Sulwe

by Lupita Nyong'o

Vashti Harrison (Illustrator)

The New York Times Number 1 Bestseller

From Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o comes a powerful, moving picture book about colourism, self-esteem and learning that true beauty comes from within.

Sulwe's skin is the colour of midnight. She's darker than everyone in her family, and everyone at school.

All she wants is to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister.

Then a magical journey through the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything.

In this stunning debut picture book, Lupita Nyong'o creates a whimsical and heartwarming story to inspire children to see their own unique beauty.

• ISBN10: 0241394325
• ISBN13: 9780241394328
• Publish Date: 15 October 2019
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 25 November 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Puffin
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 48
• Language: English

Reviews

[nannah]

Ahh, this was the sweetest and most lovely book. I’ve been trying to read more children’s and MG books to recommend for my mother’s classroom, and I’ve discovered that there are so many gems out there in a genre I wouldn’t normally read. This is most definitely one of them.

Content warnings:
- colorism

Representation:
- everyone in the book is Black

A young Black girl, Sulwe, is the darkest in her family and has a sister whose skin looks like noon sunlight. While her sister gets lots of attention and makes lots of friends, Sulwe hides out by herself. Then one night the stars she’s named after tell her an old story about Day and Night, and why it’s important to be who you are and love who you are.

The art, by far, is what shines here. Each page and spread is like a masterpiece, colors and textures and everything bringing the text to life in the best way. I’m going to look up what else this artist has done or illustrated. Absolute magic.

The story itself is also very nice, and I’m glad there’s a children’s book talking about issues and problems within marginalized communities, not only the existence of marginalized communities themselves.

All in all, a wonderful read.

[famke]

beautiful illustrations and lovely and heartwarming story! i loved every second of it and i definitely recommend this.