Vendor
Mohrbooks Literary Agency
Published by
Kokila (2021-03-02)
Current material
Final Pages
Original language
English
Themas
Children’s picture books
BACK

LAXMI'S MOOCH

by Ali, Nabi H.Anand, Shelly

A joyful, body-positive picture book about a young girl's journey to accept her body hair and celebrate her heritage after being teased about her mustache.

Laxmi never paid much attention to the tiny hairs above her lip. But one day while playing farm animals at recess, her friends point out that her whiskers would make her the perfect cat. She starts to notice body hair all over--on her arms, legs, and even between her eyebrows.

With her parents' help, Laxmi learns that hair isn't just for heads, but that it grows everywhere, regardless of gender. Featuring affirming text by Shelly Anand and exuberant, endearing illustrations by Nabi H. Ali, Laxmi's Mooch is a celebration of our bodies and our body hair, in whichever way they grow.

A debut #ownvoices writer, Shelly Anand is a human and civil rights attorney in Atlanta fighting for immigrants and workers, especially those from marginalized communities. She received her BA from Wellesley College and her JD from the University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill. She lives with her husband and two small children.
Nabi H. Ali is a Tamil American illustrator who enjoys creating diverse works that showcase an array of cultures and people. He illustrates digitally, but he also has a secret love of inks, color pencil, and acrylic paints. His hobbies include drawing (of course), doll collecting, reading, learning about South Asian mythology and folklore, and researching history.

Available rights (1)

Language Territory Type Vendor Status
German World All

Mohrbooks Literary Agency
Annelie Geissler

Available View on Rightsdesk

Comments

Shelf Awareness (53k UVPM) ran their review of LAXMI'S MOOCH, writing "Readers invited to watch Laxmi grow may also gain some confidence to celebrate their own bodies no matter what they look like--or where their hair may grow."

https://www.shelf-awareness.com/readers-issue.html?issue=1002#m17512

Review: Shelf Awareness

Author Jasmine Guillory chose LAXMI'S MOOCH as one of her spring book recommendations, calling it a "positive story about seeing your own differences and being excited about them!"

https://www.today.com/shop/best-new-books-spring-t211832

Quote: Jasmine Guillory

In this episode we talk about biracial bachhas, Georgia, gol gappe, assimilation and nazaar. We talk about a lot of other things too!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/biracial-desi-bachchas-w-shelly-anand/id1527452150?i=1000501698947

Quote: The Brown Mom with Raakhee Mirchandani podcast

LAXMI'S MOOCH is a 2022 ALA Notable Children's Books (excluding the ALA award winners), which identifies "the best of the best in children's books"!

Quote: Kokila

Here Wee Read included LAXMI'S MOOCH in their list of Diverse Children's Books: "A joyful, body-positive picture book about a young Indian American girl's journey to accept her body hair and celebrate her heritage after being teased about her mustache...."

http://hereweeread.com/2020/12/the-2021-ultimate-list-of-diverse-childrens-books.html

Quote: Here We Read

Popsugar (14M UVPM) highlighted LAXMI'S MOOCH as one of 63 Picture, Middle-Grade, and YA Books Coming Out in 2021 to Add to Your Kid's TBR List

https://www.popsugar.co.uk/parenting/new-kids-books-coming-out-in-2021-48098380?utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=US:CH&utm_source=direct

Quote: Popsugar

Khabar (12k UVPM), an outlet covering the Indian community of metro Atlanta, included LAXMI'S MOOCH in their Book Matters section

http://www.khabar.com/magazine/desi-world/briefs-/-solving-a-himalayan-mystery-/-tackling-plastic-in-south-asia-/-book-matters

Quote: Khabar

Anand's story is simple and purposeful, but it's a much-needed purpose, sweetly delivering a message of body positivity around a common insecurity that is rarely addressed.

Review: Booklist, starred review

LAXMI'S MOOCH is a Chicago Public Library Best Books of 2021 AV Club's Best Picture Books of 2021

Quote: Kokila

Laxmi's journey is both accessible and authentic, and it is a true pleasure to watch her not only embrace her own body, but also teach her classmates how to embrace theirs as well... Fabulous, funny body positivity.

Review: Kirkus, starred review

Women's Day (3M UVPM) included LAXMI'S MOOCH in the editor's 'Yay List' for the March 2021 issue: " A joyful, body-positive picture book about a young Indian American gril's journey to self-acceptance."

Quote: Women's Day

Readers of all ages will appreciate the message of self-love presented within Laxmi's story, which takes on body positivity for a relatively young audience in an uplifting way.

Review: School Library Journal

Essayist and novelist Soniah Kamal chose LAXMI'S MOOCH as one of her Most Anticipated books for 2021, in a piece for The News International (8.2M UVPM)

https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/767606-my-reading-list-for-2021

Quote: Soniah Kamal

Use this...for an exploration of hair and respect.

Review: BCCB

Parents (6.8M UVPM) included LAXMI'S MOOCH in their round-up of 15 Asian American Children's Books to Read As a Family Right Now: "...vibrant and joyful picture book..."

https://www.parents.com/fun/entertainment/books/asian-american-books-for-kids/

Review: Parents

Glamour (7.1 UVPM) featured LAXMI'S MOOCH in their piece "A New Children's Book Explores Body Hair, One of the Final Frontiers of Self-Acceptance" which discusses the book, the body hair movement, and historical attitudes toward body hair.

https://www.glamour.com/story/childrens-book-body-hair-laxmis-mooch

Review: Glamour

LAXMI'S MOOCH was included in Publishers Weekly's (879k UVPM) feature on New and Forthcoming Titles on Women, Girls and Empowerment: "A body-positive picture book about an Indian-American girl's journey to accept her body hair and celebrate her heritage after being teased about her mustache"

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/new-titles/adult-announcements/article/85418-new-and-forthcoming-titles-on-women-girls-and-empowerment.html

Quote: Publishers Weekly

Author's Essay: "Teaching Your Kids Body Positivity? Learn to Practice It Yourself"

https://diversebooks.org/teaching-your-kids-body-positivity-learn-to-practice-it-yourself/

Quote: We Need Diverse Books blog

A joyful affirmative picture book with a winning first-person point of view.

Review: Publishers Weekly, starred review

Bookriot's (2.9M UVPM) "All the Books!" called LAXMI'S MOOCH one of their Most Anticipated Books of 2021 and also included it in their release round-up as well as the Book Riot Kids newsletter!

https://bookriot.com/listen/our-most-anticipated-books-of-2021/

Quote: Bookriot

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