Brown is a Beautiful Color

Brown is a Beautiful Color is a children's book that follows the story of a young black boy as he notices and celebrates the color brown in his surroundings such as his own skin, trees, and everyday objects. It was written by Jean Carey Bond and illustrated by Barbara Zuber. During the time this book was published, children's literature was dominated by white characters and traditional gendered color palettes. This book represents a broader push for racial representation and challenged mainstream publishing ideals by embracing diversity and rejecting the idea of the gendered color palettes in children's books at the time. Through illustrations, Brown is a Beautiful Color shares the message of self-love and identity, contrasting to the ideals of corporate modernism and reflecting the influence of global perspectives in design.