Description
🌸 The Blue Dress: Tomorrow is Keitu’s Birthday!
By Teboho Moja | Illustrated by Giovanna de Lima
Ages 4–7 | Published: 2022
🎉 A Birthday. A Dress. A Family Tradition.
Tomorrow is Keitu’s birthday! And she cannot wait to wear her special blue dress. In Keitu’s family, birthdays and celebrations are marked by wearing clothes made from a beloved family fabric — blue with tiny white dots. Each family member chooses a style, but the fabric always matches, weaving a beautiful thread of tradition and togetherness through every outfit.
This heartwarming picture book introduces young readers to the joy of birthdays, cultural pride, and the rich fabric traditions in many Black South African families. It’s a gentle celebration of identity, belonging, and the beauty of passing down traditions through clothing.
🌍 Available in 12 Languages!
Afrikaans, Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, isiZulu, Russian, Setswana, Spanish, Ukrainian, xiTsonga
✍️ About the Author
Teboho Moja is a native Setswana speaker and professor of higher education at New York University. Originally from South Africa, she now lives in New York City but continues to maintain strong ties to her homeland. Her storytelling is deeply rooted in her cultural heritage, bringing to life the joy and richness of South African traditions.
🎨 About the Illustrator
Giovanna de Lima brings Keitu’s world to life with warm, colorful illustrations that celebrate family, fabric, and festivity. Her artwork reflects the joy of childhood and the cultural vibrance of Keitu’s story.
📚 Why Kids (and Parents) Love It:
- Celebrates African family traditions and cultural pride
- Features a relatable young heroine excited about her birthday
- Gorgeous, colorful illustrations
- Great for read-alouds and multicultural collections
Bring home The Blue Dress and celebrate culture, family, and fabulous birthday dresses with Keitu!
Zanele M. –
A beautiful story that reminds me of my own childhood in Limpopo. I read this to my daughter and she loved seeing a little girl who looks like her in a book. The fabrics, the family love, the excitement – it’s all so familiar and heartwarming.
Alicia R. –
Such a lovely book to add to our multicultural library at home. My son was fascinated by the idea of families sharing a special fabric. The illustrations are warm and vibrant, and the story is simple but meaningful. A great bedtime read!
Noah L. –
I bought this for my niece’s 5th birthday and she was immediately drawn to the colors and the dress. She asked me to read it three times in a row! It’s a sweet, joyful story that celebrates tradition without being overly didactic. Highly recommend!