Stolen Colors
A Story About Body Safety and Consent
Published on 2. April 2026
Book
Hardback
40 pages
978-1-64614-630-7 (ISBN)
Description
A powerful and sensitive story about body safety and consent that every family needs.
Shreya loves to paint. Her world is filled with bright, bold colors as lively as she is. Even her art teacher, Mr. Rao, thinks her work is ""marvelous."" But when he asks to paint her during recess when the other kids are outside, Shreya's excitement turns to fear. The moment she arrives, she knows something is wrong, and in that moment, she freezes.
The experience shatters her love of painting, leaving her feeling awful and unable to find the words to tell her mother why.
Her former rival, Meera, has also become Mr. Rao's new subject. But unlike Shreya, Meera yells ""No!"" and runs for help. Meera's example gives Shreya the courage she needs to reclaim her voice and her love of art.
This crucial resource for families and book collections everywhere includes guidance and resources to help parents and children navigate this important topic.
Shreya loves to paint. Her world is filled with bright, bold colors as lively as she is. Even her art teacher, Mr. Rao, thinks her work is ""marvelous."" But when he asks to paint her during recess when the other kids are outside, Shreya's excitement turns to fear. The moment she arrives, she knows something is wrong, and in that moment, she freezes.
The experience shatters her love of painting, leaving her feeling awful and unable to find the words to tell her mother why.
Her former rival, Meera, has also become Mr. Rao's new subject. But unlike Shreya, Meera yells ""No!"" and runs for help. Meera's example gives Shreya the courage she needs to reclaim her voice and her love of art.
This crucial resource for families and book collections everywhere includes guidance and resources to help parents and children navigate this important topic.
Reviews / Votes
"Patel deals with a devastating topic in a direct but age-appropriate way; importantly, she normalizes the complex feelings and reactions that youngsters can experience in the wake of abuse even after receiving education about consent, and she models a truly supportive and loving adult response... A carefully crafted opening for difficult but important conversations." - KirkusMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 4 to 8 years
Dimensions
Height: 285 mm
Width: 236 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Weight
462 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-64614-630-7 (9781646146307)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Khushboo Patel is an Indian American author of children's books. Before she found the courage to write, she was a lawyer and an entrepreneur. She is the author of the picture book Stolen Colors and the middle-grade novel All That Chandni Knows. She currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children.
Tara Anand is an award-winning illustrator and visual artist from Mumbai, India, currently based in Brooklyn. Her artwork has been featured in such publications as The New Yorker, The New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times, as well as on Netflix. She has illustrated several children's books, including The Lion Queen and My Name Is Long as a River, and the graphic novel Fitting Indian.
Tara Anand is an award-winning illustrator and visual artist from Mumbai, India, currently based in Brooklyn. Her artwork has been featured in such publications as The New Yorker, The New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times, as well as on Netflix. She has illustrated several children's books, including The Lion Queen and My Name Is Long as a River, and the graphic novel Fitting Indian.