Red Is Best

Gwen Zilm was Technical Services Librarian, Okanagan College, Kelowna, British Columbia.

Red Is Best is the story of a very young child who chooses always to wear her red stockings, red boots, red jacket, red mitts, red pyjamas. She shuns all colours except red, which “puts singing in her head.” Adult reasoning counts for nought. In no way can the child be persuaded to change her mind or her choice. The frustration an adult feels in such a situation is countered with the child’s joyful celebration of her choice.

The animation of toddlers and their business-like and serious approach to routines are captured in the illustrations. A limited range of colours highlights the red.

The story is written in complete sentences, and the use of repetition and questions reflects accurately the rhythms and structure of our speech. This is a very important criterion in books for the very young.

Red is Best will have wide appeal to children between one and a half and three years of age. It has been recognized by children’s librarians in Canada as one of the outstanding books of 1982 and is an IODE Book Award winner.