Reviewed by: Grace Howard
A Birmingham-produced children’s book is celebrating its official launch this Saturday, June 14
Reading time: 5 minutes
“How Mae Got Moxie,” a children’s book produced entirely in Birmingham, will be hosting its official book launch and celebrating kindness through hearts and hedgehogs this weekend.
Don’t miss this family-friendly event for all ages, both the young ones and the young at heart, at the Birmingham Museum of Art this Saturday, June 14 at 11AM-2PM.
Read on for more details.
A collaboration of Birmingham talent
“How Mae Got Moxie” is a children’s book written by Alabama author Jennifer Hallman and illustrated by Birmingham-based illustrator Rachael Smithson. Editing and publishing of the book were spearheaded by Village Editorial, a women-run publishing house driven by empowerment and the art of sharing stories. Printing was completed in Homewood at Rocky Heights Print & Binding.
“The decisions I made to produce this book in Birmingham were costly, but they were important to me. I also chose a soft-touch cover to appeal to sensory issues. Every decision I made that cost money was because I wanted it to be cherished. We didn’t do anything traditional with this book—not one thing.”
Jennifer Hallman
The entire process is a celebration of community through collaborative art and local talent coming together with a shared vision to create something meaningful.
Experience the project first-hand this weekend
- Where: The Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35203
- When: Saturday, June 14 | 11AM-2PM
The event includes:
- a live reading by the author
- a book signing
- a free kid’s art experience
- live music + a popcorn machine!
There will be three art activities led by Jennifer that participants can take part in:
- Making get well cards for patients at Children’s Hospital
- A hedgehog collage piece to take home
- Heart cards inspired by the book’s story (one to keep + one to give away)
Join the fun, and help bring Mae’s message to life through creativity and connection this Father’s Day weekend at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
About “How Mae Got Her Moxie”
The book tells the story of a young hedgehog named Mae who discovers what it means to be brave, bold and true to herself. Through colorful illustrations and a heartfelt message, Mae’s journey empowers young readers to embrace their individuality and find their own “moxie”—no matter how small or prickly they might feel.
“It is my hope that this book inspires the reader to understand that ‘moxie’ lives in all of us, and while it takes courage and strength to fully show the world our true colors, when we live with our heart on our sleeves, we’re in a perfect position to ignite positive change.”
Jennifer Hallman
“How Mae Got Moxie” serves as the author’s love letter to children, championing how being yourself and creating small acts of kindness can have a ripple effect on the world around you. Mae and her special cards show children how valuable it is to be themselves while coloring the world with kindness.
About the author + the inspiration behind Mae’s story
Hallman has hand-painted and given away more than 7,000 kindness cards, an extension of the book’s message to spread kindness through art. In fact, it was crafting these cards that inspired her to create and share Mae’s story in book form.
Hallman shared that the first set of cards she made was for her friend, who was diagnosed with stage-four cancer, to help her stand out and have a positive experience at her appointments.The cards had a significant impact, with people stopping their routines to talk to her and share their stories.
Hallman continued making cards, eventually reaching almost 8,000, and has taught others to make them as well.
“When I look back over the last two years, there’s so much color, there’s so much joy, there’s so much kindness.”
Jennifer Hallman
Now, Hallman empowers students to design their own kindness cards, motivating them to uplift those around them.
How Mae Got Moxie” has made a powerful impact in classrooms across the state, reaching more than 4,000 students in over 20 schools and sparking meaningful conversations about confidence, kindness and self-expression.
Celebrating community
Since its release in February 2025, “How Mae Got Moxie” has won first place in the 2025 Alabama Media Professionals Communications Contest for Children’s Fiction.
At the 2025 Regions Tradition event, participants of all ages created over 300 heartfelt cards for patients at Children’s of Alabama, continuing the book’s growing legacy of compassion and connection.
Check out their Instagram for more info about the book + order here.
Show us your finished art from the event on Facebook + Instagram!
