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A lyrical picture book about one little girl’s experience with colorism—and a celebration of that which can make us see things anew: light and love.
Ritu loves the sun. She loves it in the morning when it slants in through the kitchen window; in the afternoon when it makes the pool sparkle; and in the evening when it lights up the sky with splashes of orange and pink. But her Nani is worried the sun will give Ritu a tan.
Can Ritu convince her that all skin colors are beautiful—including Nani’s own?
With poetic text and stunning illustrations, this poignant story is sure to inspire children to embrace their own unique beauty—and it includes the author’s grandmother’s own aloo bhaji and roti recipes at the back.
Praise for Ritu in the Sun
“Though racism is a common topic in children’s books, colorism is rarer. Adults will pick up on deeper messages, but children will easily understand that Nani is extremely self-conscious of her skin color, and that through Rani’s loving words and actions, she’s able to finally accept herself.
“Hossain’s exquisitely crafted similes uplift the prose… López’s vivid illustrations blend past and present beautifully… this picture book will be a welcome addition to South Asian diasporic stories and will encourage age-appropriate dialogue about colorism, self-image, and beauty standards.
A joyful and tender story of building understanding and generational bonds.”
– Kirkus, a starred review
