What Can Colors Do?

Hardcover
40 pages, 8 ½ x 7 in.
Fully illustrated
Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2021
ISBN 9781616899660

There's a rainbow of ways to think about colors. Colors pop and shine. Cool colors make us shiver, while warm colors heat us up. They can even express our moods, from feeling blue to being tickled pink. What Can Colors Do? introduces children to color through vibrant artworks that inspire curiosity, joy, and surprise in young learners.

Colorful paintings, sculptures, and objects from the Philadelphia Museum of Art help children think about how artists use color. How can colors express feelings? Can a color be loud or soft? As children learn the basics of color theory, from mixing to contrast and color wheels, they answer engaging, thoughtful questions that bring the world of art and their own experiences together. A series of activities for kids to complete on their own—from a scavenger hunt to a color-inspired way to meditate—helps them to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the hues around us.

Liz Yohlin Baill is the collections interpreter for youth and families at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.