HOW DO YOU EAT COLOR?
By: Mabi David
Illustrated by: Yas Doctor
Translated by: Karen Llagas
Published: March 18, 2025
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Fiction
Enjoy all the colors in your day while also eating fruits, vegetables, and legumes in a variety of colors. This children’s book encourages kids to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables in every color of the rainbow. As the day begins, kids play outside in the green grass while relishing the flavor of leafy greens.
As the children move through the day, the sun comes out and they feast on pineapple, mango, and corn on the cob. There is a gentle reminder not to spend too much time in the sun or you’ll brown like a yellow banana.
As the day comes to an end, the colors turn to darker shades of blues and purples. Kids may find themselves curious about some of the various foods mentioned like a purple yam, a green moringa, or a white parsnip. The end of the book explains some of the foods mentioned in the story, how to eat them, and why they are good for your body. The author also includes 8 tips for eating more colors together as a family. Reading this book and creating a list of new foods to try is one way to encourage your child to “eat the rainbow”.
This book was originally published in the Philippines and has been translated into English. The author is passionate about eating colorful, sustainably grown produce that offers a variety of colors on your plate. The watercolor illustrations give kids an idea of what the food looks like in silly formats such as using a halved mango as a paddleboard or a purple yam as a bed. This book offers as fun and encouraging way to gently nudge your child to try an assortment of food.
Mabi David is a Filipina writer, sustainable farmer, and plant-based cook. She hopes this book will help kids use their curiosity and explore new healthy eating habits. Follow Mabi on Instagram @meandmyvegmouth, where she shares recipes from a vegan kitchen in the pork-and-poultry-loving Philippines.
Yas Doctor is an artist and freelance illustrator based in the south of Manila. She enjoys growing a garden in her yard, and her favorite foods include potatoes, horseradish, beans, pumpkins, and carrots.
Karen Llagas is a poet, translator, and lecturer in Filipino at UC Berkeley. Her previous translations include the Schneider Family Honor and Ezra Jack Keats Honor book Dancing Hands (Chronicle). Visit Karen’s website at karenllagas.com.
To purchase a copy of HOW DO YOU EAT COLOR?, click HERE.
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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to make a purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
Posted Under Book Review, Children's books, colors, fiction, food, fruit, Karen Llagas, Mabi David, Philippines, vegetables, Yas Doctor