Playful, loving, and poignant poems honor the many shades of black found in a palette of skin tones. Some verses are confident and celebratory (“I am biscuit brown / brown as a biscuit / All warm and waiting / for berries / that I carry / to the kitchen and can”) while others are deep and reflective (“I look white / I am as light / as snowberries in fall / 'I walk that walk / I talk that talk’ / Yet / Still some say / 'You’re not really Black!’ ”). Realistic illustrations, rich with color and emotion, portray a range of children and families in this invaluable addition to school and public libraries. (Ages 4–8)