Photo by: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Contributor
23-Timed Grand Slam winner, Serena Williams has authored a children’s book called “The Adventures of Qai Qai” about her daughter Alexis Olympia’s doll.
Williams shared the announcement on Instagram on December 2nd, stating that the book will be about her toddler daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian’s favorite doll Qai Qai, which Williams designed herself.
“Since realizing @RealQaiQai’s ability to spread joy to our own family and also millions of others around the world, we’ve wanted to tell her story in every way possible,” the mother of one said. “We are so proud to announce Qai Qai’s first book, ‘The Adventures of Qai Qai,’ a story about the power of friendship and imagination.”
In 2018, she invented the Qai Qai doll. Since then, the doll has amassed more than 353,000 Instagram followers — including her coveted blue check — more than 25,000 Twitter followers, and more than 3.2 million TikTok followers.
The doll swiftly established her image, with an animated version of Qai Qai meeting “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King, traveling to Paris, and even “camping” out at the 2019 Met Gala.
In 2020, Williams released the doll on Amazon. Williams described Qai Qai as “smart, funny, relatable, and empowering” and says she “stands up for bossing up and chasing your dreams.”
Photo by: Hannah Peters/Staff
“Storytime is such an important pillar of our bedtime routine, like so many others around t4he world,” Williams said in a statement. “Qai Qai is a special member of our family and we hope ‘The Adventures of Qai Qai’ will give others a new way to welcome Qai Qai into their home.”
The new book is about Qai Qai helping her closest friend, Baby Girl, learn to believe in herself as she prepares for her next dance recital, according to the official Qai Qai website.
Yesenia Moises, an Afro Latina illustrator, and designer is the illustrator and designer for the book, which will be released alongside entertainment technology company Invisible Universe and published by Feiwel and Friends. The release date for the book is set for Sept. 27th, 2022.
Tell us down below are you excited to see more adventures of Qai Qai? Will you be purchasing the book?
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