Sœurs Tournesol

What a lovely book! We have had this book for a few weeks now and Matthew especially has really enjoyed it. This book is definitely suited to 7+ in terms of understanding I think. Matthew loves learning of different cultures and beliefs and really enjoyed learning how Amritas family celebrated a wedding.

We also enjoyed the self acceptance throughout the story and wearing what colours you love that make you happy. And in the end it made everyone else happy too.

Matthew always loves wearing his colourful clothing, even though some people have made comments to him before, about his age and how he shouldn’t be wearing them anymore. But reading this story it has reassured him that he can continue to wear them if he chooses.

We as a family always think it’s important to have stories like this in the house while growing up and share with friends and family.

The illustrations in this book are so bright and beautiful and so inviting! Molly is two and she loved looking at the flowers and the “princess dresses” as she was calling them.

This book was excellent for various different reasons. It firstly tells how that in society there can be alot of pressure from people to be something you are not meant to be and secondly to love yourself and others no matter what you look like, your culture, your hair colour and so on. We are all individuals and are special in our own way. No one should be forced to dress or look a certain way because others think that’s the correct way. The book teaches us how negativity and negative comments can have on people and addresses the issues of how colourism is still an issue. We are all unique and individual people who have our own minds and choices no matter what colour our skin is, we will stand out and stand tall and shine just the same as everyone else. We throughly enjoyed this book and the gorgeous illustrations throughout. Highly recommend this and I will enjoy sharing this time and time again to remind my children not to feel pressured by people in life.

This beautifully illustrated book centres around two friends, Amrita of Indian descent and Kiki of African descent. Both girls have weddings to celebrate and as the families gather for the occasion Amrita is exposed to old fashioned attitudes of colourism from older relatives. Aunties bring skin whitening creams and suggest that eating or drinking certain foods may make your skin darker. The strong message that comes across loud and clear however is that people should celebrate their own skin colour and be happy with who they are. This is also shown by the way Amrita wants to dress in a bright sunflower yellow dress, a colour thought to emphasize dark skin by her relatives. Her Mother supports Amrita in her choices and encourages her to feel safe within herself.
Both girls dress brightly and beautifully for their family weddings and go on to promise each other they will live as ‘Sunflower Sisters’ always.

This book tells an important story that is clearly close to the author's heart. I can see it in many school libraries and classrooms. For me however it feels it is aimed , justifiably so, at girls from Indian backgrounds who may need to hear this message in their own lives as apposed to all children irrespective of their skin colour or heritage.

We’ve really enjoyed reading this book. It’s definitely one that my son has understood more about the more we’ve read it. He often asks questions now which makes for lovely conversation starters on the subject of colourism, the books theme.
The story covers some outdated views from some opinionated older family members but the empowering message of acceptance and beauty shines though and it has a lovely happy ending.
The illustrations are beautiful and it’s lovely to see the wedding outfits especially.
An important message and book to have in your collection.

This is probably the most complex group I've attempted with my little ones (aged 2 and 4), but I think they all take different things from it. My youngest loved the pictures and the sunflowers, with my oldest we were able to use it as a conversation starter for skin colour and how beautiful all colours and tones are. The lovely thing is this book will totally grow with us, so as their understanding develops, so will the message gained from this book.

It's such a beautifully illustrated and written tale, opening up conversations and gaining understanding of colourism. This is a must for all book shelves