Sulwe

A Coretta Scott King Honor book by Lupita Nyong’o and illustrator Vashti Harrison. Also, a New York Times bestseller and has its own episode in the Netflix original show Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices! Harrison’s use of colors is exceptional and vivid that gives the read a close connection to the protagonist. The story begins with Sulwe who was born the color of midnight unlike her sister, mother and father who were born of lighter colors. Almost no one looked like Sulwe at school and some of the other students would call her names like “Darky” or “Night.” This made Sulwe sad so she would hide away while her sister made friends. She ate lighter foods and put on lighter makeup to change her appearance, but it didn’t work. Sulwe told her mom everything and her mother told her brightness is not in her skin, but in her heart. She searched her heart and went to sleep. A shooting star visited her that night and told her a story of the sisters of Night and Day. Night was sad that the people praised Day and so she left. Soon the people missed the Night, and Day went looking for Night to tell her how important she was to the people. Night came back and the people “rejoiced” her. From then on, Sulwe knew that if she looked up in the night sky she could be reminded of her brightness.

Teachers can use this as a lesson in social studies as a study in cultural differences. Equally, teachers can use this as a lesson in self-acceptance and self-worth. The illustrations are vivid and push the emotion of the characters onto the page.

Nyong'o, L. (2019). Sulwe. (V. Harrison, Illust.) Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.