Download high-resolution image Look inside
Listen to a clip from the audiobook
audio pause button
0:00
0:00

Laxmi's Mooch

Illustrated by Nabi H. Ali
Look inside
Listen to a clip from the audiobook
audio pause button
0:00
0:00
Hardcover
$18.99 US
11.38"W x 8.88"H x 0.4"D  
On sale Mar 02, 2021 | 32 Pages | 9781984815651
Preschool - 3
Reading Level: Lexile AD500L | Fountas & Pinnell M
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.

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.
Nabi H. Ali is a Tamil-American illustrator who enjoys creating diverse works that showcase an array of cultures and people. He is the illustrator of several picture books, including Laxmi's Mooch, which received three starred reviews, was featured on The Today Show, and was a New York Public Library Staff Pick, A Charlotte Huck Honor Book, and a ALSC Notable Children's Book. His other illustrated picture books include Beautifully Me and We Move the World. Nabi lives in California. View titles by Nabi H. Ali
PRAISE FOR LAXMI'S MOOCH

As seen on The Today Show!
“Joyful!...[a] positive story about seeing your own differences and being excited about them!” --Jasmine Guillory

Three starred reviews!
A New York Public Library Spring 2021 Staff Pick!
A Charlotte Huck Honor Book!
A 2022 ALSC Notable Children’s Book!
A 2022 ALA RISE: A Feminist Book Project List selection!

* “Debut author Anand skillfully balances humor with sincerity, crafting a narrator who is both vulnerable and powerful, while Abi contributes sunny-humored illustrations ... 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.” -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review. 

* "A joyfully affirmative picture book with a winning first-person point of view." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review. 

* "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." -- Booklist, starred review. 

"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." --School Library Journal

"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." --Shelf Awareness

Laxmi's Mooch by Shelly Anand - Read Aloud Picture Book | Brightly Storytime

About

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.

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.

Author

Nabi H. Ali is a Tamil-American illustrator who enjoys creating diverse works that showcase an array of cultures and people. He is the illustrator of several picture books, including Laxmi's Mooch, which received three starred reviews, was featured on The Today Show, and was a New York Public Library Staff Pick, A Charlotte Huck Honor Book, and a ALSC Notable Children's Book. His other illustrated picture books include Beautifully Me and We Move the World. Nabi lives in California. View titles by Nabi H. Ali

Praise

PRAISE FOR LAXMI'S MOOCH

As seen on The Today Show!
“Joyful!...[a] positive story about seeing your own differences and being excited about them!” --Jasmine Guillory

Three starred reviews!
A New York Public Library Spring 2021 Staff Pick!
A Charlotte Huck Honor Book!
A 2022 ALSC Notable Children’s Book!
A 2022 ALA RISE: A Feminist Book Project List selection!

* “Debut author Anand skillfully balances humor with sincerity, crafting a narrator who is both vulnerable and powerful, while Abi contributes sunny-humored illustrations ... 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.” -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review. 

* "A joyfully affirmative picture book with a winning first-person point of view." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review. 

* "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." -- Booklist, starred review. 

"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." --School Library Journal

"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." --Shelf Awareness

Media

Laxmi's Mooch by Shelly Anand - Read Aloud Picture Book | Brightly Storytime

Reading with Purpose Summit Event

On Monday, June 10th, Penguin Random House Education and DK Learning co-hosted a Reading with Purpose Summit Event in collaboration with Molly Ness, PhD. The event took place at Penguin Random House’s NYC headquarters and included sessions featuring leading education experts and a lunchtime author panel. The in-person professional learning event was built to show

Read more

2024 Elementary School Collection

The Penguin Random House Education Elementary School Collection features outstanding fiction, nonfiction, and picture books from Penguin Young Reader’s, Random House Children’s, DK, and Grupo Editorial, as well as children’s publishers distributed by Penguin Random House. Explore online or download this valuable resource to discover great books in specific topic areas such as: Leveled Readers,

Read more

DK Learning Phonic Books Sampler Request

Thank you for your interest in DK Learning | Phonic Books. To download the DK Learning | Phonic Books sampler with four complete readers, please click here and complete the form. Once your information is successfully submitted, a link to download the sampler will be provided on the confirmation screen.   Click here to learn

Read more

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more

Books for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

This month we proudly celebrate Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month and the important role of Asian and Asian American voices in our culture and in our classrooms all year long. We’re spotlighting creators and centering stories that allow us to embrace diversity within the community and leads us to telling more balanced

Read more