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Ritu in the Sun

Author Moniza Hossain

Illustrated by Mercè López

Hardcover

$18.99 US

RH Childrens Books | Crown Books for Young Readers

9.44"W x 11.31"H x 0.36"D (24.0 x 28.7 x 0.9 cm) | 14 oz (397 g) | 24 per carton

On sale Apr 21, 2026 | 32 Pages | 9780593806692

Age 4-8 years | Preschool - 3

Reading Level: Lexile 590L

Sales rights: World

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Children's Books > Children's Picture Books

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A lyrical picture book about one little girl’s experience with colorism—and a celebration of that which can make us see things anew: light and love.

Ritu loves the sun. She loves it in the morning when it slants in through the kitchen window; in the afternoon when it makes the pool sparkle; and in the evening when it lights up the sky with splashes of orange and pink. But her Nani is worried the sun will give Ritu a tan.

Can Ritu convince her that all skin colors are beautiful—including Nani's own?

With poetic text and stunning illustrations, this poignant story is sure to inspire children to embrace their own unique beauty—and it includes the author's grandmother's own aloo bhaji and roti recipes at the back.

★ "It’s hard to teach self-acceptance and self-esteem to young children, but this book does so in an indirect, organic way.... An excellent read-aloud for all children." —School Library Journal, starred review

★ "Just as Joanna Ho’s Eyes That Kiss in the Corners celebrated East Asian heritage, this picture book will be a welcome addition to South Asian diasporic stories....A joyful and tender story of building understanding and generational bonds." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Aloo bhaji and roti recipes round out this lyrical exploration of colorism and self-acceptance through the gentle eyes of a young child." —Booklist, starred review

★ "The lyrical text offers a shift in perspective that comes with love and understanding. The acrylic-paint and graphite illustrations create a cozy, lived-in feeling." —The Horn Book, starred review

Moniza Hossain is a Singaporean author who is inspired by her South Asian heritage. While she has a Masters in English Literature and has taught literary books for a living, her true love is writing books for children. When she’s not busy reading and writing, she likes to paint. Her subject of choice is the mighty dragon. She lives in Manchester with her family.

Mercè López was born in Barcelona, Spain. She studied at the Llotja School of Art and has since illustrated more than fifty books for publishers from different countries. In 2022, she received the Lazarillo Illustrated Album Award for the picture book Montañas. She finds inspiration in traveling and learning all kinds of things, in friends, family, books, and music.

Moniza Hossain View titles by Moniza Hossain

Mercè López View titles by Mercè López

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Available for sale exclusive:

• Afghanistan

• Aland Islands

• Albania

• Algeria

• Andorra

• Angola

• Anguilla

• Antarctica

• Antigua/Barbuda

• Argentina

• Armenia

• Aruba

• Australia

• Austria

• Azerbaijan

• Bahamas

• Bahrain

• Bangladesh

• Barbados

• Belarus

• Belgium

• Belize

• Benin

• Bermuda

• Bhutan

• Bolivia

• Bonaire, Saba

• Bosnia Herzeg.

• Botswana

• Bouvet Island

• Brazil

• Brit.Ind.Oc.Ter

• Brit.Virgin Is.

• Brunei

• Bulgaria

• Burkina Faso

• Burundi

• Cambodia

• Cameroon

• Canada

• Cape Verde

• Cayman Islands

• Centr.Afr.Rep.

• Chad

• Chile

• China

• Christmas Islnd

• Cocos Islands

• Colombia

• Comoro Is.

• Congo

• Cook Islands

• Costa Rica

• Croatia

• Cuba

• Curacao

• Cyprus

• Czech Republic

• Dem. Rep. Congo

• Denmark

• Djibouti

• Dominica

• Dominican Rep.

• Ecuador

• Egypt

• El Salvador

• Equatorial Gui.

• Eritrea

• Estonia

• Ethiopia

• Falkland Islnds

• Faroe Islands

• Fiji

• Finland

• France

• Fren.Polynesia

• French Guinea

• Gabon

• Gambia

• Georgia

• Germany

• Ghana

• Gibraltar

• Greece

• Greenland

• Grenada

• Guadeloupe

• Guam

• Guatemala

• Guernsey

• Guinea Republic

• Guinea-Bissau

• Guyana

• Haiti

• Heard/McDon.Isl

• Honduras

• Hong Kong

• Hungary

• Iceland

• India

• Indonesia

• Iran

• Iraq

• Ireland

• Isle of Man

• Israel

• Italy

• Ivory Coast

• Jamaica

• Japan

• Jersey

• Jordan

• Kazakhstan

• Kenya

• Kiribati

• Kuwait

• Kyrgyzstan

• Laos

• Latvia

• Lebanon

• Lesotho

• Liberia

• Libya

• Liechtenstein

• Lithuania

• Luxembourg

• Macau

• Macedonia

• Madagascar

• Malawi

• Malaysia

• Maldives

• Mali

• Malta

• Marshall island

• Martinique

• Mauritania

• Mauritius

• Mayotte

• Mexico

• Micronesia

• Minor Outl.Ins.

• Moldavia

• Monaco

• Mongolia

• Montenegro

• Montserrat

• Morocco

• Mozambique

• Myanmar

• Namibia

• Nauru

• Nepal

• Netherlands

• New Caledonia

• New Zealand

• Nicaragua

• Niger

• Nigeria

• Niue

• Norfolk Island

• North Korea

• North Mariana

• Norway

• Oman

• Pakistan

• Palau

• Palestinian Ter

• Panama

• PapuaNewGuinea

• Paraguay

• Peru

• Philippines

• Pitcairn Islnds

• Poland

• Portugal

• Puerto Rico

• Qatar

• Reunion Island

• Romania

• Russian Fed.

• Rwanda

• S. Sandwich Ins

• Saint Martin

• Samoa,American

• San Marino

• SaoTome Princip

• Saudi Arabia

• Senegal

• Serbia

• Seychelles

• Sierra Leone

• Singapore

• Sint Maarten

• Slovakia

• Slovenia

• Solomon Islands

• Somalia

• South Africa

• South Korea

• South Sudan

• Spain

• Sri Lanka

• St Barthelemy

• St. Helena

• St. Lucia

• St. Vincent

• St.Chr.,Nevis

• St.Pier,Miquel.

• Sth Terr. Franc

• Sudan

• Suriname

• Svalbard

• Swaziland

• Sweden

• Switzerland

• Syria

• Tadschikistan

• Taiwan

• Tanzania

• Thailand

• Timor-Leste

• Togo

• Tokelau Islands

• Tonga

• Trinidad,Tobago

• Tunisia

• Turkey

• Turkmenistan

• Turks&Caicos Is

• Tuvalu

• US Virgin Is.

• USA

• Uganda

• Ukraine

• Unit.Arab Emir.

• United Kingdom

• Uruguay

• Uzbekistan

• Vanuatu

• Vatican City

• Venezuela

• Vietnam

• Wallis,Futuna

• West Saharan

• Western Samoa

• Yemen

• Zambia

• Zimbabwe

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