Lupita Nyong'o

A New York Times bestseller! Recipient of a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award Recipient of an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Children’s Literary Work From Academy Award–winning actress Lupita Nyong’o comes a powerful, moving picture book about colorism, self-esteem, and learning that true beauty comes from within. Sulwe has skin the color of midnight. She is darker than everyone in her family. She is darker than anyone in her school. Sulwe just wants to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Then a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything. In this stunning debut picture book, actress Lupita Nyong’o creates a whimsical and heartwarming story to inspire children to see their own unique beauty.

Sulwe

Jennifer Diz

Cute , but also made me feel a bit sad at times. The illustrations were just beautiful and the writing was great!

Flavia Louise

This was extremely cute and beautiful. Definitely a great kids book.

Caroline Lewicki

This is a beautifully written and illustrated picture book that's so important for young girls with dark complexions. We need more books like this that help kids feel like they're not alone!

Story Eater

The illustrations only enrich the message in this gorgeous book about beauty and how we should see it in ourselves and others. The story follows young Sulwe, whose beautiful name means “Star,” while telling the mythology of the sisters day and night. Night, light Sulwe, is not appreciated for her qualities until she is missing from the sky. 

While the message of this book is surely one anyone who has a quality the majority of society does not consider beautiful, I do have reservations about the message that beauty is in the mind and heart. It is not made explicit that minds and hearts with good qualities, such as kindness and love, are beautiful. I wish it would have made that point because looks are not all that make a person. Other than that, certainly a book I would recommend.

Sulwe

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