Quvenzhané Wallis continues to express #blackgirlmagic to the highest! The 14-year-old Academy Award–nominated actress just released not one, but two children's books, the Associated Press reports.
It was just five short years ago when Wallis stole our hearts with her role in Beasts of the Southern Wild, which earned her an Oscar nomination for best actress. With that nomination, she became the youngest actress to be nominated for best actress. Although she didn't take home the big award, she kept the momentum going by starring in the 2014 remake of Annie with Jamie Foxx.
In 2015, Wallis made the big announcement that she will be releasing a series of children's books with publisher Simon and Schuster. Two years later, the first two books, A Night Out With Mama and Shai and Emmie Star in Break An Egg!, are here!
A Night Out With Mama is a glitz and glam-filled story loosely based on Wallis' night at the Oscars. Shai and Emmie Star in Break An Egg! is a tale about best friends who find themselves in a dance competition that becomes a must-win situation for bragging rights and cupcakes.
During an appearance in New Orleans at the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, Wallis credits her love for reading playing a large part in the natural transition to writing.
“Reading is one of my favorite things to do. It’s something I would want everyone to do, especially teenagers my age. I don’t think we read as much as we should.”
Wallis’ mother, Qulyndreia, said the book writing process was relativity easy for the actress, and praised her daughter's co-author Nancy Ohlin.
“We basically told them our interest or storyline, what we wanted the books to be about and how we wanted to get her message out,” Qulyndreia said. “Then we found Nancy, who helped fine-tune her thoughts and put it together. From there, we would proofread and make sure it was said in a way she would say it, and the books were formed.”
Wallis isn't stopping with just two books. Her next book, Shai and Emmie Star in Dancy Pants!, will be released this January.
