Happy In your Skin: Is Rafa Different

This is a top pick among teachers and Liberians and families who are looking to add more diversity to their collection of books for children.

Did you know that children as young as preschoolers are curious about their race and ethnicity when they are among other kids in school from diverse backgrounds?

This book helps tell the story of Rafa, who is in preschool and is curious about why his skin color is different.

Young Rafa has a wonderful family. They are from India and now live in the United States. Rafa loves where he lives, but sometimes he gets strange questions that he doesn't know how to answer.

"Why are you brown?"

"Why are you so different?"

Rafa never knows what to say when he gets these questions... until he talks to some of the adults in his life!

It turns out that many people have gotten questions like that, and they can help him with what to say! His doctor, teacher, and parents help Rafa understand who he is and how to be proud of that.

Dear parents and teachers, Here is why I wrote this book:

Why is my skin color different? This was the question my preschooler asked me.

While it was a shock and hard to process at the moment for me, I knew I needed to help my child navigate through these feelings and curiosities about his identity.

This book is a tool for parents to navigate questions about differences

and give our children a sense of pride and security in who they are.

A resource for teachers who can help children learn new ways to embrace everyone's uniqueness.

My mission through this labor of love is:

• To help all young children to become exceptional future leaders through cultural sensitivity and awareness
• And to be happy and secure in their own skin.
• For parents to know that you don't have to do it all alone.

Erlin Kakkanad is a mom, Ph.D. in Education candidate, promotes cultural sensitivity and awareness for children, youth, and adults in corporations; and raises Asian Indian American children in the Midwest.

Erlin Kakkanad is an Asian Indian American writer, entrepreneur, award winning professional speaker on diversity and inclusion, Business Process transformation expert in the financial services, and an executive leadership coach. Erlin bootstrapped her start up called Kids Care Share to help parents find quality childcare. She started her career in India and later traveled to Canada and now is based in the US. Erlin is passionate about STEM and has a BS in Computer Application, Masters in Human Resources (HR) and is currently pursuing her PhD in Education.From her own experience as a parent, Erlin learned that there are not enough books in children literature to support the curiosity in children within the Asian Indian ethnicity to learn and explore about their cultural backgrounds. We need diversity in literature. Erlin is helping to change the conversation about diversity in literature.