PICTURE BOOK REVIEWS: Sulwe/Parker Looks Up
ABOUT THE BOOK
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 picture book, actress Lupita Nyong’o creates a whimsical and heartwarming story to inspire children to see their own unique beauty differently.
REVIEW
This stunningly beautiful book packs a punch. I found myself both near tears and smiling hugely while reading this book. Sulwe, a young girl with skin "the color of midnight", wants more than anything to have skin the same shade as her sister, who has lots of friends and pleasant nicknames. Despite her mother's reassurances and love, Sulwe tries everything she can think of to change the way she looks. She eats light colored foods, applies makeup, and even tries to scrub off the darkness. Finally, utterly heartbroken she prays for God to change her. One night she is visited by a shooting star (Sulwe means star), who tells her the tale of day and night and how night ran away because she was rejected while day was loved. Day goes looking for Night in order to convince her that she's needed and wanted in order for balance to exist on earth. The story helps Sulwe realize that while she looks different than her family and those around her, her beauty is just as real. Harrison's gorgeous illustrations blend so well with Nyong' o's text that my breathe was taken away. Not only is this a beautiful book in and of itself, but it's also an important one. With so many young girls, especially young black girls, questioning their self-worth and beauty, books like this one are necessary to help convince them of their great worth and beauty.
ABOUT THE BOOK
A visit to Washington, DC’s National Portrait Gallery forever alters Parker Curry’s young life when she views First Lady Michelle Obama’s portrait.
When Parker Curry came face-to-face with Amy Sherald’s transcendent portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama at the National Portrait Gallery, she didn’t just see the First Lady of the United States. She saw a queen—one with dynamic self-assurance, regality, beauty, and truth who captured this young girl’s imagination. When a nearby museum-goer snapped a photo of a mesmerized Parker, it became an internet sensation. Inspired by this visit, Parker, and her mother, Jessica Curry, tell the story of a young girl and her family, whose trip to a museum becomes an extraordinary moment, in a moving picture book.
Parker Looks Up follows Parker, along with her baby sister and her mother, and her best friend Gia and Gia’s mother, as they walk the halls of a museum, seeing paintings of everyone and everything from George Washington Carver to Frida Kahlo, exotic flowers to graceful ballerinas. Then, Parker walks by Sherald’s portrait of Michelle Obama…and almost passes it. But she stops...and looks up!
Parker saw the possibility and promise, the hopes and dreams of herself in this powerful painting of Michelle Obama. An everyday moment became an extraordinary one…that continues to resonate its power, inspiration, and indelible impact. Because, as Jessica Curry said, “anything is possible regardless of race, class, or gender.”
REVIEW
In this absolutely adorable picture book, a young girl visits the National Portrait Gallery and is inspired by the portrait she sees of former First Lady Michelle Obama. Based on a true experience and told by mother and daughter, Parker Looks Up, reminds readers/listeners of the importance of finding out own mentors or sources of inspiration. Life is hard, especially for all too many young black girls, and it's vitally important for them to find examples to help them grow and keep moving forward. In addition to an inspirational story, the relationship and joy the girls experience together while enjoying the visit to the museum simply made me smile. Young Parker finds joy in being with her friend, her sister, and her mother as she is reminded of the importance of keeping the dream alive. Jackson's illustrations really tugged at my heartstrings. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this adorable little girl and her family finding inspiration in an outing together. One of my favorite books of the year.
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