Book Review OTHER KIDS CAN BE SO MEAN.
inside her darkness? Was there beauty in skin like midnight? She thought and she thought, and she fell asleep thinking about Mama’s In your classroom, they call you names words. and whisper bad things. On the playground, Not long after Sulwe’s eyes closed, they they tease you, and it hurts your feelings. You opened again! There in the middle of her wish you had more friends, and that things room was a shooting star, inviting her on a were different. But in the new book “Sulwe” journey where dark and light were sisters, by Lupita Nyong’o, illustrated by Vashti Harand the people learned that everything was rison, life can change, and it starts on the wrong if they didn’t have both. inside of you. Was that a lesFor a long son Sulwe could time, Sulwe hated use? her skin. Definitely, yes. It was dark as And if your child midnight and has started to notice because of it, she skin tones, this is a didn’t look like anybook she can use, one else in her famitoo. “Sulwe” tells a ly. Her mother’s skin wonderful tale of was as bright as the differences and lovday. Sulwe’s father ing the skin you’re was like sundown, in. and her sister was You aren’t like “high noon.” going to see that, Almost nobody at though, until later. school was darkNo, much like the skinned like Sulwe, story itself, the first either, and they thing you’ll see is called her names for the outside of it. “Sulwe,” and it’s Sulwe’s sister absolutely beautiful. had all kinds of Indeed, the illustrafriends. Sulwe had tions by Vashti Haralmost no friends, rison almost glow, and it wasn’t fair. and you may have a Maybe, she hard time keeping thought, she could your hands off. scrub the dark away Go ahead, By Lupita Nyong’o but ouch! That didthough, and open Illustrated by Vashti Harrison n’t work. the book. There, Reviewed by Terri Schlichenmeyer Maybe Mama’s author Lupita make-up would help Nyong’o tells a make her skin lighter, but it just made a mess. child’s tale that, she says in her end-of-book She tried to eat bananas, white bread, author note, is somewhat autobiographical: and other light foods, but that just made her like her character, she was teased for being full. “night-shaded.” Nyong’o goes on to offer Praying didn’t work, either, and when advice to children who wish to be lighterMama saw that Sulwe was sad, she tried to skinned, or who are bullied for being who help. Mama reminded Sulwe that her name they are. Not only is this comforting, but it means “Star” and that a star’s brightness could serve as a great conversation-starter. comes from the inside. Beauty comes from Give this book to your child, read it inside, too, and “it begins with how you see aloud, and enjoy the gorgeous artwork, too. yourself...” “Sulwe” is a book you’ll both love, as a beauAll that day, Sulwe thought about what tiful story loaded with meaning. Mama said. Could it be that there was light
“Sulwe”
20 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
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