In a Nutshell: A picture book highlighting the issue of colourism through a little girl’s experiences. Great intent, pretty good execution. The illustrations elevate the book. Recommended.

Plot Preview:
Young Maya absolutely loves summer time and playing under the sun. However, a distant relative comments about her darkening skin, Maya’s happiness disappears. Disheartened, she stops going out, until her mother approaches her with some wise words.

As someone who stays in the heart of the tropics, I am not a fan of summertime. Since childhood, I have read about fictional characters going gaga over summer and beaches and tans. To me though, summer was (and is) nothing but intense heat and humidity. As such, I can't wax eloquent about the sun and I don't empathise with Maya’s fondness for playing in the sun.
However, where I can strongly relate to Maya is in having the same frustrations over the seemingly universal obsession with lighter skin colour. Indians are weirdly fascinated by fair skin. The refrain of “Don’t play under the sun or you’ll turn dark” is a common one even today. Fairness here is still equated with beauty, to the extent that even movie actresses use full-body makeup to appear fairer, and some even opt for laser treatment to lighten their skin tone and thus fit into popular beauty standards. As such, it is refreshing to see a book raise awareness of this issue of colourism and highlight how skin colour is just external and doesn’t represent who we truly are.
Several parts of this little book do well. I especially loved Mom’s lines to Maya about self-acceptance – so simply and beautifully explained. However, the overall plot feels a little disjointed as it jumps across scenes without answering all raised (or hinted) questions. This is even more surprising considering how text-intensive the book is. Further, the in-between magical realism (if I can call it that) comes out of nowhere. Though it probably meant well, it doesn’t fit into the otherwise grounded narrative.
The book obviously makes better sense in temperate climes. Hardly anyone would willingly go and play under the sweltering summer sun in the tropics. Plus, there are genuine health issues associated with too much direct sun time. That’s why I LOVE the parting section on sun safety – a must for all kids. While I wish a part of this information had been incorporated into the main storyline, I still appreciate that it was included at the end. (Better late than never, right?) There is also an insightful look at colourism, a heartfelt note by the author about her own experience, and some questions to reflect upon.
The illustrations are stunning. The digital art makes the pages appear appropriately sunny and dark, depending on Maya’s emotions. The sparky sun rays stole the show. The illustration on the back jacket, depicting Maya and her elder sister chilling out under the sun, was my absolute favourite.
Overall, though some parts of this book could have worked a little better, I still appreciate its agenda and most of its implementation. The illustrations add to its charm. The text goes a little beyond typical picture books, so this would better suit adept little readers who are just transitioning to chapter books.
Recommended to homes, and also to school classrooms and libraries as this would make a great discussion resource even beyond Indian/South Asian groups.
3.5 stars, rounding up for the intent and the illustrations.
My thanks to Buddoo Books and IBPA for providing the DRC of “Maya Loves the Sun” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

First off, the joy in this book is contagious. It’s a celebration of sunshine, nature, curiosity, and just being present in the world. Maya, the main character, is full of wonder and light, literally and emotionally, and it reminded me of how magical childhood can be when you’re really seen and allowed to explore. It gave me warm memories of being a little girl, feeling the sun on my skin and just being.

The illustrations? Gorgeous. Bright, inclusive, and full of movement. I love that Maya is a little brown girl loving the outdoors with no limits or labels placed on her, and let’s be real, we need more of that in kids’ books.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Maya Loves the Sun is a story about a little girl a story about dealing with colorism, learning to accept herself and that skin of all shades are beautiful
It shows the topic of colorism in a way that's easy for kids to understand, and the illustrations are absolutely beautiful! specially when conveying Maya's emotions throughout. I loved it!

This does suitably end with advice for being out in the sun, but it is principally about colourism, and what happens when the heroine of the piece gets told she is getting too dark from playing outside all summer. It's clear to all readers – and this doesn't allow for the very young, as some pages are quite wordy, but it covers a wide range – that colourism here is just a small step from racism, and is not the kind of thing to be said from one family member to another. But it seems common enough in this Indonesian community, and the story has to show Maya bounce back from such familial advice and relearn to love the sun. It does so quite effectively and vividly, and as a result is a strong four stars.

Maya loves summer because it means many fun activities out in the sun. Maya's family comments on how dark her skin is getting from all the time in the sun and tells her to stay out of the sun. A touching story about colourism and how it can affect people and their families.

Maya is a little girl who truly loves the sun. One day her Aunt and sister make comments about her getting darker and how that it was not good. It goes from there on how she deals with it. The illustrations are very pretty. The storyline is a bit vague on why the aunt and sister did not want her darker. I honestly thought it was about skin cancer. I like the end has questions to open discussions.

An adorable book on the importance of nature, anti-racism, and sisterhood. Beautifully illustrated and gorgeous and poignant story.

What first drew me to Maya Loves the Sun by Disa Mathur was its striking cover—the kind that immediately pulls you in with warmth and curiosity. The illustrations by Felishia Henditirto are nothing short of stunning. They strike a delicate balance between realism and whimsy, perfectly complementing the emotional tone of the story. Every page feels like a painting, each scene rich with color, movement, and heart.

At its core, this book carries a deeply powerful message. Through the gentle guidance of a mother speaking to her daughter, Mathur explores the subject of colorism—a topic that is not always easy to discuss, particularly with younger readers. Yet she manages to do so with incredible tenderness and clarity. The author's note at the end is especially impactful; it offers insight into her personal experiences and lends an authenticity that deepens the message of the story. I found this addition incredibly moving, as it bridges the gap between fiction and real-life relevance.
Another aspect I appreciated was the inclusion of discussion points at the end. These prompts provide a valuable opportunity for parents, caregivers, and educators to talk openly with children about colorism. It’s rare to find a picture book that opens the door to such important conversations while still being accessible to young readers.

Mathur also touches on the importance of sun safety and skin protection—a thoughtful addition to a story centered on self-love and acceptance. While I personally would have liked to see this element woven more directly into the narrative itself, I was still glad it was addressed in the supplementary material.

I wholeheartedly recommend Maya Loves the Sun. Although the book’s central focus is colorism, the mother’s words of love and affirmation resonate on a broader level. Her message could just as easily speak to issues like body image, self-worth, and other challenges that many children face today. This is a story with many layers, and each reading reveals something new.

I would absolutely purchase a physical copy of this book, not only for its message but also to revisit the stunning artwork again and again. It’s a book that deserves a lasting place on any child’s bookshelf.

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

Maya loves the sun and how it makes her feel until her auntie and sister comment that it's making her skin darker and that's a bad thing. So Maya hides from the sun until her Ma tells her that she's beautiful no matter the color of her skin. Maya goes back outside and enjoys the sun again. A beautiful story and message!

This is such a beautiful story with such an important message for children to read. I appreciated how the illustrations show Maya’s love for the sun, as well as her deep sadness when family members comment on the darkness of her skin and she begins to avoid the sun. While this story shows a deep appreciation for the sun and fosters important conversations about colorism, it also takes the time to share important steps for sun safety. Add this book to your children’s summer reading list.

These illustrations are absolutely beautiful! Especially the illustration of the half sun and all of its rays. I would love to have it framed and on my wall. To the story, it's beautiful and relevant to our world. Although the author and I are not the same ethnicity, I've heard my cousins be told similar things by our family members about their skin getting too dark and not staying out in the sun.

Maya is a beautiful child that likes to spend her summer days in the sun. She feels joy when she feels the heat from the sun and basks in the light. One day, her aunt mentions that she's getting too dark and it causes Maya to spiral and question her joy.

I like that this book focuses on how these things can make us feel. Especially as a child. I believe that how we feel will impact how we think. If I feel shamed, I will start to believe that what I'm doing is shameful. Maya feels the same thing in this book about her skin after it is pointed out to her. A shameful feeling she never had before it was introduced to her. I enjoyed the dismantling of that by what Maya's mother tells her.

Although, I do wish that Maya's mother and aunt had done just a little more to rectify what was said (especially on the aunt's end).

Thank you for introducing what colorism is at the end and diving in a bit more for the children and talking about how the author dealt with some of the same things. The reflection questions help foster pride in the color of your skin no matter what skin color and tone you are. This is a beautiful book for dark skinned children to have on their shelves. A+ for the note about sun safety as well.

My loves to feel the warm sun on her skin. Her favorite times are time spent outside. However, members of her family warn her to stay out of the sun and be careful as her skin gets darker. This makes maya not feel beautiful in her body and wonder why is being darker so bad. It takes her mom to tell her that ALL skin colors are beautiful, not just light or dark and that the world needs to work to change their views on colorism.

A sensitive and empowering story about confidence, self-love and the beauty of brown skin, Maya Loves The Sun will resonate with every Indian Girl, and probably every girl who is a person of colour.

Maya is truly looking forward to celebrating her birthday in the park. But some disheartening and discouraging comments from close family members make her want to hide from the activity that once brought her so much joy. I can relate to this book so much! I have been on the receiving end of such comments and the obsession with fair skin tone is unreal. Me and my twins, a boy and a girl, we say down to discuss this book and took away the idea that while we will do everything in our power to keep our skin healthy, we won't be obsessing about its tone. Or someone else's skin for that matter! I highly relatable book, especially for kids from the Indian cultural background.

As a brown-skinned girl who’s often been warned by well-meaning Neela aunties to stay out of the sun to avoid darkening my skin, I was immediately drawn to Maya Loves the Sun by Disha Mathur. The story speaks directly to the ingrained cultural belief that darker skin is something to be avoided, despite the fact that the sun is a natural part of our world. This book tackles that harmful mindset beautifully and thoughtfully, making it a powerful tool in dismantling colorism, especially for younger audiences.

Maya Loves the Sun follows Maya, a young girl who is discouraged from playing outside in the sun, fearing that it will darken her skin. As a result, she begins to lose her sparkle and joy. But through the gentle wisdom of her mother, Maya learns that true beauty comes from within and that we are beautiful in every season of life. The core message here is simple yet profound: the sun is meant to be enjoyed by all, regardless of the shade of our skin, and color should never limit how fully we live.
What makes this book even more special is how it teaches children (and adults!) about colorism while celebrating the natural beauty of brown skin. Maya’s rediscovery of the sunlight and the way it sparkles on her skin is a lovely metaphor for reclaiming one’s self-confidence and joy. Maya also leads her younger sister, Rani, to embrace the beauty of their skin under the sun, reinforcing the importance of passing on these empowering lessons.
Disha Mathur also does an excellent job of weaving in important terms like “colorism” and “sun safety,” making this a fun and informative read for young readers. The book manages to be both educational and inspiring, making it a perfect choice for parents and educators looking to encourage self-love and inclusion while raising awareness about skin health.
Overall, Maya Loves the Sun is a heartwarming story that offers a much-needed message about embracing who you are, the skin you're in, and the sun that was meant for everyone. It’s a must-read for any child, particularly brown-skinned girls, who need to hear that their beauty is radiant no matter what shade they are.

Thanks to NetGalley and Budhoo Books for this fun read! Highly recommend!

Maya Loves the Sun might just be one of the best children’s books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I absolutely loved this story, and it brought tears to my eyes. The characters, especially Maya, were wonderfully written, the illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, and I loved the overall tone of the story. The section of the book where the Sun is talking to Maya was so beautiful.

Maya Loves The Sun, written by Disha Mathur and beautifully illustrated by Felishia Henditirto, is an uplifting book perfect for children in key stage 1 (5-7 years old). It features a character Maya, who is on her journey to accept and love the beautiful brown skin that she is in, in a society that appreciates light skin. Maya Loves The Sun tackles the important topic of colourism and teaches us how to combat this by loving our skin.

This is a beautiful book with even more beautiful illustrations. This is a must-read for all kids. Colourism pretty much plagues all cultures/countries and hence this book will help children embrace and love themself irrespective of the shade of their skin. It is also a must read for adults as it shows how a careless remark may cause a child to shrivel up and lose their sparkle.

I am totally in love with the illustrations and enjoyed the points on how to stay safe in the sun.

Thank you so much to Buddoo Books and Netgalley for the book.

This story shares a powerful message about embracing yourself and embracing your love of nature. The young girl in this story loves to play outside, and she loves the sunshine. However, after an adult encourages her to stay out of the sun so that her skin won't get darker, she feels insecure and no longer feels the same freedom outside. In the end, she works through this and comes to an appreciation of herself and her skin color, and knows that colorism is wrong.

This book shares a powerful message without being overly preachy, and it is a good reminder for adults of the impact their careless words can have on children. The author's note at the end reflects on her own experience with this, and also includes tips for sun safety.

What a sweet story!! The artwork is absolutely STUNNING, I can picture myself reading this to my children in the summer!

This story feels so warm and comforting! Experiencing colorism has been a recurring challenge for me, even to this day, so seeing this issue portrayed in such a thoughtful way really resonated with me. This book does a great job of conveying the importance of self-love and confidence in a way that feels genuine and impactful. Plus, the illustrations are absolutely stunning! The vibrant colors and adorable font add so much charm. I also appreciate the extra section on sun safety, which is a great touch for kids. This is definitely a book worth picking up!