Read a review of When I Coloured in the World by Katie Clapham for Books for Keeps magazine, March 2017 No. 222.

This colourful picture book from Iranian Writer Ahmadreza Ahmadi follows a simple concept – a child is given a box of crayons and using each colour they cover something bad in the world and replace it with something beautiful. Darkness becomes light when the yellow crayon makes all the light come on. Hunger becomes a field wheat growing from a green crayon. Children might enjoy trying to fill in this template with their own colourful ideas on how to make the world a better place. The illustrations are bold and original and the book would work well in a classroom setting.

Katie Clapham

• A fantastic piece of work by North Ormesby Primary Academy
• A visit to the poet of hope and peace
• This book was among the best children’s books of 2015 by the Guardian

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