{"id":1627,"date":"2022-06-07T02:19:30","date_gmt":"2022-06-07T06:19:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/melissamwai.com\/?page_id=1627"},"modified":"2026-03-07T07:59:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-07T12:59:31","slug":"books","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/melissamwai.com\/index.php\/books\/","title":{"rendered":"Books"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My books are available on Bookshop.org<\/a>, Amazon, Barnes & Noble or request them from your local bookstore or library.* Thank you for reading and reviewing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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OUT NOW<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About I Can Make a Friend <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I Can Make a Friend <\/em> is part of a new easy reader series by Paw Prints. With real-world stories about friendship, bullying, and kindness, this nonfiction book gives actionable steps for young readers to make small and big changes in their community. For ages 6-8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Paw Prints, April 2025) | Buy Now at Bookshop<\/a>, Amazon<\/a>, or Barnes & Noble<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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About History of Jazz<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

History of Jazz<\/em> is a nonfiction book spanning the 200+ years of Jazz in America. The book covers the basics of jazz music, musician profiles, and the historical context. Museums, festivals, and playlists are highlighted for young music enthusiasts. Jazz may have been created long time ago, but its still groovy!  For ages 9-12. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(DK, September 2024) | Buy Now<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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About Harlem Renaissance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harlem Renaissance<\/em> is a nonfiction book covering two decades in Harlem. This book includes historical profiles with unique facts behind art, literature, politics, fashion, and sports in the 1920s and 1930s. As African American culture thrives today, this story informs readers about the lasting impact of these leaders had in their community! For ages 8-10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(DK, June 2024) | Buy Now<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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About A Puerto Rican Childhood<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Puerto Rican Childhood<\/em> is a nonfiction book covering a day in the life of a school-aged girl named Carmen. This tale includes facts, Spanish, and references to current events and places that are part of the modern-day lives of Puerto Ricans. Melissa is especially proud to create this love letter to Puerto Rico. For ages 6-8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(DK, April 2024) | Buy Now<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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About Gnomes & Ungnomes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gnomes and UnGnomes: Poems of Hidden Creatures<\/em> is an large collection of original, illustrated poems about mythological creatures. Criss-cross the globe through the lens of over 100 authors and illustrators. Melissa Mwai was thrilled to be a contributing author and illustrator in this poetic book of mythic proportions. For ages 5-14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Writers’ Loft Press, December 2023) | Buy Now<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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About Stacey Abrams <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stacey Abrams<\/em> is about an incredible change-maker. This nonfiction biography covers her life as a voting rights activist, her early childhood, her first gubernatorial run, and her activism during the 2020 election during the coronavirus pandemic. For ages 5-8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Nat Geo Kids, January 2022) | Buy Now<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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COMING SOON<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out Melissa’s upcoming releases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About African American History and Culture Encyclopedia <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melissa is a contributing author to an African American History and Culture Encyclopedia<\/em> (title tentative) with Nat Geo Kids. This encyclopedia is meant for curious readers, budding historians, and young researchers in grades 6-8. Publication is slated for Spring 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Spring 2026) | Preorder Coming Soon<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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*As a Bookshop.org affiliate<\/a>, I will earn commissions through purchases made with my links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My books are available on Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble or request them from your local bookstore or library.* Thank you for reading and reviewing. OUT NOW About I Can Make a Friend I Can Make a Friend is part of a new easy reader series by Paw Prints. With real-world stories about friendship, bullying, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1860,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1627","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/melissamwai.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1627","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/melissamwai.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/melissamwai.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/melissamwai.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/melissamwai.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1627"}],"version-history":[{"count":68,"href":"https:\/\/melissamwai.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1627\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2394,"href":"https:\/\/melissamwai.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1627\/revisions\/2394"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/melissamwai.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1860"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/melissamwai.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1627"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}