Colorsss

This book teaches children about colors, how they appear in nature, and why animals exist in such a wide range of colors and patterns. When people imagine a snake, they might picture something brown or green, but did you know that some snakes are blue and even pink? Nature is full of surprises! After admiring snakes in a rainbow of colors, children and adults can explore the bonus pages to learn how snakes defend themselves from predators by using colors, patterns, venoms, and poisons. To reduce environmental impact, Colorsss is printed on FSC-certified paper using vegetable-based inks and features biodegradable lamination.

Deborah Hutchinson is a scientific journalist, technical writer, and children’s book author. She enjoys applying her scientific training and technical-writing skills to her day job, and she writes children’s books as an outlet for her creative side. Her debut book, Colorsss, combines her passion for scientific education with images she captured of some of her favorite critters. In this playful and informative book, children will learn about colors by using nature as their guide, and the bonus pages give them the opportunity to discover scientific facts about our often misunderstood no-legged friends.

• Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Review 2025

Colorsss delivers a vibrant and educational journey into the world of snakes—their dazzling colors, remarkable traits, and the wonders of their natural habitats. From beginning to end, it offers fascinating insights that illuminate the richness of the animal kingdom.

Deborah A. Hutchinson, PhD, has crafted an educational book that draws readers into the captivating world of snakes. With vibrant imagery and fascinating facts, each page bursts to life—sparking curiosity and leaving children inspired to discover even more about these incredible creatures. —Suzie Housley, Midwest Book Review

Vibrant, educational, and fun…

Hutchinson’s latest slithers in with a playful hiss and a bold mission: to turn fear into fascination. The book begins with a white egg, unfolding into a spectrum of snakes—red, orange, yellow, even pink—each real, striking, and worthy of attention. The well-paced rhymed verse holds young readers’ focus while inviting them to see snakes not as nightmares but as nature’s masterpieces. The transition to nonfiction is smooth. Hutchinson walks readers through the reasons behind all that color (camouflage, warning signals, survival strategies) without oversimplifying, and her explanation of “venomous” versus “poisonous” is precise. She reminds readers that most snakes aren’t dangerous and that the venom in a snake’s bite might one day help save a life. But the real bite comes in the note to grown-ups. Kids aren’t born fearing snakes, she argues. They learn it from us. So, stop recoiling and start teaching. Snakes kill pests, cure diseases, and keep ecosystems humming. They’re not monsters; they’re miracles with scales. More than a picture book, this is a vibrant, slyly persuasive lesson in wonder and respect. 

A beautiful book that gives snakes their due and gives readers a reason to look twice before saying “ew.” A must-have for school and public libraries. —The Prairies Book Review