That was a lot of emotion packed into such a short story. I do think it could have been a little more subtle - it might be a children's book but not everything needs to be spelled out. How can different people have different ideas of what's beautiful?
I will never get over the beauty that is Vashti Harrison's work. "Sulwe felt hurt every time."
Have you ever dreamed of flying among the stars? And she says, "Real beauty comes from your mind and your heart. She is darker than everyone in her family. She is darker than everyone in her family. Join now. Have you ever noticed people getting treated differently because of their skin color? This is a little biographical we find out in the author’s note. Children's books featuring bold and brave girls are both becoming easier for parents to find, and also cover a large range of... To see what your friends thought of this book.
The cover on this book is beautiful. Fridays are my most hectic day of the week with cooking, baking, cleaning, and other preparations. She thinks her fair-skinned sister is beautiful, and her mother tells her she is too, just because that's a mother's role. It tells the story of a little girl who "was born the color of midnight" and feels she's treated differently than her lighter-skinned friends and family members because of it. I read this book to my students today. Her mama tells her the most beautiful story or legend of daylight and nighttime. Jubilant celebration of girls' hairstyles, hair textures. Wonderful!
Not only were the illustrations breathtaking, but the message of loving the brown skin you’re in was just as beautiful too. Sulwe is a warm and personal exploration of a topic rarely discussed in children's literature. While her lighter-skinned sister gets nicknames like "Sunshine," "Ray," and "Beauty," Sulwe gets called names like "Blackie," "Darky," and "Night."
Had no idea what the book was about when I originally received it but wanted it specifically because I knew Vashti did the illustrations and who doesn't love Lupita? Sulwe struggles with accepting who she is and appreciating how she looks, but in the end she does. The story says "people give Sulwe names like 'Blackie,' 'Darky,' and 'Night.'" © Common Sense Media. Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners. She tries to get lighter by rubbing her skin with an eraser, putting on light makeup, even eating light-colored foods. How Technology Is Reshaping Democracy and Our Lives, Participate in DigCit Week with your kid by using curated activities from Wide Open School, Online Playdates, Game Nights, and Other Ways to Socialize at a Distance, Keeping Kids Motivated for Online Learning, Set limits for violence and more with Plus, 2020 Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Honor Book, 12 Picture Books with Truly Amazing Illustrations. REREAD: This book written by actress, Lupita Nyong'o gives an uplifting tale of a little girl named Sulwe,"born the color of midnight" learning how to accept the color of her dark skin... truly a beautiful picture book! From the author's note: "What is on the outside is only one part of being beautiful. Start by marking “Sulwe” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Parents: Set preferences and get age-appropriate recommendations with Common Sense Media Plus.
After learning about the value and beauty of the dark night, she can embrace her dark skin, and feels "beautiful inside and out!" Then a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything. Readers can compare that myth with any legends they've learned in their culture, and with the scientific view of Earth's rotation. She is darker than anyone in her school. That night a star comes into her room and whisks her away through the sky, taking her back to the beginning of Time, when Night and Day were sisters.
SULWE is a little girl who observes that she's treated differently and left out because her skin, "the color of midnight," is darker than that of her family members and schoolmates.
This bookk is appropriate for what age level?