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School Library Journal vol. 70 no. 4 Apr., 2024. Jonah Dragan, “WALLMARK, Laurie & Raakhee Mirchandani. Journey to the Stars: Kalpana Chawla, Astronaut.”.
Booklist vol. 120 no. 9-10 Jan. 1, 2024, Wagner, Leon. , “Journey to the Stars: Kalpana Chawla, Astronaut.”. p. 55.
School Library Journal vol. 68 no. 6 June, 2022. Pagan, Paige. , “MIRCHANDANI, Raakhee. My Diwall Light.”.
Kirkus Reviews Aug. 1, 2022, , “Mirchandani, Raakhee: MY DIWALI LIGHT.”. p. NA.
Kirkus Reviews Apr. 1, 2021, , “Mirchandani, Raakhee: HAIR TWINS.”. p. NA.
Raakhee Mirchandani is a journalist, children’s book author, activist and mom — not necessarily in that order.
Previously a feature writer and columnist for the New York Post, a managing editor at the New York Daily News and associate editor at the Boston Herald, Raakhee’s work has also appeared in Elle, Glamour, the Wall Street Journal, Redbook and HuffPo, and she was the editor-in-chief of Moneyish, published by Dow Jones.
The New Jersey-born daughter of immigrants, Raakhee is a proud supporter of many nonprofits, serving on the boards of the Tomorrows Children's Fund, the Hoboken Public Library, Stevens Cooperative School and the Children’s Book Council.
In 2020, Raakhee launched her podcast, “Brown Mom,” where she chats with friends and notables about being brown in America.
When she isn't writing or working on her podcast, Raakhee is either organizing her bookshelves, running races to raise money for the fight against pediatric cancer — or styling her very curly hair with new oils and potions. She lives in Hoboken, N.J., with her husband and daughter, the inspirations for Hair Twins and Super Satya Saves the Day. Raakhee invites you to follow her on Twitter @Raakstar and on Instagram @RaakstarWrites.
Q&A With Raakhee Mirchandani and Holly Hatam, Hair Twins
August 6, 2021 by Fin Lavoie
Q&A With Raakhee Mirchandani and Holly Hatam, Hair Twins
By Alaina Leary
Today we’re pleased to welcome Raakhee Mirchandani and Holly Hatam to the WNDB blog to discuss Hair Twins.
Hair Twins
TRANSCRIPT
[We Need Diverse Books opening credits: text against an animated crinkling paper background. The text reads, “Book Giveaways, Grants, Mentorships, Writing Awards,” followed by the WNDB logo.]
Raakhee: Hi!
Satya: Hi mama!
Raakhee: Are you gonna ask me some questions?
Satya: Yup!
R: Okay.
Number one, why did you want to write HAIR TWINS?
I wanted to write HAIR TWINS because I think that the stories that happen in our apartment are really special
and I want to share our family with the whole world.
Where did the inspiration behind the book come from?
From you! It came from you, and from Dada, watching him do your hair every day.
I feel really inspired by who you are and what this family stands for and
it’s exciting to be able to write about it!
The hair cheers part is so cute! How did you come up with it?
When you were little you would cheers with your dudu or you would cheers with your water
and when we dance to bungara we cheer with our hips.
So I thought it would be fun to do a hair cheers.
Satya: Want to do one right now?
Raakhee: Um, sure! [laughing]
Hair cheers!
How did you decide what elements you wanted to include to show the importance of hair in the story?
So I compare hair in the story to other things that I find magical and beautiful also. Music, nature, rivers.
For me, it felt very natural to connect our hair ritual to other magical things in my life and in the world.
As much as this book is about Sikh tradition and pride in someone’s culture and religion it’s also about the relationship between the girl and her father.
Why did you want to highlight that relationship in this book?
You’re right; it is about being proud of who you are, and for us, that is being proud of our hair, and for you, it’s being proud of being Sikh
but it is about the relationship between a girl and her dad. I have a great relationship with my dad.
It’s something that’s really important to me. You certainly have a great relationship with your Dada.
I love that! I think it’s a really special bond, and so it was important to me as I looked at all of the books that are out there in the world, certainly ones that we read I wanted to show a dad like yours, a dad like mine, a strong brown dad — in your case, one with a turban —
in the center of a book, on the cover of a book. That was really important to me.
The scenes about racing at the park are so right. Is this based on something from your life?
Um, so the scene from the book is not quite like our life but though we do like to race.
Why do the kids race as zombies, unicorns, and rockets?
Oh, they race as zombies, unicorns, and rockets because you’re really interested in space travel, in unicorns, and in creepy things like zombies and Raakhee: So I have become interested in them also. So that’s why they race like that.
Satya: What other books do you think HAIR TWINS is in a conversation with?
I think HAIR TWINS is in a conversation with THE MANY COLORS OF HARPREET SINGH,
I think it’s in conversation with HAIR LOVE, I LOVE MY HAIR, and THE PROUDEST BLUE.
Oh, and EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS! It’s definitely in conversation with EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS. Uh, can I finish? Satya: Yeah!
Raakhee: And EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS.
Do you have recommendations for other kidlit books?
Yeah! How much time do you have?
ALL BECAUSE YOU MATTER, by Tami Charles,
I would say ALWAYS ANJALI by Sheetal Sheth, I would say FAUJA SINGH KEEPS GOING by Simran Jeet Singh.
Um, I would say one of my very favorites, THANK YOU, OMU!
What about you? You have any recommendations?
LAXMI’S MOOCH
LAXMI’S MOOCH by Shelly Anand, the great one.
Um, and… I forgot one…
Satya: BABYSITTERS’ CLUB, I know that one.
Raakhee: BABYSITTERS’ CLUB.
Satya: And there was one more.
Raakhee: Okay, well maybe it’ll come to you later. Satya: Okay.
Raakhee: Well, thanks for a great interview! Bye.
Satya: Bye, Mama!
Bye, Satya!
INTERVIEW WITH HOLLY HATAM
Why did you want to illustrate Hair Twins? How were you approached for this project and what drew you to it?
As a person of color myself, and also raising a biracial son, illustrating books with diverse characters is very important to me. Especially when they are the star of the book and not a secondary character or sidekick. Growing up, I never saw a character in a book or movie that looked like me. And now as a mom, I’m still seeing the same thing with my son. I want him to be able to identify himself in books and feel seen and heard.
What tools do you use in your illustration process, and how would you describe your art style?
All my illustrations are done digitally. I would describe my art style as whimsical, dreamy, and emotional.
The rituals in Hair Twins compare the process of getting ready to a variety of other beautiful things, like music and rivers, and they were illustrated so beautifully. How did you decide how to create those spreads to bring the story to life?
Nature plays a big part in my art. It is where I gather the most inspiration and where I feel most like myself. I wanted to evoke a lot of emotion in those spreads, and nature does that for me.
I know it’s important to you to incorporate as many BIPOC characters into your art as possible, especially main characters. Why is this a priority for you as an artist?
Growing up in the ’80s in a small town as a person of color was hard. I never felt like I belonged. I experienced a lot of racism. I felt invisible and unimportant. Not only at school, but when reading and watching TV. I don’t want my son or any other child to grow up feeling alone and invisible. I want to shine the spotlight on them and give them a voice and to let them know the world loves them as they are.
I also noticed that other marginalized identities are reflected in Hair Twins, including disabled characters and LGBTQ+ families. How do you make those decisions as an illustrator and do you have to advocate for this when you work with publishers?
I always set out to include marginalized groups in all of my books. The world is full of unique, beautifully different people, and books should reflect that. Publishers feel the same way and they have set out to change diversity in books.
As much as this book is about Sikh tradition and pride in one’s religion and culture, it’s also about the relationship between a girl and her dad. How did you reflect that relationship in your art?
I tried to reflect that relationship in the character’s subtle facial expressions. A loving stare or a toothy smile. I also show emotion with the color palette. Lots of warm and happy colors.
What other books do you think Hair Twins is in conversation with?
I would definitely suggest readers check out Matthew Cherry’s Hair Love and Natasha Anastasia Tarpley’s I Love My Hair!
Do you have any recommendations for other kidlit books?
I love the book Eyes that Kiss in the Corners, written by Joanna Ho and illustrated by Dung Ho. I also love The Proudest Blue, written by Ibtihaj Muhammad and illustrated by Hatam Aly.
******
Raakhee Mirchandani
Photo by Kim Lorraine Photography
Raakhee Mirchandani is an award-winning writer and editor and the author of Super Satya Saves the Day. When she isn’t writing, Raakhee is either organizing her book shelves, running races to raise money for kids with cancer, or styling her very curly hair with new oils and potions. She lives in Hoboken, New Jersey, with her husband and daughter, the inspiration for Hair Twins. She invites you to follow her on Twitter @Raakstar and on Instagram @RaakstarWrites.
Q&A with Raakhee Mirchandani: SUPER SATYA SAVES THE DAY
December 4, 2018 by We Need Diverse Books
Super Satya Saves the Day CoverToday we’re thrilled to welcome Raakhee Mirchandani to the WNDB blog to talk about her wonderful new picture book, Super Satya Saves the Day!
Super Satya is ready to have a super day, including finally conquering the tallest slide in Hoboken. But things take a not-so-super turn when she realizes her superhero cape is stuck at the dry cleaner. Will she be able to face her fears, help her friends, and be the true hero everyone knows she is? Super Satya Saves the Day, introduces Satya, a precocious Indian-American superhero, who is ready to save the day, even if she doesn’t always know it right away!
We love the concept for SUPER SATYA SAVES THE DAY! We know it was inspired by your daughter Satya, but can you tell us a little bit more about its origin?
Thanks! Hearing that people love Super Satya never gets old. The story was definitely inspired by own fiery superhero, my little roommate also named Satya. Like her character she’s brave, she loves helping friends and she LOVES to dress up like a superhero. (The real life version is also grumpy, sassy and a natural born comic; but I’ll spare you those details.) But here’s the deal: my daughter and I love books. We celebrate great days and special occasions with a trip to the bookstore and we soothe nerves and fix bad days with books. Books are always the answer for the two of us. So when I set out to find her a story with a little girl superhero — one that kind of resembled her — at the center, well, it blew my mind that we came up empty.
My daughter Satya is a second-generation American, born and raised in New Jersey who dresses like Wonder Woman a minimum of 3 days a week. Yet we couldn’t find a single character in a book to match the character in my home. I really only had one choice: I wrote the story for her. I made sure to use her name, not something easier to pronounce, and I made sure the family felt like ours, a little urban, the dad has a turban, constantly running places but always make time to stop for coffee.
The origin for this story came out of the specific need in my house. But in the last two months since the book has been out, I’ve met hundreds of kids and parents who tell me that this book was written for them. Kids take the book to ballet and to school, parents can’t believe that the mom and dad in the book resemble their own families and I sleep easy knowing that while I started this project with an audience of one in mine, Super Satya has grown into a true #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement.
Are there things in SUPER SATYA that are drawn directly from real life?
Recently during a school visit, one of the kids asked me about the names in the book. She wanted to know how I named my characters and I told her they were almost all named after people I love. Satya is, of course, my daughter. Jahan is my nephew, Miss Corinna was really Satya’s teacher and a very important person in our lives, Leo is my favorite cousin’s dog and Mrs. Markowitz, the dry cleaner at the end, keeper of the cape, is my high school English teacher. Mrs. Markowitz — we’re still friends, and I still insist on calling her Mrs. M, even though she says I should start saying Barbara — came in to my life at a time where I felt like I didn’t fit in and I wasn’t quite good at anything. The books she had us read, the creative writing exercises she had us do and the passion she had really inspired me to pursue journalism in college and make writing my career. (I don’t know anyone named Tanya, but I do think it’s an excellent name for a T-Rex.)
The other things that are drawn from our life are the way the characters look. (The book’s illustrator Tim Palin is a proper genius; I am obsessed with the art and want to frame the pages all over my apartment.) We look a lot like the family in the book, in the coffee scene you’ll spot the Mayor of Hoboken in the left corner of the book, along with some actual Hoboken storefronts we love — Baking Mama, Tony Baloney’s and Little City Books. And later in the books, while Satya is sitting on the stump watching kids come down the slide, you might notice a bald girl. We don’t know her, but we know lots of kids with childhood cancer who have been there — Satya herself is a cancer survivor — and we wanted to make sure that there was a character who represented the pediatric cancer warriors in our life.
How important was it to you to write a book with an Indian-American protagonist specifically?
I don’t think I could have written any other book, with any other protagonist. This character and her family are who we are and this is our Indian-American story. And I wanted to share that with the world.
When my husband Agan first saw the cover art for Super Satya, he couldn’t believe that a dad like him was going to be on the cover of a children’s book. What he meant was that he couldn’t believe a dad with a turban was going to be on a book cover. So while I set out to write this story for Satya, I suppose I wrote it for Agan and myself too. We didn’t have books like this as children and seeing the incredible response around this one, from kids of varied ethnicities and genders, well, it really opens my heart.
During school visits, I tell kids all the time to take control of their own stories because waiting for someone else to tell yours takes the power away from you. And I mean that. I could wait for someone to have an Indian American girl in a starring role as a superhero, or I could just look around at the girl in front of me and know, that she already exists and people need to meet her.
When in doubt, I usually choose action. So here we are!
What’s been the most rewarding part of the publishing process for you?
Hands down, the most rewarding part of the process is meeting all the kids and parents at book events and story times. They all come with stories about Super Satya: how they finally conquered a fear in their own life, just like Satya did. Or how they’ve been using their super eyes and ears to help others. They bring me fan art, stickers and tell me about their dreams of writing books one day. If you ever need to feel good about yourself and the world, I highly recommend hosting a story time at a local bookstore. The conversations that happen between adults and kids around good books is seriously the best. (I’ve also gotten really good at story times. I’m not bragging, I’m just being honest. I curate a mean list, I read with lots of emotion and feelings and I get a ton of laughs! It’s become my favorite way to share Super Satya with new people.)
What advice would you give to anyone else who would like to write a similar kind of book?
Stop dreaming about it and just make it happen. Sit down every single day and dedicate time to telling your story. I set aside between 30 minutes to an hour daily, and that’s outside of work, the gym, running, momming, being a friend, a wife, a daughter and a human who needs alone time to try on leggings in the quiet comfort of a fitting room. Writing for me is a dedicated practice, just like running, and if you don’t put in the time you’ll never see the results.
So… just write it! That’s my new mantra. Have a thought? An idea for a character? A scene that just feels like it wants to get out? Write it down, free it from your heart and see what happens with it.
* * * * *
Rakhee Mirchandani Headshot
Build Brunch on October 4, 2018.
Raakhee Mirchandani is an writer, editor and pediatric cancer crusader. Her work has appeared in Elle, Glamour, Wall Street Journal, New York Daily News, New York Post, Redbookand HuffPo. She’s the Founding Editor of Moneyish, published by Dow Jones and currently serves as the Senior Content Development Editor at Dow Jones Media Group. Raakhee has also appeared on the “Today” show as well as both a host and guest on SiriusXM. “Super Satya Saves the Day“ is Raakhee‘s first book and is inspired by her own fiery 4-year-old daughter Satya.
At age 7, my daughter has a joy in her Brown skin that I still have to work for
"Hair Twins" author Raakhee Mirchandani marvels at her little girl's strong sense of identity and belonging.
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Raakhee Mirchandani discusses children's book 'Hair Twins'
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April 26, 2021, 9:13 AM EDT / Source: TODAY Contributor
By Raakhee Mirchandani
My 7-year-old daughter Satya takes up a lot of space in the world. Literally. Her stuff is everywhere.
Every surface of the apartment is covered in the things that fill her life: notebooks, my vintage copies of "The Baby-Sitters Club," squishies, scrunchies and parandis. Bindis share space with slime and graphic novels, side by side, all of them equal parts of what this little girl is made of.
Raakhee Mirchandani's daughter Satya
Author Raakhee Mirchandani's daughter, SatyaCourtesy Raakhee Mirchandani
Growing up, my closets were separated. I had one for Indian clothes, another for “regular” clothes, as I called them. As if the shimmering lehengas and embroidered kurtas somehow deemed the wearer irregular. I had two sets of friends, school friends and Sindhi friends, and the two never met. I didn’t mean for it to be that way, but I had feet planted in two worlds, albeit on awkward, uneven footing.
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There were the Indian bits: my parents, Sindhi classes, summer vacation, Kathak dancing, Bollywood songs, dinner, Gurdwara, Mandir, our potluck group, our names. And there was the other stuff: school, soccer, No Doubt concerts, lunch and trips to the mall. My entire existence felt like it hinged on keeping it all divided, my big Brown secret.
Raakhee Mirchandani with her husband and daughter
Raakhee Mirchandani with her husband and daughterCourtesy Raakhee Mirchandani
Satya’s experience is not mine.
In first grade, she has a joy in her skin that I still have to work for. Her Brown crayon is well worn, evidence of accurately colored family portraits. She is proud of herself, her father’s turban and her mother’s name. She tells everyone who will listen about her trip to India, her Punjabi classes and that her braids aren’t just beautiful, they reflect her faith.
Recently another first grade Mama told me that her daughter wanted to braid her blonde hair in “long, beautiful braids, like Satya’s.” It made me ugly cry, right there, on the park bench.
Raakhee Mirchandani's daughter's hair in a long braid
Raakhee Mirchandani's daughter's braided hair holds deep significance.Courtesy Raakhee Mirchandani
Last week, Satya’s teacher sent me photos of her, in front of the class sharing about Vaisakhi, a harvest festival celebrated in Punjab, India. She told them about how we celebrate the festival to welcome spring, but also to mark the formation of the Sikh faith. She did it in an orange kurta, matching parandi and a big red bindi. (It was unplanned; we had done a virtual family share the week prior with resources from the Sikh Coalition.)
"Hair Twins" book cover
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
I wrote "Hair Twins" to share the story of my family: my husband Agan, a turban wearing Sikh, and my Satya, a little Sikh girl. It’s a celebration of the bond they share, father and daughter, and a window into our family and our tradition. (As part of their religion, Sikhism, both Agan and Satya don’t cut their hair.) Some of our favorite times together are the simple moments when we do Satya's hair, time that is just for us, to talk, to watch old Punjabi music videos or to deliberate on the perfect rubber band and scrunchie choice.
This book is a heartsong. It represents who we are as a family, our lived Brown joy, on full display for all to feel. My deepest wish for this book is that everyone who reads "Hair Twins" feels connected to the relationship between the father and daughter. And I hope, above all else, that readers of all ages see "Hair Twins" as an invitation to share their story, and all of who they are, with the world.
Raakhee Mirchandani
Raakhee Mirchandani: Hoboken Mother, Journalist, + Host of Brown Mom Podcast
Victoria Marie Moyeno May 11, 2023
wonder lofts
Like many others, Raakhee Mirchandani didn’t grow up with proper representation in pop culture, politics, sports, on-screen, all of the above. It’s because of that lack of representation of her culture and her community that inspired her to become the change that she always wanted to see. Raakhee has challenged the norm and educated the mass community through several projects, and the Brown Mom Podcast is a testament to that much-needed change.
Raakhee has been a Hoboken resident since 2010, mother, author, journalist, and is also a podcast host. Her podcast Brown Mom, launched back in 2020. Most recently, Raakhee’s new book She Persisted, was featured at NASDAQ — the third book this Mile Square mama has written. We decided to take a look back at our conversation with Raakhee from when her podcast first launched in 2020. Read on to learn about her journey and what her podcast is all about.
raakhee mirchandani brown mom podcast
About Raakhee
raakhee mirchandani brown mom podcast
Like many Hoboken residents can attest to, once you fall in love with the Mile Square, you never want to leave, and Raakee feels the same way. “I love this city. I love the people that live here and feel proud to raise my daughter here. But this year, more than ever, I am grateful to be in a city that has put our public health first, working to protect us through mask mandates, the volume, and organization of COVID testing sites, and more,” she told Hoboken Girl.
“I grew up never expecting to see myself in pop culture. I resigned myself to the fact that I wasn’t going to be represented in movies, TV, books, and art. Growing up, I had Apu. And I hated that guy. So as I got older, and saw films like Bend it Like Beckham, and watched actors like Mindy Kaling, Kal Penn, and Poorna Jagannathan and read authors like Jhumpa Lahiri, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Sayantani Dasgupta, and Soman Chainani, well, my perception of where my voice belonged really changed,” Raakhee said.
Raakhee is the author of two books, Super Satya Saves the Day, inspired by her daughter Satya, and Hair Twins. She also wrote columns about parenting. “It may not seem like much, but brown voices aren’t represented in the parenting world,” she explains. And, now, there’s Brown Mom, the podcast!
All About The Brown Mom Podcast
raakhee mirchandani brown mom podcast
Raakhee draws on her own experiences when tackling topics. So far, she’s dropped episodes on topics of names with Poorna Jagganathan, Diwali with Nisha Vedi Pawar, bravery with Reshma Saujani, hair with Hitha Palepu, and single parenting with Pooja Makhijani.
“These are our voices, talking about our stories, in the way that only we can. I also rely on the voices of my friends when talking about raising biracial kids, raising kids in faith, children’s literature, and gender identity within the South Asian community, and more. Brown Mom is a space for our voices to gather and rise,” she said.
She hopes that listeners will connect to the stories and the content in a meaningful way. “Folks have been reaching out to me on Instagram to tell me how the episodes have been resonating with them and that takes my breath away every time. I hope listeners walk away with something to think about, something to talk to a friend about or with. I hope this podcast, this gathering place for our voices, becomes a connection point beyond the episode length. I hope, truly, that it encourages folks to talk to each other more because when we connect with each other, that’s where life’s beautiful magic happens.”
Raising Awareness For Pediatric Cancer
raakhee mirchandani brown mom podcast
Raahkee’s daughter Satya was diagnosed with pediatric cancer and like any mother, when she saw that there weren’t enough resources, let alone awareness of the condition, she sprung into action.
“When she was sick, and I prayed for her health, I promised in those moments that I would dedicate my life to the service of children and families dealing with a pediatric cancer diagnosis. And I have every intention of honoring that promise for as long as I have here on this beautiful planet,” she told us.
Read More: The Life of Leo Colon, a Born-and-Raised Hobokenite
“There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t give thanks for Satya’s health, deep, soul gratitude, and work to make the lives of kids with cancer better,” Raahkee said. “Sometimes I raise money. My friends will tell you I’m *always* hitting them up for cash, they aren’t wrong, but I’m also not sorry! I want kids with cancer and their families to know that they will always have a champion in me. Satya and I run races, sell her weird homemade art or stories, and try to think of creative ways to get people to give us dough.”
raakhee mirchandani brown mom podcast
Every December, the two usually head to Memphis and pay a visit to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, for marathon weekend. “Satya bangs out a 5K and I usually tackle the half marathon.” Raahkee shared.
“We are also big supporters of the Tomorrow’s Children’s Fund, The Hoboken Shelter, The Hoboken Community Center, The Sikh Coalition, and Stevens Cooperative School. If you can, give it to someone or an organization who could use your support. You just might be the blessing someone has been praying for.”
Looking forward, Raahkee’s goals are, “Survival, and a little bit of joy. It’s been a long, weird, and painful year, and I’m just trying to be gentle with myself and the people I love.”
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A Day In The Life
raakhee mirchandani brown mom podcast
2020 has really completely shifted the norm, and Raahkee knows a thing or two about adjusting lifestyles during a pandemic. “Satya is remote schooling, and Agan and I are working from home and the apartment feels very full, even though it’s just the three of us. Satya says I scream when I’m on work calls, but I think I’m just an enthusiastic person,” she says.
“So most days, after we’re done with the headphones and the screens and the endless Zooms and Google hangouts, we find ourselves at the park. We keep it safe, distanced, and masked, doing our part to keep ourselves and our community safe.”
Rahkee also serves on the boards of The Tomorrows Children’s Fund, The Hoboken Public Library, and Steven’s Cooperative School, and the Children’s Book Council. If she’s not on an evening Zoom call for any of those, she’s most likely on a Hoboken Arts Committee call. “I like to do my part for the community. It makes me feel connected to where I live,” she said.
Highlight Of Her Career
raakhee mirchandani brown mom podcast
Raahkee has had many things to be proud of and the list continues to grow, but some moments just stick out in a special way. “It would have to be Satya walking by Little City Books and seeing Super Satya Saves the Day in the window. It made me cry. Seeing my daughter, looking at a book I wrote, for her and so many other little brown kids, in the window of a bookstore was deeply meaningful to me,” she explained. “I write these books so kids, all kids, see themselves represented on the bookshelf, so they know, without a doubt, that they are worthy, valuable, and celebrated.”
She added, “I was also pretty amped when I crossed that NY Marathon finish line last year. It took me a long time – 6 hours and change, but I raised a lot of money for kids with cancer and crushed a goal I had set for myself. And, because it matters, I smiled the entire time I ran that race, 26.2 miles because I was really proud of myself.”
Local Fun
raakhee mirchandani brown mom podcast
What is your favorite restaurant in Hoboken?
Raakhee: Moran’s for happy hour, Simply Chai for a treat, Tony Boloney’s for pizza, Choc o Pain for bread and coffee, and Baking Mama for vegan cookies. I’m a loyalist, if I love something – the food, the owners, the people – I’ll be there all the time.
What is your favorite boutique in Hoboken?
The Washington General Store is a real favorite of mine. Meghan and Kelly are wonderful humans and they stock the best candles, and I am a huge fan of those mice! I’m also a big fan of Hoboken Clique, Athleta, and the Little Hoboken store. I also love Insta shopping with PixieLaneJamieandGenine and ShopISOStyle, both run by local mamas.
What do you love most about Hoboken?
Hands down, the thing I love most about living in Hoboken, is walking down the street and seeing lots of people I know and love. This town is filled with my friends, family, and local business owners I truly adore.
What is your favorite thing to do in Hudson County?
It’s a simple list, but it fills my heart: Park hopping in Hoboken with Satya and Agan, bopping from Church Square to Pier A, grabbing a coffee and mini baguette from Chocopain, browsing the shelves at Little City Books, then nestling in with my drink and new read on a bench at the waterfront and meeting a friend for french fries and vodka at Elysian Cafe. I also really love getting an outdoor, socially distanced coffee with the incredible Lt. Gigante, thinking of ways we can work together to make our city even better. She’s an amazing human and I really look forward to our talks.
Tell us about another business in the area you admire.
There are a few businesses I admire in Hoboken, places that cut into their bottom line, every September, to help me raise money for kids with cancer.
Clemence at Chocopain, Kate and Donna and Little City Books, Krista and Kiersten at Shaka Bowl, Tina and Dominic and Baking Mama, Melissa and Cassie at Little Hoboken, Summer at Athleta, Jay at Hudson River Athletics, and Joe and Travis at Elysian Cafe are legit heroes. When things were tough – this past September – they stood up for kids with cancer, throwing special outdoor dinners, outdoor workouts, cookie sales, and more to help me raise money for kids who need it the most. Their generosity and love of the community cannot go unnoticed.
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And an extra huge hug and shoutout for Mike and Jill from Tony Boloney’s. Since March, Tony Boloney’s fed community members through the Hoboken Community Center, the CERT team, cops, the men at the YMCA, guests at the Hoboken Shelter, neighbors at HHA, and even had pizzas for pickup at the High School for families who could use it. He drove the pizzas, and the truck, himself, repeatedly, to deliver these meals, including to the doctors and nurses treating kids with cancer and COVID and Hackensack Hospital. Mike has a huge heart for people in his community and never misses a chance to serve the people and it really inspires me.
raakhee mirchandani brown mom podcast
What is your favorite outdoor place to spend time in Hoboken?
Does the corner table at Moran’s count? Church Square Park. It’s where Satya is the happiest and the playground feels like an extension of our living room.
What is your favorite place to work out in Hudson County?
Hudson River Athletics, no competition here. Those field workouts on the Sinatra soccer field gave me deep life during the darkest days of the past eight months. The Riv is a really inclusive and shame-free place where I’ve not only had great results but also have found a class, the RPM class in particular, that both challenges me and gives me joy.
Riv members are cool, fit, and incredibly large-hearted – we’ve volunteered at HHA cookouts and Hoboken Community Center delivery days together. And the coaches, Jay, Andrew, and Cody, are the perfect mix of relentless and lovely. Plus, Bari, who runs the nutrition program is a person everyone should have in their life. Gyms aren’t really my thing, I often feel overwhelmed and ridiculous, but this one just feels so different.
What is something you think needs to come to Hoboken?
Oh, I think about this all the time. I would LOVE if Hoboken would get a dosa spot. We’re BIG fans of Sri Ganesh Dosa House on Newark Ave in Jersey City and would be amped if Hoboken had our own outpost. I can assure you Satya, Agan, and I would be there every week, likely more than once.
RAAKHEE MIRCHANDANI
Raakhee Mirchandani is a writer, editor and hairspray enthusiast. She's also a proud Jersey girl, celebrity ghost writer, speech writer and mom to a fierce toddler who beat cancer before she could walk.
Raakhee Mirchandani
Host, The Trust WSJ, Barron’s Group
Raakhee Mirchandani is anchor and contributing editor at the Trust, a unit of the Dow Jones commercial department. Raakhee leads custom conversations around cybersecurity, digital transformation and sustainability, diversity and equity. Previously, she was the vice president of community at Dow Jones, founding editor for Moneyish, and the editorial director for diversity and inclusion at the Barron's Group. A longtime journalist, editor and columnist, Raakhee is also the award-winning author of four children's books. She serves on various non-profit boards including the Hoboken Public Library, Steven's Cooperative School, and the Children's Book Council.
WALLMARK, Laurie & Raakhee Mirchandani. Journey to the Stars: Kalpana Chawla, Astronaut. illus. by Maitreyi Ghosh. 40p. Beaming Bks. Feb. 2024. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781506484693.
Gr 1-3--This expansive biography follows the journey of Kalpana Chawla from her small-town childhood in India to her academic work in aeronautic engineering to her career with NASA as an astronaut. Wallmark and Mirchandani provide snapshots of the tenacity and consistent hard work Chawla put into realizing her goal of space flight, inspired by rooftop viewings of airplanes flying overhead. They also take care to include glimpses of Chawla's personal life and the ways she incorporated her heritage into her daily experience-furnishing her home with Rajasthani decor and joining a local Bharatanatyam dance company. Ghosh's artwork shines when it focuses on cultural detail, but elsewhere lapses into digital blandness, with smoothed color gradients fading into empty white backgrounds. Adult readers not previously familiar with the astronaut's life may begin steeling themselves for a mature conversation at the mention of the Space Shuttle Columbia, which famously and tragically disintegrated while reentering the atmosphere in 2003. However, the moment never arrives: the story closes on a triumphant tableau of Chawla (during an earlier mission) gazing serenely out of the shuttle window at the Earth below, having "achieved her dream of going into space." The authors do refer to the event briefly in the book's back matter, but its absence from the story proper leaves this depiction of a life of determination and achievement feeling somewhat truncated. VERDICT An enjoyable, if unnecessarily incomplete, picture book biography.--Jonah Dragon
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Dragan, Jonah. "WALLMARK, Laurie & Raakhee Mirchandani. Journey to the Stars: Kalpana Chawla, Astronaut." School Library Journal, vol. 70, no. 4, Apr. 2024, pp. 143+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A790645171/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=5e9f56f1. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Journey to the Stars: Kalpana Chawla, Astronaut. By Laurie Wallmark and Raakhee Mirchandani. Illus. by Maitreyi Ghosh. Feb. 2024. 40p. Beaming, $18.99 (9781506484693). Gr. 1-3. 629.45.
This picture-book biography of Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian-born American astronaut, is a terrific tribute to the ground breaking aeronautical engineer. Short, descriptive text and colorful, expressive illustrations trace Kalpana's path to becoming an astronaut, from waving to pilots from her home's rooftop in India to her burgeoning dreams of going into space. With Kalpana's transfer to Punjab Engineering College, the book emphasizes her education choices, career, and NASA training--as well as a romance leading to marriage along the way. The first woman to graduate with a degree in aeronautical engineering from her college, Kalpana headed to the U.S., where she continued her studies, became a U.S. citizen, and eventually earned her place as a crew member aboard the Columbia space shuttle. Kalpana was also proud of her Indian heritage, and the authors and illustrator take considerable care in recognizing how she incorporated it into her work and daily life. Only the author's note and time line mention Kalpana's tragic death aboard Columbia. An important STEM biography that promotes tenacity.--Leon Wagner
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 American Library Association
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Wagner, Leon. "Journey to the Stars: Kalpana Chawla, Astronaut." Booklist, vol. 120, no. 9-10, 1 Jan. 2024, p. 55. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A780973487/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=be714cb8. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
MIRCHANDANI, Raakhee. My Diwall Light. illus. by Supriya Kelkar. 40p. Little, Brown. Sept. 2022. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780316339339.
K-Gr 3--Many picture books about Diwali have recently been published; what sets this one apart is its mixture of both traditional and new ways to celebrate the holiday in a secular nation. Diwali is Devi's favorite time of year because that means there will be sweets, new clothes, jewelry, bindis, marigolds, diyas, rangoli, lights, and sparklers--but most of all, her family will be hosting a big party. The book has good pacing, starting from the ways in which Devi's family prepares for Diwali. Devi cleans her room and makes food with Nani, Papa, and Mama. Then, they commemorate by gathering and conducting a puja. The story presents both the celebration of Diwali and also the cleansing, prayers, and offerings involved. Mirchandani equates Diwali with collectivity, showing that the joy of the holiday can be shared with family and friends inside and outside of the culture. The illustrations are collage-style, which is bin and colorful for children, but may be a bit simplistic. Kelkar pieces together actual fabric patterns, but the intricacy of clothing like sarees and salwar kameez, and jewelry like tikkas and naths, are lost in these illustrations. Back matter includes notes from both Mirchandani and Kelkar, where they share their personal connections to the holiday. VERDICT The authenticity and flow of the narrative makes this a great addition to a South Asian collection. Fans of Jyoti Rajan Gopal's American Desi, also illustrated by Kelkar, will enjoy this book.--Paige Pagan
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Pagan, Paige. "MIRCHANDANI, Raakhee. My Diwall Light." School Library Journal, vol. 68, no. 6, June 2022, pp. 55+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A705791199/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6e90c096. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Mirchandani, Raakhee MY DIWALI LIGHT Little, Brown (Children's None) $17.99 9, 20 ISBN: 978-0-316-33933-9
An Indian American girl and her family prepare to celebrate a beloved holiday.
For Devi, Diwali is one of the best times of the year. She loves the colors, decorations, and food; Diwali is her "time to shine." But as her family notes, before she can celebrate, she has to clean her room in preparation for the arrival of the goddess Lakshmi. After Devi is done, she watches her Nani (grandmother) and her father make puris and besan ladoos for the whole family to enjoy during the holiday. She's particularly excited that she gets to try on all of the new clothes Nani brought for her from India for the days of celebration. Everyone celebrates Diwali in different ways, Devi notes, and she explains that she and her family "wrap up our ladoos in fancy boxes and deliver them to people we love" before throwing a party in their apartment. Neighbors stop by, curious about the festivities, and the family invites them to join in. Mirchandani's simple, elegant text explains the holiday, vividly bringing to life a family that loves coming together to share traditions, while Kelkar's bold use of color (particularly shades of purple, blue, and green) makes the illustrations pop. Characters--diverse in skin tone--are cartoonish, placed against backdrops that use attractive textures and patterns. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A warm, heartfelt ode to Diwali and the joys of family. (author's and illustrator's notes) (Picture book. 4-8)
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"Mirchandani, Raakhee: MY DIWALI LIGHT." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A711906419/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=e81226b7. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Mirchandani, Raakhee HAIR TWINS Little, Brown (Children's None) $17.99 5, 4 ISBN: 978-0-316-49530-1
In this book, an unnamed Sikh girl describes the way she and her father take care of their hair.
In accordance with Sikh tradition, the narrator and her father both wear their dark hair long. The narrator describes how her father helps her comb her hair, using coconut oil to detangle it. Some days, she says, he plaits her hair into two long braids just like her grandmother’s. Other days, he twists it into a bun that matches his own, and the two become the titular “hair twins.” When the protagonist comes home from school, she lets her hair out and dances with her father, enjoying her long, free tresses. Afterward, the father ties the girl’s hair into one long braid while he ties a turban on his head. The story ends with the girl and her father going to the park to meet the girl’s friends and their families, all of whom have their own varied hairstyles and family structures—a conclusion that reinforces the book’s celebration of all types of hair, bodies, and people. Hatam’s illustrations are both child friendly and clever, incorporating symbolism from the text into fanciful pictures that burst with pride and joy. The lyrical text is both accessible and poetic, and the narratorial voice has a sincerity and enthusiasm that make it a delight to read. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 42.6 % of actual size.)
A feel-good picture book about diversity, family relationships, and self-love. (Picture book. 3-8)
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"Mirchandani, Raakhee: HAIR TWINS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Apr. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A656696303/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=28e8e94c. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.