Harshini Vankineni
In stores on April, 1st 2025
A debut author takes a familiar loaded question, steeped in colorism, and turns it into one child’s openhearted celebration of her new baby sister.
Illustrated by Neha Rawat
Published by Candlewick Press
When Kundana meets her newborn sister, Kuku, she declares her the prettiest baby in the world. But as grandparents, aunts, and uncles welcome Kuku, all they want to know is what color she is. Is she a marigold like her sister? Or a white jasmine? As the family gazes at Kuku’s brown skin, big sister Kundana wonders why her family would care what color Kuku is—she’s beautiful! Inspired by first-time author Harshini Vankineni’s own experiences with colorism—the practice of treating people differently because of how dark or light their skin is—What Color Is the Baby? is a moving journey of a big sister finding a new and loving way to describe and defend her adored baby sister, while Neha Rawat’s warm illustrations delight with coziness and love of family.
Praise
This sweet story tackles a loaded question that crops up in many South Asian families. . . The tale gently reminds adult readers that children absorb attitudes and prejudices they see around them. . . A feel-good story that asks us to look beyond color to see the beauty in everyone.
–Kirkus Reviews
"A poignant story that brilliantly tackles the important topic of colorism. In this well-told narrative, we follow a little girl speaking up to defend her newborn baby sister from micro-prejudices in the extended family. Harshini Vankineni's WHAT COLOR IS THE BABY? is a beautiful celebration of dark skin tones, adorable sibling love, and welcoming a baby home."
–Meera Sriram, award-winning author of A Garden in My Hands
"A tale of one sister’s unconditional love for her new baby sister that will pull at the heartstrings of all who read this poignant story."
-Patrice Karst, Bestselling author of THE INVISIBLE STRING Series of Books and RUBY AND LONELY
"What Color is the Baby?: A Celebration of Skin Tones is essential reading, a book that flips and reshapes ideas of color and beauty and celebrates us for all that we are."
–Angie Cruz, author of Angelica and La Guira
Book Trailer
Media
The debut picture book author sits down with Bookstr to discuss how children often perceive far more than grown-ups give them credit for — including unconscious bias.
Harshini Vankineni: How To Address Colorism And Body Positivity With Kids​​​
"What this story has done is more than propose an alternative—it has allowed me to show the truth through a child’s perspective." Read Kite Tales' inspiring chat with author Harshini Vankineni, who celebrates the launch of her debut picture book.
Harshini Vankineni
Harshini Vankineni is a writer, and a perpetual student of literature and languages. She is an immigrant from India and lives in Southern California with two Light-bearers and a Rock, also known as children and husband. She knows four languages, which makes it impossible for her to ever finish her reading list!
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Harshini writes picture books, young adult and new adult fiction. What Color is the Baby? : A Celebration of Skin Tones is her debut picture book by Candlewick Press. She is a member of SCBWI and loves writing conferences, retreats and coffee. In her spare time, you can find her snuggled with her Kindle E-reader or binging a web series.
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For book updates, follow her on
Twitter @HarshiniVins
Instagram @harshini.vankineni
Represented by Dara Hyde at Hill Nadell Literary Agency