For parents, it is always difficult to help their child navigate the broad range of challenges posed by vitiligo. It’s not unusual for kids with vitiligo to avoid playing outdoors. As long as they are stared at and made unkind remarks about, they blame themselves for looking a certain way. This, in turn, can hamper their self-confidence and self-esteem.
But, if your approach towards nurturing your kid with vitiligo is fun, your child will be able to learn to accept himself/herself gracefully. In fact, gifting your kid a book that represents vitiligo through a featured character is a great way for both you and your kid to build memories and camaraderie. But, what if you can’t find a children’s book that has vitiligo’s representation? Well, Tati Santos de Oliveira made sure that doesn’t happen to anyone who is parenting a kid with vitiligo.
Mothers do everything in their power to make their kids feel proud of themselves. Tati wrote A Menina Feita de Nuvens (titled “The Girl made of clouds” in English) for her daughter who has vitiligo. Today, the book is helping many children and adults in accepting themselves as vitiligo crusaders. It is changing the way South Americans look at vitiligo, in a playful yet delicate manner.
“In Brazil, there are no animated characters on television, toys or books that represent vitiligo to children and the younger generation. I created this story for my daughter so that she feel represented and least alone. She is now seven years old and loves her little clouds. The book is about Maria Luiza, a girl with special powers; she is made of clouds. In figurative language, I tried to treat the subject of vitiligo with sensitivity and poetry,” Tati shared some details with us.
Tati Santos de Oliveira is a graphic designer by profession. Born in São Paulo, she is an unconditional fan of the Beatles and is the mother of two lovely kids João and Maria Luiza for whom she has written this beautiful story.
A Menina Feita de Nuvens has been read and endorsed by celebrated models with vitiligo like Akin Cavalcante and Vitor Macedo Santos. It has also been promoted by Caio Braga (a 23-year-old brain behind #SejaSuaMarca), Lucas Rodrigues (a 24-year-old journalist) and Maika Celi, a 40-year-old Human Resource Professional who runs a Vitiligo Acceptance Project, Meu Lugar ao Sol.
At present, the book is available on estrela.com in Portuguese for R$ 19,90.