Kente Colors

Author: Debbi Chocolate Price: $ 2.36 (new) $ 2.30 (used) Medium: Paperback (32 pages) Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers 1997-10-01

Editorial Description

A joyful ode to kente celebrates the beauty and tradition of this West African fabric that is now so popular in America. Rhythmic verse shows the special meaning of colors and patterns while glorious paintings show kente as it is used and worn in Ghana, from babies' blankets to dancers' capes. An author's note further explains kente's rich symbolism. Readers young and old will delight in discovering the connections between African culture and the colorful cloth we love to wear.

Reader Reviews

Kente Cloth
A warm multicultural book, that gives an enlightining look at the traditional hand weaving of the Kente Cloth. The book is an exciting celebration of culture by the Ashante people of Ghana and the Ewe of Ghana and Togo. The steady rhythum of rhyming text along with its bright and colorful illustrations are sure to attract the attention of young readers. As an educator I would use this book to introduce colors and weaving activities to young children. The use of rhyme is a great springboard for strenghthening students phonemic awarness. I would give this book 5 stars.

The artwork, expressed in fabric, of the cultures of Western Africa
Kente Colors refer to the multi-colored fabric worn by the people in Western Africa. In general the colors are bright, with stripes or other alternating designs. This book is a demonstration of many of the most widely used designs as well as the traditional purpose for the wearing of the design. It originated as the cloth worn only by the royalty of the Ashanti Kingdom that flourished in the region of West Africa in the sixteenth century only now it is worn by people at all levels of society.
This book is an excellent one for elementary school courses in multiculturalism and how other cultures adopt the fashions of another. It is easy to read and the images of the designs are striking and clear.


Wonderful book!
It is easy to read with very beautiful colors. I have three Ewe students from Togo and am hard pressed to find books to reflect their culture. I'm sure that the Ewe in Ghana and Togo are related and my students will be able see some of their culture reflected in the book. Thanks Deborah!