After more than a decade working in education, coaching, and public service, Brooklyn-based educator Jelissa Thomas has added a new title to her growing list of accomplishments: author.
Deeply inspired by the small, meaningful moments she observed while raising her children, Thomas has released her first children’s book, Just One Small World. The book is illustrated by Farimah Khavarinezhad and published through WonderUs Tales Publishing, a company recently founded by Thomas. At present, the title is the publisher’s sole release.
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Thomas currently serves as a senior project manager at the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, working within the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes. Prior to this role, she spent several years as a teacher and coach at the Equity Project Charter School. Her move into children’s publishing reflects a natural progression that blends her professional background in education, youth development, and community service.
“I’ve spent over a decade helping children and families feel seen, valued, and inspired,” Thomas said. “Writing this book felt like a natural extension of that work, helping families nurture pride and belonging through stories that reflect their children’s lives and identities.”
Just One Small World centers on a young girl named Taylor and captures the quiet milestones of early childhood through the eyes of her parents. At age two, Taylor discovers the power of the word “no,” using it as a response to nearly everything and prompting her parents to seek guidance from her grandparents. As she grows, “no” is replaced with “why,” marking a new phase of curiosity and development.
While lighthearted in tone, the story also reflects the challenges and rewards of parenthood, emphasizing patience, family bonds, and the beauty found in everyday moments. The deeply personal nature of the book is underscored by its dedication to “Taylor,” which appears both at the beginning and again in the author’s note at the end.
“If I had to choose the journey of life all over again, I would always choose it with you by my side,” the final page reads.
Although this is Thomas’s debut as an author, it is only the beginning for WonderUs Tales Publishing. She has indicated that additional projects are already in development, with more stories expected to follow.
