I Have Brown Skin and Curly Hair

Everyone in this family looks different. Dad is tall and dark. Mum has light brown hair with green eyes. Some of the children have straight hair; others have curls. People regard them curiously until, one day, one of the children musters the courage to speak up proudly about her identity after she learns where she comes from and why she looks different.

This rhyming picture book is about the identity crises many children face when they look different from their family members.

The book takes children through the unique and often untold history of South Africa, explaining how a mixed-race heritage can contribute to their physical differences and yet they can still be part of one family.

This book can also be used by educators or parents who wish to teach their children about diversity.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Karen Theunissen is an emerging children’s book writer and illustrator. She attended the writing course Writers Write to enhance her skills. She also practises her craft by blogging on a regular basis under the style of Mumziboo. Karen writes to ignite the imagination, creativity and curiosity of young children. Her writing is inspired by her four young children and their quest to discover the world around them. This is her first book.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR Charles Gibbons, from the early age of five, has been passionate about drawing and painting. Charles has had several one-man exhibitions in Zimbabwe and South Africa and continues to paint on commission for individuals and companies. Charles is the proud recipient of the prestigious Brown Velvet Award for his contribution to art. This acknowledgement has spurred Charles on to spread his wings beyond the wonderful continent and he is now on a quest to take his pieces and message of preservation and appreciation across the globe.