By Patricia Uyeh,

Academy Award-winning actress, Lupita Nyong’O plans to publish her debut children’s book “Sulwe” with Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers January 2019.

“Sulwe,” which means “star” in Ms. Nyong’o’s native language, Luo, is the story of a 5-year-old girl growing up in Kenya. In the book, Sulwe has the darkest skin color in her family, a fact that makes her uncomfortable in her own skin colour. As the story unfolds Sulwe embarks on a whimsical adventure in the night sky that, coupled with advice from her mother, helps her see beauty within and not only on the outside.

The book is influenced by her own journey into acceptance and self-love, Ms. Nyong’o cited reading with her mother as critical to her development. Like Sulwe, Ms. Nyong’o struggled with her complexion and self-image as a child. Growing up, she remembers becoming more aware of herself in grade school and caring about the opinions of others. It was around that time that she also noticed the language people outside of her family used to describe her “brown and pretty,” lighter skinned sister.

With “Sulwe,” Ms. Nyong’o hopes to target children in these precarious years, that time between 5 and 7 years old when “you learn all the things that you spend the rest of your life trying to unlearn.” And while she recognizes the book’s attachment to her high profile name, she wants it to, to help all children to be self aware and understand what beauty really is.

On Instagram, here is what she posted below:

Photo credit: New york times, Instagram @lupitanyongo