The path of Jada, a children's story about colorism

This is the story * of two twin sisters, Iris and Jada. "The same cat eyes, the same round nose, the same long mats, the same medallion ... The only detail that distinguishes them is the color of their skin," writes author Laura Nsafou. That of Iris, as clear as the acacia, attracted many compliments. While Jada's, as dark as cocoa, was seen as a big flaw. Disgusting remarks from his friends and family were his daily lot. So one evening, Jada said to herself that she had to go far, very far to find people who would accept her as she is. 

Discrimination resulting from racism. In her bedroom, she tells her sister Iris about it but ends up falling asleep. The next day, they both go to the mountains and improvise a game of hide and seek. Except that night begins to fall and Iris can no longer find her sister. She searches everywhere, Jada is nowhere to be found. Iris will continue like that to look for her sister. The stars will guide her best. It is a very beautiful album which deals with the theme of colorism, little discussed in children's literature in France. Colorism is in fact a discrimination directly resulting from racism which consists in fact in favoring individuals of fair skin.

To read from 4-5 years old. It is a very beautiful story that you can easily read to your children from 4-5 years old. From this age, they understand the differences that exist between the people around them and between them too. So, certainly the term 'colorism' escapes them but they understand very well with their words, such is clearer than him, it is more chocolate, ... so it's all the more interesting to tell them about these feelings of exclusion to also better highlight a certain self-esteem.

* The path of Jada by Laura Nsafou and illustrated by Barbara Brun (Cambourakis)