves it
This book is a feast for the eyes! I loved this book even more than my daughter. It’s one I will treasure forever.
Find this book in: Best Books for 5-year-olds / Books About Colors
The Color Monster
Author: Anna Llenas
Illustrator: Anna Llenas
Year: 2018
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 2 – 5
Plot
This adorable book about colors will not only teach your child about colors but will help them identify their emotions at the same time.
Why Jackie loves it
I love the idea of making emotions something your child can see because this will help your child identify how they are feeling more literally.
Find this book in: Books About Colors / Books About Feelings
Color Toys
These toys that teach about colors are the perfect addition to any toy shelf. They are both educational and fun.
