This Is Orange: A Field Trip Through Color by Rachel Poliquin, illustrated by Julie Morstad

Publisher: Candlewick

Publication Date: October 21, 2025

Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley

ISBN: 9781536230529

Starting with a regular orange, the book quickly moves to other sorts of fruit and citrus that are oranges, or are they? The history of orange and when it became a recognized color in the English language is explored. The book moves on to elements that are orange, how to make orange paint, and famous art pieces that embrace the color. Children get to explore monarchs, Buddhist monk robes, flags, marigolds and much more. 

This picture book takes the exploration of a single color to a new level. I loved looking at the language development around the color that coincided with the fruit. The various animals, foods, and uses of the color from bridges to astronaut suits is a delight. There is no speaking down to children here, but elevating them to a level of understanding for this unique color. The illustrations are simple and approachable, matching the approach of the book. They are also filled with a wide variety of oranges, of course.

Orange you glad for this picture book? Appropriate for ages 3-6.

Yellow Is a Banana by John Himmelman

Publisher: Abrams Appleseed

Publication Date: October 7, 2025

Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley

ISBN: 9781419776809

A little boy annoys his older sister by saying his sentences backwards. “This yellow is a banana!” She corrects him time and again as he points out red apples, purples grapes and a lime is green. He does it all with the great joy of a toddler discovering things, but his sister gets more and more frustrated and frazzled. Soon she too is accidentally saying things backwards. Finally, they agree that “This orange is orange” plus it’s delicious.

Told entirely in the dialogue between the two siblings, this picture book is the epitome of toddler joy at discovery. It also cleverly uses wordplay to show the importance of colors as well as creating a lot of giggles along the way. The illustrations are done with white backgrounds and simple lines that allow the specific colors to shine as the little boy presents them. 

A colorful read-aloud sure to get laughs alongside learning. Appropriate for ages 1-4.