CATALYST PRESS
IT'S JUST SKIN, SILLY!
ISBN 9781733547413 | hardcover | $18.99 | publication date Aug 2023
“[A]n irresistibly brilliant, pitch-perfect page-turner that should be a must-read in every Pre-K and Elementary School in our country”— Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Winner, Skipping Stones Book Awards
Hi!! I’m Epi Dermis, but my friends just call me Skin! Raise your hands if you sweat, tan, itch, have hair, or have freckles!
I’ve been feeling pretty sensitive lately because everybody has something to say about me. But people don’t always tell the truth.
My color doesn’t make me fast, strong, smart, or scary. I just want to shout, “It’s just skin, silly!”
Meet Epi Dermis, your guide to the origin of skin color! Using simple science and interactive activities, Epi takes readers on an adventure through human history to find out why skin is the hardest working organ in the body business. Whether it’s how migration and climate changed our skin’s need for melanin, to why sweat is your body’s secret superpower, Epi’s got all the facts—and uses them to challenge false narratives about race and give kids the information they need to do the same.
It’s Just Skin, Silly! Is a clever, quirky illustrated children’s book on the evolution of skin color, based on research from expert anthropologist Dr. Nina Jablonski and historian Dr. Holly Y. McGee. Illustrations by Karen Vermeulen. Foreword by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
REVIEWS
“[A] friendly and accessible introduction to the evolution of skin color. Anthropologist Nina Jablonski and historian Holly McGee draw upon their more than 40 years of combined research experience to show readers what skin is, what it does, and how humans developed all sorts of different skin tones.” — World Kid Lit
“It’s Just Skin, Silly! is a powerful story that accurately explains the different colors of skin and helps to dismiss the false information people have held on to about racial differences.” —Reading Eagle
“It’s Just Skin, Silly! introduces children to the biological wonder of skin and skin color without glossing over the reality of racism. With the help of a sweet and silly hero named Epi Dermis, the book carefully and thoroughly answers just about any question a small child might have about skin. The perfect read for the child who won’t (and shouldn’t) stop asking, ‘why?’.” –Tyler Feder, Bodies Are Cool
“A very meaningful book….The playful narrative is engaging and thought-provoking; the ‘silliness’ highlights the dark absurdity that this organ that we all have, are covered by and live with, has played such a major role, often negatively, in human relationships and history. A much-needed, remarkable, and hopeful book!” –Sandhya Prabhat, illustrator, I Am Brown
“Why are we different colours? Grownups are often stumped when kids ask such questions and this book provides the answers in a fun and engaging way. With sweet illustrations and a healthy dose of humour, It’s Just Skin, Silly! can spark important discussions around identity, biology and, most of all, our shared humanity.” —Uju Asika, author of Bringing Up Race and A World for Me and You
“A sometimes humorous, sometimes serious book to help combat racism for tots, teens, and in betweens… Full of fun and important facts about the organ that’s got us covered, and how it came to be the way it is!” — Kathy Stinson, The Bare Naked Book
“Charming and informative, this book demystifies the science of the skin we are in. A joy to read!”–Dominic Walliman, Professor Astro Cat creator
“Drs. Jablonski and McGee write a wonderful book that combines the power of biology along with justice-oriented conversations for children. This book is informative and entertaining while also providing a space for children to have important conversations around race.” – Dr. Lynnette Mawhinney, Professor of Urban Education, author of Lulu the One and Only
Dr. Nina Jablonski is an anthropologist and paleobiologist whose research on the evolution of skin color has been published in many scholarly journals including Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Nature, and American Psychologist. She is the author of several books, including Living Color: The Biological and Social Meaning of Skin Color and Skin: A Natural History. She has also been a featured TED Talk speaker, and has appeared as a guest on shows such as The Colbert Report and Bill Nye’s Science Rules! podcast. Dr. Jablonski has extensive experience in the development of science-related youth curriculum from grades K-12.
AUTHOR NINA JABLONSKI
Dr. Holly Y. McGee is a historian at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. McGee’s research, teaching, and publishing in the fields of African American History, comparative black politics, and South African history provide critical insight into historical narratives regarding the social creation of “race” and subsequent proliferation of racism in modern society. She is the author of “One Day We Are Going Home”: The Long Exile of Elizabeth Mafeking, and founder of the nonprofit National Black Teachers Association.
AUTHOR HOLLY Y. MCGEE
Karen Vermeulen is an artist, illustrator and teacher living in Cape Town, South Africa. Her work is happy, uplifting and quirky. When she is not busy with some creative project, she is probably playing with her cat, Sir Henry. You can find more of her work at www.karenvermeulen.com
ILLUSTRATOR KAREN VERMEULEN
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