The Black Book of Colors

Name: The Black Book of Colors
Author: Menena Cottin
ISBN: 9780888998736

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Menena Cottin

Illustrated by Rosana Faria

Reading Level 3 C · Gentle Ages 5-8 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes. Its HootRating code, C, means gentle content.

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About This Book

Colors aren’t just for seeing—they can be felt, heard, and even smelled! Thomas shows you how to discover the world’s colors in a whole new way, making every sense an adventure. This changes everything you thought you knew about colors.

Themes

Sense & SensationColorsJuvenile NonfictionConceptsInclusive Design

Quick Assessment

This innovative book introduces young readers to the concept of colors through multiple senses, including touch and sound. Designed with raised illustrations and braille alongside white text on black pages, it offers an inclusive experience for both sighted and visually impaired children. Suitable for ages 5-8, it encourages sensory exploration and broadens understanding of perception.

Why we rated The Black Book of Colors C (Gentle)

The Black Book of Colors is written at a Level 3 reading level across 24 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 4 and up can manage The Black Book of Colors on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate The Black Book of Colors as C (Gentle) because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.

Thematically, The Black Book of Colors explores sense & sensation, colors, juvenile nonfiction, concepts, and inclusive design — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about sense & sensation, colors, juvenile nonfiction.

Maybe not for

! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

C · Gentle

Emotional

Gentle

Physical

Gentle

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Gentle

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.

Data confidence: high

Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?