WHAT COLOR IS THE BABY?

A newly minted elder sister welcomes her sibling.

Kundana skips along with her father to pick up her mother and baby sister. Noticing how the baby coos like a koel cuckoo, Kundana suggests that she be named Kuku, and their parents agree. Kuku shares their mother’s dark complexion, while Kundana resembles their light-skinned father. At home, the girls’ grandmother welcomes Kuku with a red dot, or tilak, for good luck. She squints as she asks, “What color is the baby?” Visitors and family members calling from India all want to know, too. Kundana notices how this question makes her mother’s smile droop, and her father seems distracted, too. After hearing this question for the umpteenth time, Kundana responds that Kuku has her father’s eyes, her mother’s skin, Kundana’s hair, her uncle’s ears, her aunt’s smile, and her grandmother’s nose. “She is our color,” the child announces, winning everyone’s hearts. This sweet story tackles a loaded question that crops up in many South Asian families and that hints at a preference for light-skinned children. Though the query is awkwardly presented (after all, the visitors can plainly see the baby), Kundana’s loving, openhearted attitude shines through. The tale gently reminds adult readers that children absorb attitudes and prejudices they see around them. Rawat’s detailed illustrations feature traditional Indian foods, attire, and decor, creating a warm sense of home and belonging.

A feel-good story that asks us to look beyond color to see the beauty in everyone.