This book takes you on a whirlwind trip around the world and through time to teach you the origin stories and fun facts about colour. Each group of colours includes a brief introduction that includes what it has represented over time. For example, yellow is the colour of sunshine but it can also represent illness and cowardice.

The story of yellow contains yellow ochre, chrome yellow, gamboge, Inca gold, saffron and orange.

The reason saffron is the most expensive colour is because to harvest a pound (453.6 grams) of it, you need between 55,000 and 85,000 flowers.

The story of red contains cochineal, vermillion, pink, red ochre and mummy brown.

“In some societies in the 19th and early 20th centuries, pink was reserved for young boys, not girls. Red was thought of as a strong, manly color, and as pink came from red mixed with white, it was not thought of as suitable for delicate girls.”

The story of purple contains puce, Tyrian purple and archil.

“The king walked in on Marie one day to see her trying on yet another expensive gown. It was made of silk in a purple-pink-brown color. The king tried to put her off the purchase by declaring it to be couleur de puce - the color of a flea after it had been squashed! Marie-Antoinette wasn’t put off. She insisted that every lady in her court wear puce or subtly similar shades known as dos de puce (flea’s back) or ventre de puce (flea’s belly).”

The story of blue contains indigo, Prussian blue, Egyptian blue, ultramarine and woad.

“A plant called woad grows throughout Europe. Its pretty yellow flowers bloom in fields and meadows, but its crushed leaves make a strong blue dye. It was used to color cloth, and some people - such as Celts in ancient Britain - applied it as a war paint.”

The story of green contains verdigris, Irish and Kelly green, and Scheele’s green.

Scheele, a German pharmacist working in Sweden, enjoyed conducting chemistry experiments. In 1775, he invented a new green. It contained copper and arsenic. It was cheap to make, popular and accidentally deadly.

Then we wrap it up with kohl black and graphite, and lime and lead white.

“Kohl was first used more than 5,000 years ago in ancient Egypt, where men and women drew thick lines of kohl around their eyes. It kept their eyes from being dazzled by the sun, but they also believed it had magical protective powers.”

I’m always keen to store up some new fun facts and enjoyed this journey through the rainbow. Kid me wouldn’t have read this book for fun but definitely would have used it for a school project.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and QEB Publishing, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group, for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a great resource for young readers, with tidbits of information on how color has been used throughout the years (why does royalty wear purple?) , how are colors made, details on various shades, along with lovely illustrations. I would have preferred that some bibliographic information was included since this is a education resource for children. 4 stars.

The Colors of History is a children's non fiction book written by Clive Gifford and illustrated by Marc-Etienne Peintre. Color has played an important part in history, in unexpected ways that most of us never realize. Why did Roman emperors wear purple? Which color is made from crushed beetles? What green pigment might be used to build super-fast computers of the future? Find out the answers to these and many more questions in this vibrant exploration of the stories behind different colors, and the roles they've played throughout history. From black to white, and all the colors in between, every shade has a story to tell. Each color group is introduced with a stunning and interpretive double-page spread illustration, followed by illustrated entries exploring the ‘colorful’ history of particular shades. With vivid, thought-provoking illustrations and engaging bite-sized text, this book is a feast for the eyes and the mind, ready to enthrall budding artists and historians alike.

The Colors of History is a well organized collection of information about the importance and roles of color in the world in general, and history in particular. The combination of well done illustrations and interesting information about the different shades of yellow, red, purple, blue, and green. Shades of black, white, and those grays in between is included at the end just prior to the index. I found the information to be well researched and written. I think it will capture the interest and attention of middle grade and older readers. I knew some of the information, but enjoyed the read and learning new bits of information very much. I found the read to be fascinating and entertaining, and I think that many others will enjoy it as well.

Fabulous book, full of information on the part played by colour in history. Easily digestable and would be suitable for children.

This is a very beautiful book that is enticingly packed with interesting tidbits of information. Names of different shades, history, meaning, how they are made . . . it is interesting to me as an adult! Because it is far-ranging, it might spark a child's interest in other areas of nature and history, too, to find out more of "the rest of the story." --Only certain people could wear certain colors in certain places at points in history? Find out more about that placed and time!

Short, sweet and very neat! An engaging look at how colours were created and used throughout history. The time spans from the yellow other of the Lascaux caves to the white wash of the White House. Perfect addition to a juvenile nonfiction collection. Very kid friendly, cartoonist artwork that isn't overwhelming.

Have you ever had to try and explain to your child why two colours are called red – yes, for the most part we can be a bit lazy and we say the general colour it is. If feeling motivate we might even throw in a “light” or “dark” *gasp*! Recently though, my own daughter wasn’t satisfied with my explanation of purple – because she has three shades – and so we discussed violet and lilac and it got complicated…but eventually she was all purpled-out! (This book actually adds 3 shades of purple to my teach list for her now!)

This is a fascinating book that looks at a sample of colour shades and explains what it was named after or how it was named and some of its uses. As an adult I’m finding this interesting! With simple text and stunning support illustrations this is one of those books to have in your general or art classroom. My students would have gotten such a buzz from learning about the history of blues, reds, and greens.

Great for beginner and competent readers; especially good to engage reluctant readers and students who may be below their reading level. Go on and buy this one as soon as it is released on 19th April 2018 in Australia and elsewhere!

This is a beautifully illustrated and curated history of color. Perfect for those looking to introduce color history to children or just for those looking for a richly designed and written history of color.

This is a fascinating look at how various parts of our history and intrinsically linked to certain colours and how those colours came to prominence. It is interesting for kids and adults alike and will add colour to your current knowledge of certain historical periods.

An absolutely beautiful book! Divided by color, each section tells the story of unique colors in history. From Saffron Yellow and Tyrian Purple to Mummy Brown and Egyptian Blue, colors have played some important roles in human history, and many of their stories are unknown. The graphics are clear and simple, the colors pop and the information is straight forward and easy to understand. I think kids and adults alike will find something of interest in this book!

recently read Kassia St Klair’s ‘The Secret Lives Of Colour’ and I found it fascinating and I really enjoyed that book but it’s nice to read a stunning but concise version of the same kind of thing, perfect for young readers.

I love how it’s divided into sections of various shades of colours and how the information was broken down in the book. With interesting facts about different colours, delivered with incredible illustrations that really shine a light on the colours that were being profiled throughout.

The artwork is gorgeous, the lime and lead white page is really beautiful, the Scheele’s Green page is really one of my favourite pages and the Egyptian Blue page is really hard to forget - it would be difficult to pick one definitive spread throughout this book as these colours really are brought to life.

A gorgeous and informative book from start to finish.

This is definitely a different, but very interesting, view of history. I loved the illustrations, and I learned a few things. I look forward to sharing this with my library patrons.

Thank you to QEB Publishing via Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Siamo circondati da colori: infinite sfumature, più o meno presenti a seconda delle mode del momento. E molti colori hanno significati particolari: perché blue e celeste sono associati ai maschietti e il rosa alle femminucce? perché il bianco è simbolo di purezza?

E sopratutto: è sempre stato così?

Questo splendido volume è un viaggio nei colori e nella loro storia: nascita ed evoluzione, uso e significati vengono analizzati nello scorrere del tempo, invitando a guardare qualcosa di troppo spesso dato per scontato con occhi nuovi.