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ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: ASHA AND THE TOYMAKER
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://www.sakshimangal.com
CITY: Vancouver
STATE:
COUNTRY: Canada
NATIONALITY:
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RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in India.
EDUCATION:Teesside University, bachelor’s degree (animation); Cambridge School of Art, M.A. (children’s book illustration).
ADDRESS
CAREER
Illustrator, writer.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, October 1, 2022, review of The Many Hats of Louie the Rat; August 15, 2023, review of Asha and the Toymaker.
School Library Journal, October, 2023, Jessica Clark, review of Asha and the Toymaker, p. 71.
ONLINE
Sakshi Mangal website, https://www.sakshimangal.com (April 17, 2024).
I am naturally drawn towards the fascinating world of children's book illustration where bold colours and scribbly lines inspire my work. Drawing inspiration from my own childhood, I find immense joy in imagining the world through children’s eyes where bears are getting ready for a tea party and the squirrels are dancing to Spring.
I grew up in India and then moved to England to complete a MA in Children’s Book Illustration course from the Cambridge School of Art. Since then, I have been Illustrating and developing picture books from my home studio in Vancouver where I spend most of my day doodling and drinking coffee.
I am proudly represented by Astound Agency.
SAKSHI MANGAL grew up in India and then moved to England to complete her MA in Children’s Book Illustration from the Cambridge School of Art. Since then, she has been illustrating and developing picture books from her home studio in Vancouver, British Columbia where she spends most of her day doodling and drinking coffee.
Sakshi Mangal - Illustrator
Personal Website
Instagram
Biography
Working out of her studio at home in Vancouver, Sakshi Mangal is naturally drawn to the fascinating world of children’s book illustration, where bold colors and scribbly lines inspire her work.
While growing up in Mumbai, Sakshi enjoyed telling bedtime stories to her mother, and this later turned into a passion for bringing these worlds to life through her art. To pursue her childhood passion, Sakshi moved to the United Kingdom to earn a bachelor’s degree in animation from Teesside University, and then a master’s degree from the Cambridge School of Art in Children’s Book Illustration. Since graduating, Sakshi’s work has been published and recognized in both the United Kingdom and North America. With great influences such as E.H. Shepard, Maurice Sendak, Quentin Blake, Walt Disney and Shirley Hughes, it’s easy to see where Sakshi’s love for illustration comes from.
Sakshi enjoys the challenges of storytelling and experimenting with different styles of work. Drawing inspiration from her own childhood, Sakshi finds immense joy in imagining the world through children’s eyes – where bears are getting ready for a tea party and squirrels are dancing to spring.
Instagram: @drawergeek
Awards
Picture Books
Asha and the Toymaker, 2023
Hide-and-Seek, 2019
Sakshi Mangal
Sakshi was born and raised in India. Working out of her studio at home in Vancouver, Sakshi is naturally drawn to the fascinating world of children's book illustration, where bold colours and scribbly lines inspire her work. While growing up in Mumbai, Sakshi enjoyed telling bedtime stories to her mother, and this later turned into a passion for bringing these worlds to life through her art and her books. To pursue her childhood passion, Sakshi moved to the United Kingdom to earn a bachelor’s degree in animation from Teesside University, and then a master’s degree from the Cambridge School of Art in Children’s Book illustration. Since graduating, Sakshi’s work has been published and recognized in both the United Kingdom and North America. With great influences such as E.H. Shepard, Maurice Sendak, Quentin Blake and Richard Scarry, it’s easy to see where Sakshi’s love for illustration and writing comes from. Sakshi enjoys the challenges of storytelling and experimenting with different styles of work. Drawing inspiration from her own childhood, Sakshi finds immense joy in imagining the world through children’s eyes — where bears are getting ready for a tea party and squirrels are dancing to spring.
Mangal, Sakshi ASHA AND THE TOYMAKER Kids Can (Children's None) $21.99 10, 3 ISBN: 9781525306662
The daughter of a hardworking toymaker adds a splash of color to the family business.
Asha believes that her father "makes the best wooden toys in India." He sells the toys in the market so he can afford to send Asha to school. Papa never went to school, and he tells Asha that she must study hard in order to take advantage of the opportunities he missed--opportunities that will keep her from going hungry. Aware that her father struggles to make ends meet, she secretly enters his workshop and, in an attempt to make his wares more enticing, paints all his toys. As Asha says, "A little bit of colorful paint makes anything beautiful." But will Papa appreciate her efforts, or will he feel that she has overstepped by focusing on her painting instead of her homework? The story's greatest strength is the layered, loving relationship between Asha and her father, and it explains Papa's past poverty with empathy. The conflict between the characters rings true, as does Asha's sweet and spunky narratorial voice. While the illustrations are whimsical and vibrant, the small text is sometimes awkwardly placed and difficult to find. Nevertheless, this tale of a loving father-daughter bond is sure to delight readers of all ages. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A tender depiction of a loving, working-class Indian family. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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Source Citation
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"Mangal, Sakshi: ASHA AND THE TOYMAKER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2023, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A760508274/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f1ec7e6e. Accessed 15 Feb. 2024.
MANGAL, Sakshi. Asha and the Toymaker. illus. by Sakshi Mangal. 40p. Kids Can. Oct. 2023. Tr $21.99. ISBN 9781525306662.
PreS-Gr 3--This picture book represents the beauty of India through color and pattern choices in the illustrations. The simple text introduces Asha and her family, then expands to a story of love and artistry. Papa creates amazing wooden toys to sell at the market to help provide for his family, but sometimes, Asha explains, he doesn't sell a single toy. Readers are immediately able to identify why that might be, as his beautiful though plain wooden toys are starkly contrasted with the bright colors and vivid patterns at the market. Because of Papa's past poverty, he wants Asha to concentrate on her studies and on creating a better life than he had as a child. He encourages her to focus more on school and less on painting, but Asha wants to prove to Papa that her art is not a waste of time and help him be a success. Mangal perfectly paces the story, all the while showing the strength of a family and the tenacity of a child; the text introduces a few Hindi words such as lakdi ki kathi and damaru. The pictures show representation of different skin tones and abilities, while also capturing the atmosphere of an Indian market. VERDICT With a well-told story whose simple illustrations convey complex emotions, this book will be a great addition to any library.--Jessica Clark
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Clark, Jessica. "MANGAL, Sakshi. Asha and the Toymaker." School Library Journal, vol. 69, no. 10, Oct. 2023, pp. 71+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A766727702/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=71cf90ed. Accessed 15 Feb. 2024.
Mangal, Sakshi THE MANY HATS OF LOUIE THE RAT Owlkids Books (Children's None) $18.95 10, 18 ISBN: 978-1-77147-495-5
Aww rats, inventing is tough!
Louie wants to create "useful things from not-so-useful things," but the other rats in his village don't appreciate his craft. In fairness, Louie's inventions aren't particularly useful (or safe). Luck smiles upon the inventor one day, though, when he notices a new trend: fancy hats that are so large they cover their wearers' eyes. Inspired, Louie starts manufacturing his own, more practical hats: "wool hats for warmth, wide-brimmed hats for shade, hard hats for safety, and handy hats for bad hair days." The rats, well aware of Louie's track record and enamored with their stylish yet impractical hats, take no notice of his new, useful creations. Thankfully, Louie gives away a few hats to needy individuals, the rats take notice, and Louie begins recycling the old hats into ones that serve a purpose. The story's message is greatly diluted when one of these large hats, dubbed non-useful, suddenly becomes a lifesaving boat during a flood. The illustrations, which appear hand-drawn, are amusing, and Louie is adorable, but it's not enough to save the meandering plot. Rodent fans and aspiring inventors may be drawn to the story, but there's not a lot to keep them invested. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An ultimately muddled message accompanied by attractive artwork. (Picture book. 6-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Mangal, Sakshi: THE MANY HATS OF LOUIE THE RAT." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Oct. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A719983105/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=56d8c73b. Accessed 15 Feb. 2024.