Available now as an English and Spanish Edition (Hardcover)!
English, with its blustery blues and whites, just feels wrong to Isabel. She prefers the warm oranges and pinks of Spanish. As she prepares for class at a new school, she knows she’s going to have to learn–and she would rather not! Her first day is uncomfortable, until she discovers there’s more than one way to communicate with friends. This is a universal story about feeling new and making new friends.
Written by Alexandra Alessandri
Illustrated by Courtney Dawson
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
ISBN 13: 978-1534110632
Grades K-3rd; ages 5-8
Add to Goodreads
Activity Page: Check out the FREE downloadable bookmark activity.
Teacher’s Guide: Isabel and Her Colores Go to School has a teacher’s guide! Other resources at Teaching Books, including Story Map Lesson, Cultural Representation Reflection, and Author Interviews.
Book Trailer: Watch the Isabel and Her Colores Go to School book trailer, which was created by my son!
Signed copies, while supplies last, are available at:
Signed and personalized copies will only be available through my local indie! I’ll be dropping by Books & Books when Isabel releases.
Also available at:
Praise for Isabel and Her Colores Go to School
“A first-day-of-school story steeped in vibrant imagery…This story affirms the experiences of English language learners while encouraging empathy for others…Readers will root for Isabel and her colorful new beginning.”–Kirkus Reviews. Read the full review here.
“Alessandri and Dawson fill the book with colors, both visually and in the words, which helpfully signal the emotions that Isabel, who loves to draw with an expansive palette, experiences over the course of the day…Pleasantly rounded characters add to the welcoming atmosphere, as does the message that art can bridge divides.”–Sarah Hunter, Booklist. Read the full review here.
“This synesthesia-inflected tale helps teach colors while simultaneously buoying those nervous about language barriers.”–Publishers Weekly. Read the full review here.
“This first day of school story beautifully serves as a mirror for children learning English and as a window into their experience for their classmates…VERDICT A bilingual story sure to resonate with ELL students and instill empathy in their classmates.”–Emily Brush, School Library Journal, STARRED 🌟 review! Read the full review here.
As Seen on TV
- Today in LA / NBC-LA with Daniella Guzman “Children’s Book Helps Ease Back to School Anxiety“
- NBC10 Boston’s Page Turner “Reads for Returning to a New Normal“
Interviews
- South Florida PBS – Between the Covers Summer Series | Alexandra Alessandri
- Kidlit411 Author Spotlight: Alexandra Alessandri
- Kathy Temean Authors & Illustrators Isabel and Her Colores Go to School by Alexandra Alessandri
- Erin Dealey: Happy Book Birthday to ISABEL AND HER COLORES GO TO SCHOOL + 5Qs for Alexandra Alessandri + a #Giveaway
- Jena Benton’s Simply 7 with Alexandra Alessandri – “Isabel and Her Colores Go to School“
- Latinxs in Kidlit Q&A with Alexandra Alessandri about her new book Isabel and Her Colores Go to School, illus. by Courtney Dawson
- Las Musas Happy Book Birthday to Isabel and Her Colores Go to School!
- Celebrate Picture Books – Isabel and Her Colores Go to School Blog Tour Stop
- Kidlit in Color Blog/Interview – Alexandra Alessandri – Isabel and Her Colores Go to School
- The Tiny Activist IG Live Interview Chatting with author Alexandra Alessandri
- Cover Reveal of ISABEL AND HER COLORES GO TO SCHOOL on the Las Musas blog
Isabel and Her Colores Go to School in the Wild!
- Bilingual Balance 15 Spanish Books to Welcome Newcomer Students
- ALSC Blog: Inclusive Back to School Books
- Heise Reads & Recommends | Try This … Update Your First Day Read Aloud
- Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) 2022 Día Reading List Kindergarten – Grade 2
- Marcela Landres E-zine Latinidad – Winter 2021: Best Books of the Year
- Kiddingly Isabel and Her Colores Go to School: Children’s Book Review
- A Mighty Girl 60 Empowering Books Starring Latina Mighty Girls
- Madison Reading Project Books We Love
- SLJ 29 Picture Books to Celebrate the Latinx Experience
- Bilingual Balance Spanish Back-to-School Books for Kids
- Washington Independent Children’s Book Roundup, August 2021
- Book Review: Back to School Books
- Good Reads With Ronna Best New Books for Back-to-School 2021
- The Tiny Activist Back to School, Back to School…Take These Books, They’re Real Cool!
- SLJ 8 Picture Books to Help Students Come Back to School
- Publishers Weekly Back to School Books for Fall 2021
- Librarian’s Quest Schooled in Perception
- Bicultural Mama Isabel and Her Colores Go to School – Bilingual Picture Book Giveaway
- De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children: Isabel and Her Colores Go to School
- Happily Ever Elephants First Day of School Books to Calm Nerves and Inspire Giggles!
- Erin Dealey Kindergarten Countdown!
- Imagination Soup Essential Back to School Books (About School, Friendship, Feelings, & Identity)
- Beagles and Books: What are you reading? 7/26/21
- 50 Back-to-School Books About Mighty Girls’ Adventures at Elementary School
- Darlene Back-Jacobson Review – Author Alexandra Alessandri has a new PB: Isabel and Her Colors Go To School
- Tamara Girardi’s 12 Months of Books Challenge: Bringing Books to Kids All Year Long
- 2021 Titles By/For/About Latinx, Latinxs in Kidlit
Awards & Nominations
- ILA 2022 Children’s and Young Adults’ Book Awards in Primary Fiction, Winner
- Silver Medal in the 2022 International Latino Book Awards – Best Children’s Fiction Picture Book, Bilingual
- 2022 Américas Award Commended Title
- Gold Medal in Young Children’s Literature, 2021 Florida Book Awards
- Best Read Aloud Picture Books of 2021 by The Bookstagang’s Best Picture Books of 2021 Awards
- Cybils Awards Nominee
Tag Me!
If you’ve seen Isabel and Her Colores Go to School out in the wild, feel free tag me on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook to share and add the hashtag #IsabelAndHerColoresGoToSchool.
Alexandra Alessandri 