Best Picture Books About Colors (2026): 5 Picks Compared

Finding the best picture books about colors starts with the child on your lap: a baby who points at bright pages needs a different book than a preschooler who wants a story. We compared 9 picture books by stated reading age, grade level, print length and what each listing says is inside.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Color Blocked by Sorenson	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Dr. Seuss's Book of Colors by Seuss	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Pantone: Colors by Pantone	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	A Color of His Own by Lionni	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Let's Say Our Colors by Priddy	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Color Blocked by Sorenson

Ashley Sorenson·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

An interactive picture book where readers rub, turn and tap pages to learn primary and secondary colors; it suits a playful preschooler, not a baby who only names colors.

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Pros

• Readers rub, turn and tap the pages to keep the color flowing
• Teaches primary colors and how mixing makes secondary colors
• The listing gives a reading age of 2 to 6 years, marked as from customers, and grade level Preschool to 1

Cons

• The listing does not state a board-book format
• The unreliable-narrator joke may need an adult to explain it
• Reading age is marked as from customers rather than stated by the publisher

2

Dr. Seuss's Book of Colors by Seuss

Dr. Seuss·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A rhymed Seuss book about color with art from his classic books; it suits a beginning reader, not a toddler who needs a board book.

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Pros

• Rhymed text with art from The Cat in the Hat and other Seuss books
• Bright and Early Books use fewer and easier words for beginners
• The listing gives a reading age of 1 to 4 years, marked as from customers

Cons

• Reading age is marked as from customers rather than stated by the publisher
• The listing states no grade level
• The description names it a companion to other Seuss concept books, so fans may want those too

3

Pantone: Colors by Pantone

Pantone·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A board book presenting nine colors in 20 shades each; it suits a baby or toddler learning color names, not a child ready for a story.

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Pros

• Presents nine basic colors with 20 different shades of each
• Board book format suits small hands
• The listing gives a reading age of Baby to 3 years, marked as from customers

Cons

• Reading age is marked as from customers rather than stated by the publisher
• Grade level is listed only as Preschool -, which looks incomplete
• Published March 1, 2012, it is older than the 2017 and 2018 picks here

4

A Color of His Own by Lionni

Leo Lionni·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A classic story of a chameleon searching for a color of his own; it suits a preschooler who likes stories, not a baby learning first color words.

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Pros

• A classic story about a chameleon searching for a color of his own
• Shows the chameleon turning purple, yellow, and black and orange striped
• The listing gives a reading age of 1 to 4 years, marked as from customers

Cons

• Reading age is marked as from customers rather than stated by the publisher
• The listing states no grade level
• The 1997 reprint is the oldest edition on this list

5

Let's Say Our Colors by Priddy

Roger Priddy·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A sound-button book that teaches colors with photos and questions; it suits a 1 to 2 year old, not a child ready for longer stories.

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Pros

• Sound buttons let children match sounds to pictures again and again
• Bright photographs and questions on every page encourage learning
• The listing gives a reading age of 1 to 2 years, marked as from customers, and grade level Preschool and up

Cons

• Reading age is marked as from customers rather than stated by the publisher
• At 12 pages it has the fewest pages on this list
• Published July 7, 2009, the oldest publication date here except the 1997 reprint

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More picks to compare

• Colors by ReissFor toddlers ages 1 to 4 learning first color words.Check on Amazon
• Learn and Explore: Colors by PriddyFor babies to age 3, with 14 pages of color discovery.Check on Amazon
• Colors by RotnerFor babies to age 3 learning color words.Check on Amazon
• Big Book of Colors by BrooksFor ages 1 to 4, with 4 giant fold-outs and 130+ hues.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 23 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. All 5 listings state a reading age, marked as from customers, and some state a grade level. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best picture books about colors

Match the age on the listing to the child

All 5 listings state a reading age, each marked as from customers: 1 to 2 years for the Priddy sound book, Baby to 3 for Pantone, 1 to 4 for Seuss and Lionni, and 2 to 6 for Color Blocked. Treat those as a starting point and check the page count too. For more by reading level, check the reading age and grade on each listing.

Board book, sound book or storybook

The Pantone pick is a board book for small hands, the Priddy pick adds sound buttons, and the Lionni and Seuss picks tell stories. A baby who chews books needs the board book; a toddler who presses everything will love the sound buttons. Pick the format that survives your reader.

Look at what the book actually teaches

Pantone teaches shades: nine colors with 20 shades each. Color Blocked teaches mixing: primary colors becoming secondary colors. The Seuss book teaches color words in rhyme. Match the lesson to what the child is learning now.

Before you buy

• Check the reading age and grade level on the listing against the child’s own.
• Confirm the format: only the Pantone listing states a board book.
• Read the description for how the book teaches, from sound buttons to stories.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age are picture books about colors for?

These picks list reading ages from 1 to 2 years up to 2 to 6 years, each marked as from customers. Choose the range that fits the child.

Which color book is best for a baby?

The Pantone board book lists a reading age of Baby to 3 years, and its board format suits small hands. The Priddy sound book lists 1 to 2 years.

Do any of these teach color mixing?

Yes. Color Blocked teaches primary colors and how mixing makes secondary colors, with pages readers rub, turn and tap.

Still deciding? Our top pickColor Blocked by Sorenson

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Related lists

Browse all kids and teens lists, including picture books, for more by age and topic.

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