Colorful Pages is an organization that aims to ensure colorful pages for students by supporting educators, families, and librarians in using multicultural literature, diverse books featuring characters of color. 

We provide resources via our website, including book lists, lesson plans, book reviews, author interviews, and information about incorporate diverse books into their setting. As an organization, we also provide coaching and training around multicultural literature and The Spectrum of Multicultural Literature (created by Kaitlin Kamalei Brandon, our founder). 

Mission, Vision, & Values

Mission Statement

Our mission is to support educators, families, and librarians in using multicultural literature and culturally sustaining curriculum to ensure that young scholars cultivate cultural empowerment and cross-cultural empathy. 

Vision Statement

A world of colorful pages through multicultural literature, where our students feel empowered in their own culture and empathetic towards other cultures.

Values

  • Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy – We are rooted in Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy in order to uplift our communities of color build a more anti-racist society.
  • Diversity – We are committed to be inclusive of all identities. Through our work, we specifically focus on race, ethnicity, and culture, but acknowledge the intersectionality of all identities.
  • Empathy – We aim to grow empathy in our students, so we model empathy, compassion and appreciation, for others in our work.
  • Empowerment – We work to help our students feel empowered in their identities by modeling self-esteem and courage that grows from our identities.
  • Responsiveness – We value the participation of educators, families, and librarians and strive to respond to their needs.

Company History

In November 2018, Kaitlin Kamalei Brandon had the idea for Colorful Pages at the Northwest Teaching for Social Justice Conference while presenting on The Spectrum for Multicultural Literature with a workshop titled, “Ensuring Colorful Pages: The Spectrum for Multicultural Literature in K-5 Classrooms”. At the end of the presentation, many participants came up to her asking if she had a website available so they could access these resources and/or request a workshop. Therefore, Colorful Pages was founded at www.colorfulpages.org. 

Over the next two years, Colorful Pages has grown its outreach and impact. Our website has housed dozens of book lists, lesson plans, book reviews, author interviews, and articles to support educators, librarians, and families in using multicultural literature authentically. We have established an active social media and online presence to expand our reach and impact as many students as possible. 

Colorful Pages uses The Spectrum for Multicultural Literature, created by Brandon. The Spectrum ensures that multicultural literature is used to its greatest extent to cultivate cross-cultural empathy and cultural empowerment in students. Colorful Pages aims to post book reviews, teaching resources, lesson plans, and general articles to support others in this mission.