It’s official. Multitalented, Grammy award-winning artist, composer, singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Laufey can now add author to her illustrious list of titles — and we are absolutely thrilled! Recently, Laufey announced the Spring 2026 release of her debut title, Mei Mei the Bunny, a picture book inspired by her alias-mascot, Mei Mei, a fluffy, white bunny that has captured the hearts of Lauvers everywhere. Complete with illustrations by the supremely talented Lauren O’Hara, this debut is sure to be as enchanting as Laufey’s discography. Read on to learn about all things Laufey, the meaningful message behind Mei Mei the Bunny (both the book and character), and reading recommendations from Laufey’s very own book club.
Who is Laufey?
Laufey is a Chinese-Icelandic singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who started performing and studying music as a child. As a teenager, she was a contestant on Ísland Got Talent, the Icelandic incarnation of the TV series America’s Got Talent, and Iceland’s version of The Voice. She released her two singles, Street by Street, and Someone New in 2020 before releasing her debut EP, Typical of Me, in April 2021. Since her debut, Laufey has released three studio albums — Everything I Know About Love, Bewitched, and her newest release, A Matter of Time. Her 2023 album, Bewitched, won a Grammy award for Best Traditional Pop Album, and she is currently touring, bringing the magic of A Matter of Time to life, night after night.
For those who may still be unfamiliar with Laufey’s name, we guarantee you are not unfamiliar with her infectiously alluring music. Her 2023 bossa-pop hit, From the Start, as well as one of her latest, catchy jazz-pop singles, Lover Girl, have flooded our FYPs, and we’re sure that they’ve flooded yours, too.
Laufey, just like you and I, is a certified book lover. In 2022, she launched The Laufey Book Club, an online community for Lauvers and readers alike, who gather on a monthly basis to discuss and reflect on their monthly picks. Over the years, she has selected works of literature that are just as emotive and thematic as her music. Previous selections have included Ian McEwan’s Atonement and Eve Babitz’s Sex and Rage. With her bookish background, Laufey’s move into children’s literature is completely fitting.
Meet Mei Mei the Bunny
Mei Mei the Bunny tells the tale of Mei Mei, a little white bunny who loves carrots, plays the violin, and has a pet bee named Beethoven. Mei Mei also has big aspirations. Her biggest dream? To delight the world with her music. As her debut recital at the H’Opera House approaches, Mei Mei practices “harder than any bunny has,” yet she still feels “butterflies” fluttering around in her stomach. But, when she plays the wrong note in front of an audience, will Mei Mei be able to overcome her mistake and rediscover the right melody?
Complete with whimsical illustrations by the ultra-talented, Dublin-based illustrator, Lauren O’Hara, and luminous sceneries inspired by Laufey’s native Iceland, readers will be transported directly into Mei Mei’s world. Packed with timeless themes of the importance of resilience, believing in oneself, and giving yourself grace to make mistakes, Mei Mei the Bunny is sure to become a staple on any young reader’s bookshelf. Laufey announced the book’s release on her Instagram, stating:
“I’m so excited to announce my very first book, Mei Mei The Bunny, set for release on April 21st, 2026 with @penguinrandomhouse, available for pre-order now 🐇🎻
The story of a little bunny who dreams of making the world happy with her music! Mei Mei has been a part of my life over the last few years and opening up the world around her has been the most beautiful exploration! 💞
Massive thank you to Lauren @oharasisters, the brilliant illustrator 🤍
More Mei Mei’s dropped online today too!!”
Laufey
Mei Mei the Bunny releases on April 21, 2026, and is being published under Penguin Random House’s Penguin Workshop imprint. Mei Mei the Bunny is also available for preorder via your favorite book retailer or directly through Penguin Random House’s website.
If you’re a true Lauver, or just adore a reading companion, you can sign up to be notified of new releases of official Mei Mei plushes, right here. One dollar from every Mei Mei purchase will be donated to The Laufey Foundation, which supports expanding access to youth music and orchestra programs via grants, donations of instruments, and much more.
Recommended Reading
While we wait for the release of Mei Mei the Bunny, why not visit (or revisit) some of The Laufey Book Club’s recent picks? Read on to discover three Laufey-approved books that are sure to evoke the same allure and bewitching charm as her music.
October: Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
The latest Laufey Book Club pick is Alice Hoffman’s spellbinding and splendid novel, Practical Magic. For nearly 200 years, the Owens women have been branded as the town scapegoat, and the latest generation, sisters Gillian and Sally, have faced the same unfortunate fate. Even as children, the girls were constantly ridiculed by other children — laughed at, pointed at, subjected to witchcraft allegations, and taunted, all because of their family’s generational bad luck. As adults, Gillian and Sally discover their own ways to escape their Massachusetts town and tarnished reputation. However, what happens when their unbreakable bond and seemingly unbreakable ties to their town magically bring them back together?
September: Katabasis by R. F. Kuang
R. F. Kuang’s latest novel is a sprawling, captivating journey between hell and back — literally. Katabasis follows Alice Law, a graduate student who has sacrificed just about everything to succeed in the field of Magick. When a magical accident that she might have caused ends up claiming the life of Jacob Grimes, her mentor and one of the greatest magicians in the world, Alice refuses to let his death kill her dreams. She, alongside her academic rival, Peter Murdorch, embarks on an Inferno-esque journey to Hell to bring Jacob back.
August: Bunny by Mona Awad
Take a trip down the rabbit hole with Mona Awad’s candid and audacious novel, Bunny. Bunny follows Samantha Heather Mackey, a scholarship student at a highly selective, prestigious MFA program in New England. Samantha prefers to keep to herself, as she is repelled by the majority of her classmates — especially a group of wealthy girls who refer to each other as “Bunny.” However, when Samantha is invited to join the Bunnies, she feels an indescribable pull to assimilate into their clique, and once she begins to take part in their sinister off-campus “Workshop,” reality begins to blur and deadly consequences loom in the shadows.
If you’re still in search of more updates on Mei Mei the Bunny, or curious to find out about the next Laufey Book Club pick, hop on over to Laufey’s main Instagram or her Book Club page for more information.
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