Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'‘o
A Review By: VJJ
A New York Times best seller!
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, actress Lupita Nyong’o creates a whimsical and heartwarming story to inspire children to see their own unique beauty.
Review Notes:
Audio Book Publication Year: 2021
An installment in a Series? No
Narrator (s): Lupita Nyong’o
My eyes watered and a few tears fell within one minute of this thirteen minute story. The author takes you to a place of heartbreak for Sulwe, who wanted to be something other than what God made her. Sulwe didn’t want her dark skin, and the things she did to get rid of it hurt me to my heart, but when she meets of the sisters Day and Night, she learns the importance of loving herself. When Day told Night: “When you are darkest is when you are most beautiful, it’s when you are most you,” is when Sulwe realizes she doesn’t need to change; she is uniquely beautiful inside and out and had been all along.
It saddens me when our Black and Brown children (and adults) do not know or understand the beauty that is them, the beauty that is their skin, and the beauty they hold within. This was such a sweet and emotional story. The words and depiction were so beautifully articulated and inspiring, building self confidence to love yourself for who you are.
The illustration in this book by Vashti Harrison was absolutely amazing and the narration by Lupita Nyong’o brought it home. Her tone and inflections were warm, patient, and kind. A perfect voice of narration that felt like a lullaby. I highly suggest this for children and adults. I listened to it three times, and it’s a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful story.
Reading Recommendation? Yes!
Rating: NORTH STAR RATING
Content Warnings? None
