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Leena Mo, CEO

Illustrated by Nez Riaz

About The Book

“A gorgeous story that…every girl can see herself in…will inspire young readers in your life to dream big.” —Chelsea Clinton, advocate and author of the She Persisted series

When a young girl invents something to help her with snow shoveling, she piques the interest of her neighbors and gets inspired to start her own business in this go-getter picture book.

There’s nothing Leena Mo dreads more than shoveling snow. Her time would be much better spent dreaming up new ideas and inventions. What if she invented something to take the chore off her plate? After tinkering and testing, Leena creates the robot Helmy, whose shoveling prowess sweeps her neighbors off their feet.

As demand for the robot helper grows, Leena fills orders, accepts investments, and hires more help—before she knows it, her snow day idea has turned into a booming business! What’s next for Leena Mo, CEO?

About The Author

Photograph by Anastasia Blackman

Deena Shakir is a general partner at Lux Capital and a lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business internationally known for her groundbreaking investments in women’s health and health equity. She is a graduate of Harvard and Georgetown and previously held leadership roles at Google and the US Department of State. Deena lives in the Bay Area with her husband and three young children. Leena Mo, CEO is her first picture book.

About The Illustrator

Nez Riaz is a Pakistani/Palestinian illustrator based in Boston. She enjoys storytelling, pineapple pizza, and monkeys.

Why We Love It

“What starts as a way for Leena to get out of her chores ends up becoming a passion project that blossoms into a business venture. Kids who have that entrepreneurial spirit will find Leena both relatable and aspirational. And with Nez Riaz’s fun art, imaginations will soar as readers will be inspired to create their own inventions.”

—Deeba Z., Senior Editor, on Leena Mo, CEO

Product Details

  • Publisher: Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (September 24, 2024)
  • Length: 40 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781665935654
  • Grades: P - 3
  • Ages: 4 - 8

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Raves and Reviews

Praise for Leena Mo, CEO

* “An Arab American girl transforms her passion for inventing and building into a flourishing business in this lively example of STEM-based learning. …Inspiring for all.”Booklist (starred review)

“Leena Mo’s dream of no longer shoveling snow leads her to being a CEO, and it’s a gorgeous story that hopefully every girl can see herself in, whatever her dreams may be. Deena Shakir’s beautiful and accessible story will inspire young readers in your life to dream big, find solutions, and lead with conviction.”—Chelsea Clinton, advocate and author of the She Persisted children’s book series

“You can’t be what you can’t see, and all too often children of color don't see themselves in the books they read. Deena Shakir decided to change that. In Leena Mo, CEO, she’s written a delightful story that will encourage young girls to follow their imagination and ambition to do great things. Get it and inspire your girl to lead!”—Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and Founder of LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org.

“Deena Shakir’s tale of Leena, a young inventor, bringing her robot to market is a story of creativity and perseverance. Leena Mo, CEO is a wonderful read and an invitation to entrepreneurs of all ages to embrace their ambition and make the world a better place.”—Tory Burch, fashion designer and Founder of The Tory Burch Foundation

“This book is a long time coming–an inspiring story, a call to action, an opportunity to help influence the next generation of intersectional founders and investors. Women, especially women of color, have been suffering the most at the hands of the pandemic, but their leadership is essential in our recovery. This story is a powerful way to talk to girls, boys, parents, and teachers about women’s incredible leadership, vision, and impact. It is an inspiring must-read for the next generation of innovators!”—Reshma Saujani, Founder & CEO of Girls Who Code

“If you see it, you can absolutely be it. Leena Mo, CEO is a wonderful story about all that is possible when young girls dream big. Highlighting many of the entrepreneurial qualities I admire in Deena, this picture book is an inspiration for children everywhere.”—Lynn Martin, President of the New York Stock Exchange

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More books from this illustrator: Nez Riaz