Magnificent Homespun Brown by Samara Cole Doyon is a vibrant and dynamic picture book, full of exuberant, colorful art depicting Black joy. The book’s text is a poem celebrating the many beautiful ways that Black children can look, live, and celebrate. There is delightful diverse Black representation illustrated throughout the book, from disability to religion to skin tones, with a diverse crew of Black adults supporting the children’s joy. This is a book best originally read by, or at least with an adult, as some of the language is a bit aspirational for children reading picture books. Magnificent Homespun Brown is a joy to read and an important celebration of the beauty of Black and brown skin.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Tilbury House Publishers for sharing an #advancecopy of #MagnificentHomespunBrown

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book had beautiful pictures. It was a great celebration of being who you are. The language may be a little too flowery for a younger audience. Maybe 2nd grade as the youngest audience.

I love books that have mixed race characters because not everything is black and white in our world, and sometimes it really feels like people try to fit us into different shapes or stereotypes that just don't fit us. This is a great book about embracing who you are, no matter what.

This poetic book with gorgeous illustrations celebrates the beauty of BROWN. Subtly exploring self-image, identity, and empowerment, Magnificent Homespun Brown is a great book to add to classroom libraries.

Lovely free verse poem will float right over most children';s heads. One can try and read it to them and explain along the way- it certainly will add to their language skills! The illustrations were soft, warm and wonderful! Kids will love looking at them! Beautiful book overall, but not sure of it';s audience. It may get lost in a picture book collection and if it is in adult section, likely won't be taken out (sorry! I work in a library and am thinking of where it could be shelved and lost.) Maybe as a gift, but like I said, it may need some explaining of works along the way. maybe a family read for all ages?

I loved this book. It was written so beautifully and the illustrations were absolutely perfect. I would absolutely purchase this book for a classroom and it would be a great mentor text. I love how it has many unique people and places represented in this book.

Such beautiful, lyrical language! There are no rhymes, but the author was able to work the language with her word-choice and imagery. I like how we start with the concrete--i.e. describing the color of her eyes--to the abstract. A celebration indeed.

"Amber brown.
Like honey harvested from the hive in Auntie's yard.
A sacred, healing elixir, a balm for beleaguered
voices and aching throats,
born from the billowing bustle of industrious
bees, stretching into a soft, squiggly line as it
slips from the spigot to the bottle."

This is yet another picture book for adults disguised as one for children.

Were I to have viewed it as something aimed at adults, I probably would've liked it better. The words are evocative, and I like the way each flowery description of a shade of brown is tied back to the little girl narrating the story. But the vocabulary is just too much, and I don't know how many kids would sit through something that's so wordy.

The pictures are cute and really highlight the text nicely. But, again, there's that mismatch with the audience. Kids might enjoy looking at the illustrations, but are they really going to want to sit and listen to what is, essentially, a really long free-verse poem?

If this were aimed at adults, I might've given it a higher rating. But I just can't see this appealing to children.

This book is a verbal and visual celebration of being comfortable in the gorgeous skin that you are in. The lyrical poetic language is inspiring and heartwarming making it a perfect story to share one-on-one.

Little girls express the different shades of brown that they witness around them in the world. They compare the tones they find to different physical and personality attributes that they possess. They use terms such as: deep secret brown... like my eyes, feathery brown...like my lashes, amber brown...like my hair, radiant brown.. like my skin, smooth, creamy brown...like my laughter, and thundering brown... like my power, just to name a few. The girls know deep down in their hearts that they are beautiful both inside and out making each glow with pride and happiness because of that unconditional truth.

The author has included a diverse cast of characters representing different ethnic cultures and also those with disabilities. The illustrations are gorgeous. They are full of rich details that are portrayed in soft, warm, autumn colours ... a perfect pallet to impact the reader visually and invite them into the coziness of the story. The text will influence both young and old alike as it is shared together. This "celebration-of-life" book should be in every elementary school library and would be perfect to give as a gift. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tilbury House Publishers for a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest opinion.
"Radiant brown, like my skin" is the declaration of the narrator of this children's book. This book is an incredibly beautifully written joyful celebration. Every child of color should have this book. It is extremely poetic and moving. The main character goes through the shades of brown, celebrating the beautiful things that come in that shade. She compares shades to her eyes and hair. I can't express what beautiful poetry this book is. I could actually imagine the shades as I read, feel the syrup, I could imagine the warmth and smell of the hot chocolate. This is an uplifting celebration of the beauty of all brown things, and all brown people. I never considered brown to be a warm color until I read this book, and now, I see it as a warm blanket, encompassing everything.
I would love to read a novel by author Samara Cole Doynon. She has an amazing way with words. Adding to the enjoyment were the gorgeous illustrations by Kaylani Juanita.

This book is a beautifully written poem going through everyday joys like watching rain fall or eating a caramel apple. It shows how different shades are all beautiful. This would be great for kids 8 and up. It’s too complex and wordy for kids under that.

The illustrations are stunning throughout this book. What especially impressed me were the author’s descriptive language word choices. I kept thinking that this book would be perfect for Writer’s Workshop. What a beautiful celebration of diversity.

'Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration' by Samara Cole Doyon with art by Kaylani Juanita is a picture book glorying in how we can see ourselves in the world around us.

A young girl compares rivers and trees and honey to the color of her skin and eyelashes and eyes. She is cared for by family. She spends time in nature. She is a gloriously happy child.

The verse in this book is amazing. I was completely taken in from the first page. The art is exuberant and beautiful. Everyone should have a book where they can see themselves. It's also good to have books that show us that we have more in common than not.

I received a review copy of this ebook issue from Tilbury House Publishing, Myrick Marketing & Media LLC, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.