From Sidekick to Spotlight: Why Every Kid Deserves to See Themselves as the Hero

My niece, Niah, holding Lulu In The Spotlight: A South Asian Wedding Story.

“Look, she has brown skin and curly hair like you.” A mom whispered to her daughter while pointing out the cover of Lulu in the Spotlight. I’ve heard this sentiment from moms of different backgrounds and it gives me chills every time. Seeing yourself as the hero of an epic adventure (and not the sidekick) is still a rarity for those of us blessed with more melanin. And watching others celebrate that hero? Even rarer.

Diverse stories are being challenged and representation in stories matters more than ever. Not just for the kids who see themselves reflected, but for all kids who read those stories. Diverse stories open doors to mutual understanding, and that’s the foundation for authentic community.

Many kids in my community inspired the lively crew in this book. I am a boy mom, but I draw all my girl energy from the girls around me. They help shape my boys into more compassionate, balanced humans. And my young nieces are often teaching my sons the importance of assertiveness and confidence. But I digress.

Art imitates life. Characters, Lulu and Tarek, alongside Niah and Kian (my oldest).

That confidence—seeing yourself as the hero—doesn’t just shape childhood; it builds the foundation for a lifetime of self-belief. When kids grow up knowing their stories matter, they step into the world with a stronger sense of self, ready to take up space in any room they enter. Representation fuels resilience, which I’ve seen firsthand in the girls around me. My friend, and girl mom, Dr. Manju Dawkins, embodies that same fearless spirit. As a physician and entrepreneur, she saw a problem—how fear of needles keeps so many from getting essential care—and decided to solve it. She built her company, Thimble Health, to make needle care less intimidating and more accessible. (P.S. Use Code Lulu for 15% off.) It’s that belief in yourself and your ideas that changes lives, and it starts when kids grow up knowing they belong at the center of the story.