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Brown Sugar Babe
When a little girl has doubts about the color of her skin, her mother shows her all the wonderful, beautiful things brown can be!
"I don't want to be brown!" says a little girl about her skin. But so many beautiful things in the world are brown -- calming beaches, cute animals, elegant violins, and more. Brown is musical. Brown is athletic. Brown is poetic. Brown is powerful!
"I don't want to be brown!" says a little girl about her skin. But so many beautiful things in the world are brown -- calming beaches, cute animals, elegant violins, and more. Brown is musical. Brown is athletic. Brown is poetic. Brown is powerful!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2020
1 person is currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Watson Sherman
15 books31 followersBorn Charlotte Denise Watson, in 1958 in Seattle (Washington), the eldest of three children in a working class family. Displayed an early interest in literature. Dreamed of being a writer since third grade when Pippi Longstocking hijacked my imagination.
My mother believed it was dangerous for a daughter to always have her head in a book -- which led to reading by flashlight beneath bedcovers, a geeky, camouflaged appetite for studying the dictionary and keeping poems secret until publishing my first at nineteen.
I studied Social Sciences at Seattle University and began law school shortly after the birth of my first daughter. Once I realized I could actually become a lawyer, I left the University of Puget Sound and never looked back.
I worked as a pretrial screener, outreach coordinator, sexual abuse counselor, emergency housing counselor, child welfare worker, mental health screener, volunteer coordinator for a literacy program, research interviewer, and finally, when my youngest daughter left for college, a professional librarian.
It turns out, writing is the only thing I thought I was any good at, but it is definitely my calling.
Through an extraordinary blast of effort and good fortune, a collection of short fiction, Killing Color, was published by Calyx Books (1992); then shortly after, a novel, One Dark Body, by HarperCollins (1993); then an anthology, Sisterfire: Black Womanist Fiction and Poetry (1994); another novel, touch, (1995), and finally, a children's book, Eli and the Swamp Man (1996).
I received the following awards, fellowships, grants:
Seattle Arts Commission Individual Artist Grant, 1989; King County Arts Commission Fiction Publication Award, 1989; Artist Trust GAP Grant, 1989; Seattle Artists 1991 Research and Development Grant; Great Lakes Colleges Association Fiction Award, 1992; Black Women’s Gathering Women of Achievement Award, 1992; Washington State Arts Commission Fiction Fellowship, 1993; Brandeis University Women’s Committee Distinguished Author’s Award, 1993; Governor’s Writers Award, 1993; Seattle University Award for Professional Achievement, 1994; Granta literary magazine’s Best of Young American Novelists, shortlist, 1995; Barbara Deming Memorial Fund.
My fiction and nonfiction have been published in Essence, Ms., Parenting, American Visions, The Seattle Times, and Goodness Portland; as well as anthologies such as When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple, The Bluelight Corner, Spooks, Spies, and Private Eyes, Edgewalking on the Western Rim, and In Search of Color Everywhere.
I am currently revising a third novel, as well as a YA historical fiction tale I hope will be published as an illustrated story.
My muse is history. The task of healing and reconciling the past, propels the writing. My tools: word, image, ritual, dream, magic. - See more at: http://www.charlottewatsonsherman.com...
(from http://www.charlottewatsonsherman.com/)
My mother believed it was dangerous for a daughter to always have her head in a book -- which led to reading by flashlight beneath bedcovers, a geeky, camouflaged appetite for studying the dictionary and keeping poems secret until publishing my first at nineteen.
I studied Social Sciences at Seattle University and began law school shortly after the birth of my first daughter. Once I realized I could actually become a lawyer, I left the University of Puget Sound and never looked back.
I worked as a pretrial screener, outreach coordinator, sexual abuse counselor, emergency housing counselor, child welfare worker, mental health screener, volunteer coordinator for a literacy program, research interviewer, and finally, when my youngest daughter left for college, a professional librarian.
It turns out, writing is the only thing I thought I was any good at, but it is definitely my calling.
Through an extraordinary blast of effort and good fortune, a collection of short fiction, Killing Color, was published by Calyx Books (1992); then shortly after, a novel, One Dark Body, by HarperCollins (1993); then an anthology, Sisterfire: Black Womanist Fiction and Poetry (1994); another novel, touch, (1995), and finally, a children's book, Eli and the Swamp Man (1996).
I received the following awards, fellowships, grants:
Seattle Arts Commission Individual Artist Grant, 1989; King County Arts Commission Fiction Publication Award, 1989; Artist Trust GAP Grant, 1989; Seattle Artists 1991 Research and Development Grant; Great Lakes Colleges Association Fiction Award, 1992; Black Women’s Gathering Women of Achievement Award, 1992; Washington State Arts Commission Fiction Fellowship, 1993; Brandeis University Women’s Committee Distinguished Author’s Award, 1993; Governor’s Writers Award, 1993; Seattle University Award for Professional Achievement, 1994; Granta literary magazine’s Best of Young American Novelists, shortlist, 1995; Barbara Deming Memorial Fund.
My fiction and nonfiction have been published in Essence, Ms., Parenting, American Visions, The Seattle Times, and Goodness Portland; as well as anthologies such as When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple, The Bluelight Corner, Spooks, Spies, and Private Eyes, Edgewalking on the Western Rim, and In Search of Color Everywhere.
I am currently revising a third novel, as well as a YA historical fiction tale I hope will be published as an illustrated story.
My muse is history. The task of healing and reconciling the past, propels the writing. My tools: word, image, ritual, dream, magic. - See more at: http://www.charlottewatsonsherman.com...
(from http://www.charlottewatsonsherman.com/)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
January 1, 2025
This is needed for every little Black/Brown little kid. This is needed
February 16, 2020
This is a glorious, joyous, anarchic and poetic celebration of brown skin, accompanied by beautiful, dancing illustrations by Akem. Each page is drenched in the warmest hues of browns, mahoganies, reds, ochres, coppers, golds and yellows - desert storms whirl, and lightning-struck skies spin, snakes strike and trees raise their mighty arms. It is a whirlwind of words, a tornado of sensations, alive in celebration of black identity and brown skin.
And it is beautiful.
What makes BROWN SUGAR BABE so tender and perfect for children is the mother's strong voice echoing through each page. Kirkus described this as 'soul food', which sums it up perfectly.
There is an Author's Note on the last 2 pages about the 'doll tests' and where Sherman outlines why she chose to write this beautiful and important piece.
And it is beautiful.
What makes BROWN SUGAR BABE so tender and perfect for children is the mother's strong voice echoing through each page. Kirkus described this as 'soul food', which sums it up perfectly.
There is an Author's Note on the last 2 pages about the 'doll tests' and where Sherman outlines why she chose to write this beautiful and important piece.
March 5, 2020
Great concept but I found the poem hard to read aloud. The pictures were lovely but the words didn’t sing for me. It was fine.
March 22, 2021
A plethora of examples of how brown is beautiful! A little girl is feeling self-doubt about her skin tone and her mother is quick to chime in. Poetic words jump off the page as the mother explains to her daughter why being brown is a magnificent thing. A must-read for any child ever having self-doubt or insecurities about his/her skin tone. A book that celebrates the uniqueness of a person's appearance as well as a strong message that brown is beautiful! Could be used in a unit celebrating diversity or in a lesson aimed at teaching kids to love and respect themselves. I saw/read this on Youtube!
August 25, 2020
The art in this is gloriously beautiful! The message is wonderful and well executed. I was deeply saddened but not surprised by the authors note in the end about children's reactions to identical dolls except for race.
February 5, 2020
3.5
Very lyrical.
A pleasant read with a very powerful message.
Very lyrical.
A pleasant read with a very powerful message.
June 28, 2020
So Beautiful!
August 17, 2023
Beautiful illustrations and a lovely story. Nice comforting book.
February 10, 2020
Personally, I felt the poetry was a *little* bit long but the words were powerful, loving, and lyrical. After a mother hears her child refer to herself as being "pink," she expresses all the ways brown can be beautiful; the accompanying illustrations are superb, making BROWN SUGAR BABE a stunningly beautiful read. I could see this book being used for poetry units and for one-on-one reading with kids.
January 4, 2020
The Book I Want To Give To My Future Daughter: Review of ‘Brown Sugar Babe’
In Brown Sugar Babe, the creative team of writer Charlotte Watson Sherman and visual artist Akem gives us the most delightful journey of validating Brown skin through the wonders of everything ordinary and extraordinary in the world. We learn that here when a little girl has doubts about the color of her skin, her mama shows her the light. And by light I mean, mama dukes shows baby girl what’s up and also where the lovely color brown can be found–everywhere from our kitchens to the outdoors. Sherman’s lovely prose sets its own rhythm and is easy to follow, never too wordy easy to follow along for young readers. Brown is many things: musical…athletic..poetic and it shows through the reading.
Artist Akem weaves artwork that is all things soft and dreamy and very much a perfect complement to Sherman’s words. There’s no questioning who has brown skin, no whitewashing of skin color or erasure of features. Brown is powerful! Brown is beautiful! Brown takes to new heights! Yummy things like gingerbread men and spiced cider seem to leap off the page and violins and trees take up space and leave impactful lines. Akem’s illustrations make readers use all their senses when following along: sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing, for sure! As much as I love the poetic rendering, I’m here for the artwork as well and I’m a firm believer that the visuals help guide budding readers long before they master the alphabet and their first chapter books. Additionally, you can never have enough picture books about brown-skinned girls learning about how extraordinary their skin’s color is.
Brown Sugar Babe is a heartfelt and gorgeous offering to the children’s book genre in 2020. Little ones ages four to eight will enjoy this affirming, book on loving the skin they are in and they’ll be in wonder of how immersel and warm the world is through the lens of the dazzling illustrations and lyrical flow of the words. This is the book I want to give to my future daughter.
Thanks again to Boyd Mills & Press for sending me a review copy, a full review will be up on Blacknerdproblems.com before the end of January. Brown Sugar Babe will be available in stores Feb 04, 2020. You can pre-order it today: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...
In Brown Sugar Babe, the creative team of writer Charlotte Watson Sherman and visual artist Akem gives us the most delightful journey of validating Brown skin through the wonders of everything ordinary and extraordinary in the world. We learn that here when a little girl has doubts about the color of her skin, her mama shows her the light. And by light I mean, mama dukes shows baby girl what’s up and also where the lovely color brown can be found–everywhere from our kitchens to the outdoors. Sherman’s lovely prose sets its own rhythm and is easy to follow, never too wordy easy to follow along for young readers. Brown is many things: musical…athletic..poetic and it shows through the reading.
Artist Akem weaves artwork that is all things soft and dreamy and very much a perfect complement to Sherman’s words. There’s no questioning who has brown skin, no whitewashing of skin color or erasure of features. Brown is powerful! Brown is beautiful! Brown takes to new heights! Yummy things like gingerbread men and spiced cider seem to leap off the page and violins and trees take up space and leave impactful lines. Akem’s illustrations make readers use all their senses when following along: sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing, for sure! As much as I love the poetic rendering, I’m here for the artwork as well and I’m a firm believer that the visuals help guide budding readers long before they master the alphabet and their first chapter books. Additionally, you can never have enough picture books about brown-skinned girls learning about how extraordinary their skin’s color is.
Brown Sugar Babe is a heartfelt and gorgeous offering to the children’s book genre in 2020. Little ones ages four to eight will enjoy this affirming, book on loving the skin they are in and they’ll be in wonder of how immersel and warm the world is through the lens of the dazzling illustrations and lyrical flow of the words. This is the book I want to give to my future daughter.
Thanks again to Boyd Mills & Press for sending me a review copy, a full review will be up on Blacknerdproblems.com before the end of January. Brown Sugar Babe will be available in stores Feb 04, 2020. You can pre-order it today: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...
July 29, 2020
Brown Sugar Babe is a children's picture book written by Charlotte Watson Sherman and illustrated by Akem Akem. It is a story about a caregiver response to a child's misgivings about being brown skinned by extolling the beauty of being a brown sugar babe.
Sherman's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and lyrical. While some of the imagery is less effective than others, the text overall provides a creative and uplifting celebration of brownness. Backmatter includes an author’s note offering insight and motivation for writing this book as well as historical references. Warm digital spreads by Akem, in her picture book debut, extend the poem's messages with stippled, textured digital backgrounds in wide-ranging shades of brown.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. When a brown-skinned child proclaims that their skin color is pink, their mother rejoins with a rhyming poem that celebrates the beauty of brown in myriad forms.
All in all, Brown Sugar Babe is a wonderful children’s book that celebrates the beauty in being brown.
Sherman's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and lyrical. While some of the imagery is less effective than others, the text overall provides a creative and uplifting celebration of brownness. Backmatter includes an author’s note offering insight and motivation for writing this book as well as historical references. Warm digital spreads by Akem, in her picture book debut, extend the poem's messages with stippled, textured digital backgrounds in wide-ranging shades of brown.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. When a brown-skinned child proclaims that their skin color is pink, their mother rejoins with a rhyming poem that celebrates the beauty of brown in myriad forms.
All in all, Brown Sugar Babe is a wonderful children’s book that celebrates the beauty in being brown.
October 27, 2021
Brown sugar babe is a picture book that demonstrates a mother celebrating her daughter through a smooth heartwarming dialogue. The author used very strong impactful words in her poem to emphasize the importance of accepting oneself and being proud of who you are. Students and kids of different ages will defiantly appreciate the words and catch their attention and improve their ability in expressing their emotions and thoughts. These poetic rhymes can even sing to babies to prepare them for the resting state and help reduce any stress and discomfort. The illustration is very appealing and supports the desired message with the use of the five senses as a way to help kids better understand the feeling of love, and it combines with the text to give the readers the sense and a feeling of magic.
March 14, 2020
The book is beautiful, the entire design is gorgeous. Also, the book is about providing positive affirmations for children about their skin color. For those readers that don’t understand why this is important, read the author’s note first before you read the book. Brown Sugar Babe ((#brownsugarbabe) takes children on a mystic journey and shows them why brown skin color is just as special as any other skin color. Furthermore, the author’s note makes it clear that there is still work to be done to neutralize prejudice, discrimination, and segregation that is creating a feeling of inferiority among African American children that was documented in the “doll test” of the 1940’s. Unfortunately, similar results were obtained in the 21st Century.
March 9, 2021
This book is a truly beautiful poem, with incredibly vivid art. It elicits feelings of pride in who are you, and authenticity of self. This is an important part of a culturally responsive classroom library. It celebrates being black, and honors both the differences in the people around us, and the things that make us uniquely special.
This is a great book, and would be appropriate for grades k-3 as a read aloud. It is a wonderful way to celebrate poetry and blackness, all while embracing vivid works of art on each page. This would be a great way to introduce poetry writing for older students, and could be used as a mentor text. For younger students, the rhyming pages would be a great opportunity to practice rhyming, which builds literacy skills.
This is a great book, and would be appropriate for grades k-3 as a read aloud. It is a wonderful way to celebrate poetry and blackness, all while embracing vivid works of art on each page. This would be a great way to introduce poetry writing for older students, and could be used as a mentor text. For younger students, the rhyming pages would be a great opportunity to practice rhyming, which builds literacy skills.
November 30, 2021
This was okay but something just didn't click for me, I think maybe because some of the poetry was just a bit too abstract or wandering? Three of my favorite brown/Black positive are Black Is a Rainbow Color, Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration, and Sulwe.
February 26, 2020
What set this picture book apart for me immediately was the entrancing marriage of text and art. Akem's lush warm colors serve as a stage for the poetry to lift right off the pages. The dialogue between mother and daughter presents a gentle conflict to the reader: the daughter does not want to be “brown” while the mother explains the wondrous qualities of the color. Through sumptuous, sensory driven words Charlotte Watson Sherman uses positive imagery to help the child understand,
brown is glorious. The Author’s Note explains the inspiration and history of experiments conducted in the 1940s and 1950s. This is a powerful and inspiring read for all audiences.
brown is glorious. The Author’s Note explains the inspiration and history of experiments conducted in the 1940s and 1950s. This is a powerful and inspiring read for all audiences.
April 28, 2020
In the back matter of this picture book, the author notes, "My prayer is that Brown Sugar Babe will help brown-skinned children love the skin they are in." Could there be a more beautiful motive behind her writing? The result is a lovely, lyrical ode to all of the rich nuances of the color brown. The poetic text, paired with warm, glowing illustrations, evokes all the most wonderful manifestations of this hue throughout life. Author and illustrator have created a book of affirmation that will nourish brown-skinned children with the message that they are strong, beautiful, precious and should stand proud in their own skin. A sacred addition to a child's library!
July 6, 2020
Brown has so many beautiful iterations in our world, and in this loving tribute to brown babes everywhere, Charlotte Sherman shows that in the best possible ways. “Brown is a sand dollar glinting on the beach in winter...the crunch of peanuts between our teeth...branches reaching toward the heavens above.” The lovely lyrical language and Akem’s rich, bold, earthy illustrations reflect that same brown beauty. An author’s note lends further insight to the inspiration behind the book and underscores the need for not only brown children, but children everywhere and the adults who nurture them to hear, see, and read this beautiful and important book.
February 14, 2020
This beautiful book is Charlotte Watson Sherman's love letter to the color brown--a poetic celebration of brown and a reminder of how important this color is. Sherman's back matter explains how why she chose to write this important book after hearing a child of color identify as pink instead of brown. Sherman discusses Kenneth and Mamie Clark's "doll tests" and how the color of a child's skin may impact self-esteem if that child doesn't have positive brown-skinned role models. Sherman's gorgeous text coupled with Akem's lovely illustrations helps to provide positive role models of color within text--kids of color see themselves in this book and see the beauty in the color of their skin.
February 18, 2020
BROWN SUGAR BABE is a powerfully written and stunningly illustrated book that exemplifies the beauty of being born brown. The text, written in delicious sensory metaphors and similes, and the exquisite illustrations make this story an amazing affirmation and celebration of brown skin in all its differing tones. The Author's Note reminds us why books such as this are still crucially needed if we ever want to eradicate racially-motivated stereotypes. An exceptional book that deserves a place on everyone's bookshelf.
February 23, 2020
A gorgeous, lyrical story about the beauty of the color brown. When a young child begins to doubt her skin color, her mother takes her on a lyrical journey showing her there is so much beauty, strength, and love in the color brown, and it should always be embraced with pride. Akem’s rich illustrations provide a beautiful backdrop to Sherman’s poetic text. An author note provides insightful information from Sherman on how she came to write this compelling story. This is an important and powerful story that needs to be shared again and again!
March 9, 2020
My children and I just read this book together last night, and my own "brown sugar babes" loved it. We all enjoyed the endless ways to celebrate all the glorious shades of our brown skin shared by Ms. Sherman. Her sensory-rich imagery is beautifully paired with moving illustrations by Akem. I also really appreciated Ms. Sherman's heartfelt Author's Note. It prompted a thoughtful discussion in our house around the importance of honoring the skin you are in. This book reads like a love letter all the #BrownSugarBabes of this world.
June 2, 2020
When a young, black girl decides she is “pink” her mother describes all the ways that brown is sweet, bold, and beautiful.
The author's poetic, sensory language captivates her readers, and the lush illustrations in brown hues suit the text.
The author’s note in the back explains how important it is for brown-skinned kids to be able to see themselves as beautiful and good the way they are. But I’ll add these books are just as important for white families to read to remind their kids to see all people as beautiful.
The author's poetic, sensory language captivates her readers, and the lush illustrations in brown hues suit the text.
The author’s note in the back explains how important it is for brown-skinned kids to be able to see themselves as beautiful and good the way they are. But I’ll add these books are just as important for white families to read to remind their kids to see all people as beautiful.
June 27, 2020
Nope. Didn't work for me. The poem, the fonts, and the illustrations all fell flat. Maybe if this book was published 15 years ago? The simplicity of saying "your skin is beautiful because it's similar to beautiful things in the world" isn't terrible, but Black and brown kids need lot more than that right now. Personally, I recommend skipping this one and picking up Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o or the classic Black is Brown is Tan by Arnold Adoff.
September 18, 2020
When a young girl tells her mom she wants to be pink, not brown, her mom helps her understand how important and universal the color brown is. Poetic and uplifting, this picture book is an ode to the beauty of brown. Soft illustrations in shades of brown (A wonderous surprise on how there are so many different shades!) with beautiful lilting text evoke all of the senses. A joyful and endearing addition of diversity needed for any library - school or home.
May 18, 2021
The work of art found in Brown Suga Babe is breathtaking. The message is well-executed because it uplifts and celebrates brownness while also being poetic in its own right. This would be an excellent addition to a culturally responsive classroom library, particularly for a younger age group.. It celebrates being black and acknowledges both the similarities and differences in those around us as well as the characteristics that set us apart.
August 18, 2021
A celebration of the color brown and being African American.
Heartbreaking Author's Note: Discusses the Clarks' "doll tests" that led to their conclusion ""prejudice, discrimination, and segregation" created a felling of inferiority among African-American children and damaged their self-esteem."
A recreation of the famous 1940 experiment in 2006 "discovered that we haven't really progressed much, or at all, since the 1940s."
Heartbreaking Author's Note: Discusses the Clarks' "doll tests" that led to their conclusion ""prejudice, discrimination, and segregation" created a felling of inferiority among African-American children and damaged their self-esteem."
A recreation of the famous 1940 experiment in 2006 "discovered that we haven't really progressed much, or at all, since the 1940s."
February 18, 2020
This is a beautiful, uplifting, and lyrical poem-story that celebrates brown skin. The illustrations are rich in color, deep and textural, and perfectly support the vivid writing. I love this joyous celebration, and it is sure to resonate with children as they learn about themselves, their skin, their families, and cultures. A lovely text that sings its way off the page.
February 22, 2020
Gorgeous textural illustrations compliment the powerful message of this story. The rhythm of the language made me want to read it aloud. Lyrical words allow the reader to taste, smell, touch, hear and see the magnificence of the color brown. Each page turn revealed a more dramatic and emotional connection. An uplifting and heartwarming story for a child of any color.
March 2, 2020
A wonderfully warm story about acceptance. When a little African American girl wishes to be pink her mother shares all the joys of her beautiful skin color, brown. Sherman’s lyrical words gently lull the reader through a touching story of all the amazing examples of brown in our world; the most important of which is lovely, brown skin.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews