What Color Is the Baby?: A Celebration of Skin Tones

This tender debut addresses the sensitive topic of colorism through the eyes of a loving big sister, Kundana. When her family focuses on the skin tone of her newborn sister, Kuku, Kundana gently pushes back, affirming Kuku's inherent beauty regardless of color. Inspired by the author's own experiences, the book provides a warm, accessible entry point for discussing skin color, beauty standards, and self-acceptance within a family context. It's a beautiful story for children aged 4-8, encouraging empathy and self-confidence.

A debut author takes a familiar loaded question, steeped in colorism, and turns it into one child's openhearted celebration of her new baby sister. When Kundana meets her newborn sister, Kuku, she declares her the prettiest baby in the world. But as grandparents, aunts, and uncles welcome Kuku, all they want to know is what color she is. Is she a marigold like her sister? Or a white jasmine? As the family gazes at Kuku's brown skin, big sister Kundana wonders why her family would care what color Kuku is--she's beautiful! Inspired by first-time author Harshini Vankineni's own experiences with colorism--the practice of treating people differently because of how dark or light their skin is--What Color Is the Baby? is a moving journey of a big sister finding a new and loving way to describe and defend her adored baby sister, while Neha Rawat's warm illustrations delight with coziness and love of family.