Happier Every Chapter

Mbawa Books started life in Apr’ 2020 as a vehicle for publishing the 2 middle-grade novels written by Kirsten (then 11) & Aiyven (then 10) Mbawa. What started as a BBC 500 word competition entry is now a family business we are most proud of. Kirsten & Aiyven have always had a passion for reading and writing and in Feb 2019, they entered a BBC 500 word writing competition. Even though they didn't win, they were encouraged to make projects out of their entries, gently nurturing the discipline of starting & finishing something. What we didn’t expect was to self-publish 2 middle-grade novels (Sagas of Anya & Land of the Nurogons) in Apr 2020; both on Amazon and their website. In marketing the books, we approached outlets including kids book subscription boxes. Before long, we discovered a gap in the market for boxes with diverse books which inspire avid & reluctant readers too. This inspired the girls to suggest we start a book subscription box for kids 4-14. When we sent out the first Happier Every Chapter boxes in Oct 2020, little did we know how much we would learn about the true state of literacy in young people, the work needed to bridge the gap or that this venture would bring in appearances on BBC Look East TV, Channel 4 Steph’s Packed Lunch, Northampton Chronicle & Echo, The WeekJunior, Daily Mail/ Express etc. Happier Every Chapter is hugely popular with parents and kids alike. Schools & multi academy trusts finding them especially useful for kids on Pupil Premium. Each box typically comes with 2 epic reads, 2 short stories (which the girls write), activity sheets and themed gift items. Our book bundles or monthly boxes include diverse, inclusive and representative books for kids 4-14 which help schools and families improve literacy and academic outcomes. Our particular strength is curating impactful books which breathe life into the literacy curriculum whilst equipping children with core values like resilience, emotional intelligence, compassion etc.