****Discover a world of creativity and tradition in this fascinating
picture book that explores the history and cultural significance of the
color blue. From a critically acclaimed author and an award-winning
illustrator comes a vivid, gorgeous book for readers of all ages.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR - New York Public
Library - Chicago Public Library - Kirkus Reviews
For centuries, blue powders and dyes were some of the most sought-after
materials in the world. Ancient Afghan painters ground mass quantities
of sapphire rocks to use for their paints, while snails were harvested
in Eurasia for the tiny amounts of blue that their bodies would release.
And then there was indigo, which was so valuable that American
plantations grew it as a cash crop on the backs of African slaves. It
wasn't until 1905, when Adolf von Baeyer created a chemical blue dye,
that blue could be used for anything and everything--most notably that
uniform of workers everywhere, blue jeans.
Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond's riveting text combined with stunning
illustrations from Caldecott Honor Artist Daniel Minter, this vibrant
and fascinating picture book follows one color's journey through time
and across the world, as it becomes the blue we know today.