As Amrita gets ready for her sister's wedding with Mum, she learns that her beautiful brown skin can shine in any colour she loves - especially in her favourite sunflower-yellow lehenga. At the celebrations, she spots her best friend, Kiki, who is also dancing in rainbow-bright colours! The two friends make a special promise to be 'Sunflower Sisters', spreading joy and showing that beauty comes in all different shades. Focusing on their experiences within their respective South Asian and Nigerian communities, particularly during wedding celebrations, the story addresses colorism, while celebrating the girls' dark brown skin (with their mothers playing crucial roles in empowering and protecting them). Through their journey, the girls grow into confident young women who embrace their skin colour and inspire others to do the same, symbolically compared to proud, radiant sunflowers.

Prizes

Winner of Winner of Northern Lights Book Awards Picture Book - All Ages Category 2022. 2022,Short-listed for Little Rebels Award 2022

"This book is beautiful to look at, as well as powerful to read." BookTrust
"The illustrations are bold and beautiful. They, along with the message of the book, are so powerful!" - @inclusive_childrens_books on Instagram ; "This is the first book I've been a little stumped in what to say... It's just so gorgeous and stunning - not only visually but in the storytelling too" - @posies_book_club on Instagram ;
"This is a book I believe should be within every classroom as the topics you can get from it are limitless." - @reading_with_chlo on Instagram

Dr Monika Singh Gangotra is an award-winning children's book author of South Asian Heritage. Originally from Australia, now based in Birmingham, she is best known for her picture book "Sunflower Sisters" (2021), which celebrates cultural diversity and friendship. Drawing from her Indian heritage and experiences as a migrant, Monika writes stories that promote inclusivity and cultural understanding. She actively advocates for diverse representation in children's literature and participates in literary events and festivals.Her passion for writing is rooted in telling stories of her heritage but with a modern twist. "I am so honoured to have a collection of books chosen to be published by Owlet Press. Their commitment to authentic voices, accurate representation and diversity all bundled up in beautiful books and heart-warming stories that have the power to change the world, is what I could only have dreamed would be a platform for my words."