Children's developing ideas about race contribute to how they view themselves and how they view others. The following children's books applaud racial diversity. Some of the authors celebrate the world's beautiful variety of skin colors and hair textures. Others honor the cultural differences that sometimes accompany race. These books show, through their illustrations, poetry, and stories, the many wonderful ways people are different while also revealing the many ways their love and caring for one another is the same.

All the Colors of the Earth, story by Sheila Hamanaka. Hamanaka's lyrical text and warm oil-painted illustrations celebrate the astounding diversity of the world's skin and hair. Poetic descriptions of skin colors that are "the roaring brown of bears" or the "tinkling pink of tiny sea shells" and hair textures that "flow like water" or curl "like sleeping cats" provide rich images to which children will relate. With a message of universal love, this picture book speaks to children of many different cultures and can be found in dual-language format of English and Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Somali, Turkish, Urdu, and Vietnamese. Ages four to eight. (Wil-liam Morrow, 1994)

The Colors of Us, story by Karen Katz. Determined to show Lena that for her self-portrait there are many attractive shades of brown from which to choose, Lena's mother takes her around town to visit her friends and neighbors. As Lena looks again at each person, she begins to see the diverse shades that make up the colors of their skin. Sonia's light brown reminds her of "creamy peanut butter"; Jo-Jin's shade matches the "color of honey"; and Mr. Pelle-grino's golden brown resembles "pizza crust". Lena is so impressed that she decides to paint portraits of everyone. Children will enjoy this playful book's delicious comparisons of the wonderful array of colors that make up people's skin. Ages four to eight. (Henry Holt and Company, 1999)

Black, White, Just Right!, story by Marguerite W. Davol, illustrations by Irene Trivas. This upbeat book describes the positive feelings a young girl has for her interracial family. Revealing the skin colors and behaviors of her African American mother and Caucasian father, the little girl proudly states how she is a mixture of both of them. For young children, this story celebrates how the differences and similarities of a mother, father, and child contribute to their happiness as a family. Ages three to six. (Albert Whitman & Company, 1993)

Hairs/Pelitos, A story in English and Spanish from The House on Mango Street, story by Sandra Cisneros, illustrations by Terry Ybáñez. In this poetic book, Cisneros ignores the colors of skin (Ybáñez paints characters green, purple, and blue) and concentrates instead on the diverse textures of hair she remembers in her family. Her papa's hair is like a broom while her mother's is curly and pretty and smells like bread before you bake it. Though Cisneros' descriptions and Ybáñez's illustrations show how different the family members are from each other, the lasting image of the young narrator lying safe and warm in bed with both her parents shows their intimacy. Child-ren and adult readers will enjoy the warm emotions expressed in this loving tribute to a family composed of individuals with unique hairstyles. Ages four to eight. (An Apple Soup Book-Alfred A. Knopf, 1994)

Two Mrs. Gibsons, story Toyomi Igus, illustrations by Daryl Wells. The two Mrs. Gibsons contrasted in this tender picture book are the author's Japanese mother and African American grandmother. While the grandmother (one of the Mrs. Gibsons), gave hugs like a "bearskin rug" and had a big laugh to accompany her big voice, the mother (the other Mrs. Gibson), hugged like a "down-filled comforter" and shyly covered her mouth when she laughed. Despite the vastly different appearances, actions, and personalities of these two women, the book honors both of them and remembers the many ways that they made the author feel loved and cared for as a child. Ages four to eight. (Children's Book Press, 1996)

Allison, story and illustrations by Allen Say. When Allison tries on a kimono sent by her grandmother, she is confused that she looks more like Mei Mei, her Chinese doll, than her adopted parents. When her parents tell her they brought her and Mei Mei from far far away, she becomes confused. Realizing that she does not know her birth parents, Allison then becomes despondent and angry. Finally, after feeding and adopting a stray cat, Allison realizes that her parent's love and care for her is what makes them a family. Say's poignant story and illustrations succeed remarkably in revealing the complicated emotions both Allison and her parents go through when dealing with the issues of interracial adoption. Ages four to eight. (Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997)

Grandfather Counts, story by Andrea Cheng, illustrations by Ange Zhang. When Helen's grandfather, Gong Gong, moved from China to live with her family, both he and Helen find it difficult. Unable to communicate, they both busy themselves with solitary activities. A breakthrough occurs when they sit together and count the railroad cars as they pass by their house. They both begin to understand the numbers in each other's language which spurs a curiosity to learn others words so they can communicate. The interracial family in this charming tale resembles many American families in which generations do not speak each other's language. Ages four to eight. (Lee & Low Books, 2000)

Bonjour, Lonnie, story and illustrations by Faith Ringgold. Ringgold (au-thor of the Caldecott Honor Book, Tar Beach) describes the rich family history of Lonnie. Led by a "Love Bird" who helps people find their loved ones, Lonnie, a young orphan who doesn't know his family, magically travels from his bed back through time and across the ocean to Paris, France. In Paris, he learns about the members of his interracial family and the historical events that affected them including the Harlem Renais-sance, both World Wars, and the French Resistance. Though a bit complicated, this children's book succeeds in introducing its young readers to important 20th Century race-related events both heroic and tragic, while concentrating on one boy's search for a better understanding of himself. Ages six to ten. (Hyperion Books for Children, 1996)