Sunflower Sisters

Sunflower Sisters – Monika Singh Gangotra & Michala Dias-Hayes
Best friends Amrita and Kiki celebrate the joy in experiencing each other’s communities and traditions in this children’s picture book by Monika Singh Gangotra (author) and Michaela Dias-Hayes (illustrator). Offering a window into the lived experiences of children affected by colourism, this book follows the sunflower sisters as they grow into strong and independent young women, supported and empowered by their mums.
By embracing and celebrating the colour of their dark brown skin and their South Asian and Nigerian communities and traditions, Amrita and Kiki discover how to empower other women to do the same. This uplifting children’s picture book with colourful illustrations and a window into the cultural differences and similarities through joyous wedding ceremonies, is the first in a new book series by Monika Singh Gangotra, following the lives of the sunflower sisters.
This debut book by children’s author Monika Singh Gangotra combines her professional and personal experience of colourism to varying degrees throughout her life. She aims to tackle colourism across black and brown communities everywhere, in a sensitive and authentic way. Sunflower Sisters contributes to a positive movement towards tackling colourism, which starts by empowering children and changing the way we think and speak about this subject, and carrying through this message to future generations.

Written by Monika Singh Gangotra.
Illustrated by Michaela Dias-Hayes.
Dimensions: 30.4 x 0.5 x 21.5cm
Paperback 32 pages
Owlet Press was founded by Samuel Langley-Swain in 2018, working with authors and illustrators with a shared passion – picture books which reflect the true diversity in children’s lives. Focusing on the challenges children face today and packaging these big issues into inclusive and accessible stories for small readers to digest and discuss with friends, families and schools. This indie children’s book publisher aims to change the world one book at a time, along with the best authors and illustrators to tell these stories.
Owlet Press have always published books that are ‘incidentally inclusive’ from day one and look to push this further with every title. With authors and illustrators from all walks of life – diversity is the driving ethos within this publisher. Owlet believe that it is key for young readers of colour to see children like them (and for white, non-disabled children to see children that don’t always look like them) in books experiencing the joy and magic of playful, imaginative stories – a belief that we share at Babipur.