Little People, Big Dreams: Mindy Kaling; Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, illustrated by Roza Nozari

The new additions to the brilliant Little People, Big Dreams series come thick and fast and when they are this good, I say ‘keep them coming’.

As a little girl, Mindy Kaling loved to laugh and loved to make other people laugh. What Mindy didn’t find funny was the lack of people that looked like her in the movies that she watched. There was only one thing to do about this, become a comedy writer. And so began a journey that would take Mindy from writing at her mother’s office to comedy clubs to becoming the star of her own TV show…

This was another one of those occasions where I was opening a biography about a person that I was completely unfamiliar with. A quick google later and a few clips of YouTube and I am absolutely in love with her. As always, Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara delivers a highly engaging and accessible biography. I loved learning about Mindy’s journey from her dreams of seeing comedies written by and staring someone like her to her first forays into scriptwriting in her mother’s office. From performing in comedy clubs to writing and starring in the smash-hit show ‘The Office’ and achieving her dream of creating and starring in her own show. As well as being successful, Mindy is a mother and I love that the book shows children, particularly young girls, that they can have both at the same time. She is a true inspiration and underlines that through hard-work, persistence and channeling all of your efforts into your passion you can achieve that which may seem impossible.

Whilst Mindy’s life is full of laughter there have been plenty of not-so-funny moments along the way and it is her determination to break down barriers in order to pursue her dreams that makes her story such a valuable addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series. She entered a profession that was dominated by men and proved that women could be just as funny, or in Mindy’s case, funnier. She is a screen-writing pioneer and an absolute star both on and off screen.

Children need to see people like Mindy and hear their stories that prove that race, gender and ethnicity are not barriers to achieving dreams but opportunities to break new ground and be a trail-blazer. Her story is told in short and simple sentences and is delightfully illustrated with bright and bold artwork. At the back of the the book there is a short overview of her life so far which includes key facts and dates and a historical timeline featuring photographs.

Recommended for 5+.

With thanks to Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the advanced reader copy that was received through NetGalley.