Sulwe

Book Title:  Sulwe

Book Author:  Lupita Nyong’o

Book Illustrator:  Vashti Harrison

This book addresses:  Bullying, self-esteem, skin color differences

Potentially Tricky Vocabulary:  

Fair: light-toned

Comply: to do as required or requested

Fed up: tired of

Fine: good, impressive

Inseparable: unable to be separated

Questions to ask the student before reading: 

• Is it kind to call people names or be mean to them?

• How do you think someone feels when they’re called names or when someone is mean to them?

• What do you think self-esteem means? Is it important? (Why?)

Historical context to give before reading:  

Everyone is valuable and worthy of love - just as they are. Sometimes, though, it can be hard to understand that when those around you are mean to you. Some people are mean and will judge others and say unkind things to them. This isn’t right. Sometimes, the person hearing the unkind things may be you. Sometimes it may be someone else. Either way, you should always remember that everyone deserves kindness. 

(The questions to ask the student and historical content above are interconnected. The historical context is typically going to be a supplement to what your student might not know. Some students may already be knowledgeable about a subject, others may not know much yet. Pay attention to what your student already knows and share the historical context accordingly.)

While reading: 

Keep an eye on your student while reading and check in with them if it seems like this book is covering a difficult topic for them. When done reading about how Sulwe was trying to lighten her skin (when she tells Mama everything), consider making a small comment such as “So it really hurt Sulwe, when the other kids called her names and were mean to her, right? Let’s see what Mama has to say about that.” When you reach the page where Night says to Day “But you don’t know what it’s like to be treated badly just for being dark” address how, even though we can’t possibly know exactly what struggles someone may be going through, like how Day doesn’t know what Night is going through, we can always reach out to someone with kindness. 

After reading: 

• Read the author’s note (if the student seems to be handling the book well)

• What was your favorite part of the book? 

• Why do you think it was important that Sulwe decided that she would see the brightness in herself, whether other people saw it or not? (Connect this back to self-esteem)

Follow up activity (time permitting):  

Have your student draw a quick stick figure of themselves in the middle of a blank page. In the same style of a mind map, have them surround the stick figure with things that are good about themself. (Potential prompts: character attributes, skills, etc)

All definitions were adapted by Karina Connolly from the Merriam Webster online dictionary.