Mehndi Boy

“Tehzeeb’s passion for art shines through in this well-crafted, sensitively rendered chapter book as the boy explores his anxieties about bucking traditional gender roles and his doubts about articulating his feelings to those he loves.” —Kirkus Reviews, 08/12/23

“A delightful story about finding inspiration in unexpected places, thevirtue of practice, and the beauty in so-called imperfection. Tez’stenacity is admirable and, ultimately, transformative. The world needsmore ‘mehndi boys’!”—Vivek Shraya, author of The Boy & the Bindi and God Loves Hair“A triumph … navigates topics such as socially constructed genderroles and the evolution of culture and tradition, while also showcasing abeautiful form of art and a joyful childhood experience.” —DannyRamadan, author of Salma the Syrian Chef and Salma Makes a Home“[A] fast-paced chapter book, replete with vibrant illustrations … This would be a lovely read-aloud, taking readers on an emotional journey along with Tehzeeb.” —Booklist, 09/28/23“Mehndi Boy feels warmly familiar and highly original at the same time. I was totally charmed by it.” —Ali Sethi, musician and author

ZAIN BANDALI is an unapologetic Ismaili Muslim queer artist of Indo-Tanzanian heritage living in Ontario, Canada. He writes on themes related to mysticism, queerness, diasporas, and where they interact. His poetry has been published in multiple journals and his spoken word has graced stages across the province. He is an avid vegetable gardener but cannot always stomach the chilli peppers he grows.

JANI BALAKUMAR is a Tamil-Canadian illustrator and 2D animator that resides in Toronto, Canada. She has a bachelor’s in animation from Sheridan College where she honed her craft. Her works often have a bold palette and mixed textural elements to make the work pop off the page.