Colors, feelings and concepts converge in a story that finds a small girl comparing her perception of various colors with the perceptions of other people. Her sister thinks blue is sad, "Like a lonely song." But to the girl, blue is happy, "Like my favorite jeans / And a splash in the pool on a hot day." Yellow is cheery like the sun to her mom. To her, yellow is worried, "Like a wilting flower / And a butterfly caught in a net." Her dad thinks brown is ordinary (paper bag). She thinks it's special (chocolate syrup). The fresh associations and vivid, concrete descriptions of abstract feelings and ideas will surely inspire young readers and listeners to think about new ways to describe what they see, think, and feel. Highly Commended, 2014 Charlotte Zolotow Award (Ages 3-6)

What is your blue like? A lyrical ode to colors — and the unique ways we experience them — follows a little girl as she explores the world with her family and friends.

Your neighbor says red is angry like a dragon’s breath, but you think it’s brave like a fire truck. Or maybe your best friend likes pink because it’s pretty like a ballerina’s tutu, but you find it annoying — like a piece of gum stuck on your shoe. In a subtle, child-friendly narrative, art teacher and debut author Jessica Young suggests that colors may evoke as many emotions as there are people to look at them — and opens up infinite possibilities for seeing the world in a wonderful new way.