What If Your Best Friend Were Blue? - Hardcover

Author Vera Kochan lives in Moraga, California.

Illustrator Viviana Garofoli lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her Illustrated books include My Big Rig and Firefighters!

We live in a world of infinite variety: people of all colors, creeds, political affiliations, ethnic backgrounds, and educational experiences. A smart and sensitive little boy imagines that all the people around him are a different color. Would that change things in any significant way?

The boy surmises even if his best friend were blue he would still play soccer with him. Even if his doctor were yellow, he would still try to help the little boy if he was sick. Even if she were orange, the babysitter would still try to think up games for them to play. Externals like appearance do not matter as much as what lies inside each person. Or as the little boy puts it: People "like you just because you're you."

Writer Vera Kochan and illustrator Viviana Garofoli have put together a simple but elegant children's book affirming the special qualities and talents of individuals and a celebration of the diversity of humankind. Children from 4 years and up will enjoy and appreciate this book. --Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Ages 4-7 A boy wonders what the world would be like if people were different colors. His best friend might be blue, but he would still play soccer. If the boy were lost, a green policewoman would help him find his parents. A yellow doctor, a purple fireman, and a red teacher would continue to do their jobs despite their color. His orange babysitter would be just as much fun as ever. He concludes that these people don t care what color you are, either....They like you just because you re YOU! Full-color acrylic illustrations are done in a cartoon style, and the simple text makes the lesson on tolerance accessible to youngsters. This book could be used as an introduction to Emily Jenkins s The Little Bit Scary People (Hyperion, 2008), which would deepen a discussion of tolerance and identity. --Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN, School Library Journal