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Toka January Book Pick: Brown Like Dosas, Samosas and Sticky Chikki by Rebecca Manari and Heetal Dattani Joshi

Samaira is a little chocolate colored girl who meets a purple colored lady called Anahi. Anahi wants to change Samaira into a shade of white. How Samaira responds to her forms the rest of the book. And it's pretty marvelous! Don't miss Brown Like Dosas, Samosas and Sticky Chikki by Rebecca Manari and Heetal Dattani Joshi!

This is the best book I’ve read this year. Yes, yes, it is for kids but I think it is a brilliant book even for adults.

Possibly because it talks about my pet peeve. The stigma associated with being brown.

Possibly because it has so many colors in it. Purple. White. Brown. Orange. Green. Blue.

Possibly because it doesn’t conform to any rules. The sea is green. And, the crow is orange.

Possibly because it has lots of yummy food. Chocolate. Black forest cakes. Tea. Coffee. Cinnamon. Murukku (and all brown if you observe!)

Possibly because of the brilliant illustrations. Samaira was so so beautifully portrayed. And so was the chocolate milkshake.

Possibly because I read too much into the Anahi character. So much so that I equated her with the fairness cream manufacturers coaxing dark-skinned people into ‘whiteness’.

Possibly because I want my kids (at least!) to be as articulate and confident as Samaira from now onward.

So yes. If you have kids, you must read out this book to them. Oh, wait. Even if you don’t, this book is a brilliant read even for yourself. 

This book is our Toka  Explorer Book Pick for January 2019.  It comes with a beautiful activity that will positively and deeply impact your child's self-image in the years to come.

Do check it out!

Buy this book!

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