Everyone has a story to tell.
Rising Stars Interview Nov 16, 2020
Short Bio
Melissa H. Mwai is a children’s author and illustrator. She’s written five nonfiction books including I Can Make a Friend (Paw Prints, ’25), A Puerto Rican Childhood (DK, ’24), and Stacey Abrams (Nat Geo Kids, ’22). Melissa has published poetry and illustrations in Gnomes and Ungnomes: Poems of Hidden Creatures (Writers’ Loft Press, ’23). As a neurodiverse Afro-Latina herself, Melissa is thrilled that her books help ethnically and neurodiverse kids learn more deeply about their world. She is represented by Jacqui Lipton at The Tobias Literary Agency. She’s a registered voter who lives with her husband, two kids, and bunny.
Long Bio
Melissa H. Mwai (she/her) is a children’s author and illustrator. Her newest book, I Can Make a Friend is all about real-world examples of positive friendships. A Puerto Rican Childhood, Harlem Renaissance, and History of Jazz were published as part of DK’s 2024 Super Readers series. She’s also published Stacey Abrams in 2022 with Nat Geo Kids. Melissa has contributed several poems and illustrations to Gnomes and Ungnomes: Poems of Hidden Creatures published in 2023 by the Writers’ Loft Press.
She uses the initial “H” in her name to honor her family name, Hernández, representing her Afro-Puerto Rican culture.
Melissa is a former middle school English teacher and worked in Education Assessment. She has a M.S. in Library Science, a B.A. in English/Creative Writing, and teaches preschoolers at Sunday School.
She is represented by Jacqui Lipton at The Tobias Literary Agency.
A New York native, Melissa now lives in Maryland with her spouse, two kids, and rabbit named Sailor. Melissa and Sailor hang out while she creates new things for kids.