In recent years, in a context of increasing white supremacist violence in the West, conversations around race have intensified. But its simmering undercurrents have been felt by generations through the ages. When writer and illustrator Karen Katz and her husband adopted their daughter Lena from Guatemala in the 90s, they wanted her to experimentally understand the spectra of race. As Lena embarks on an art project – a portrait of herself for which she will have to “mix red, yellow, black and white paints” to achieve brown – it presents her parents with the perfect opportunity to begin smooth the sensitization process. During a walk with her mother in their neighborhood, she realizes that brown can mean a lot of things. At the playground and along her journey, she meets friends and acquaintances – Sonia, the color of creamy peanut butter; Isabella, a chocolate brown the color of the cupcakes she got for her birthday. Jo-Jin’s honey tones are complemented by Kyle, whose skin is the color of autumn leaves. There are people with butterscotch and cocoa skin tones, jewel like amber or earthy like coffee caramels. Lena herself is the color of cinnamon – “Mom says she could eat me” – and her mother is the color of French toast.

When she returns from her walk, Lena’s drawing undergoes a transformation. She’s in there, but so are her friends, in their distinctive glory. Together they represent a wide arc of skin colors – our solid colors.

Katz, who illustrated the book herself, makes the journey relatable by drawing parallels to food and nature, elements that resonate more with children. Told simply and with sensitivity, it has been a classic since it was first published in 1999, offering an affirmative look at skin color and the fact that only in diversity do we learn to recognize all that is that unites us.

I am so much more than the color of my skin
Divya Thomas
HarperCollins
32pages
299 rupees
Suitable for: 4 years and up

Photo: Amazon.co.uk

In Asian countries, the obsession with fairness gives rise to reverse racism, as many, including, in particular, visitors from African nations, will attest. Environmentalist and gender equality activist, Divya Thomas’ book makes a simple and powerful point: whatever the color of our skin, what matters is what we bring to the world: agency, kindness, camaraderie, purpose and individuality.

Written in verse, this recently published book, similar in tenor to Katz’s book, introduces readers to a cast of characters, each with a distinct skin color. But the shades of color that denote them fade as the characters come into their own – children aspiring to be artists and chefs, sportswomen and doctors, writers and conservationists. They are different children from each other, but the future they envision is inclusive and goes beyond skin color, skin conditions or disability. Ruchi Shah’s illustrations are a world unto themselves – you could spend a lot of time poring over the details she weaved into each illustration. It is a vital element diversity book who needs to find space in more book shelves.

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