Vanessa Bryant to Release Mamba & Mambacita Forever to Honor Late Husband Kobe and Daughter Gianna (Exclusive)

The new book celebrates the Bryants’ legacy following Kobe and Gianna’s tragic death in a helicopter crash in 2020

Vanessa Bryant; ‘Mamba & Mambacita Forever’ cover. Photo: Lakers; MCD

Vanessa Bryant is honoring the memory of her late husband Kobe Bryant and their daughter Gianna with a powerful new book.

To celebrate the outpouring of public art displayed around the world after the basketball legend and his daughter tragically died in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020, Vanessa is set to publish Mamba & Mambacita Forever, a catalogue of over 100 murals and the stories that honor their lasting impact, PEOPLE can exclusively reveal.

After news of their passing shocked the world, fans across the globe grieved with the Bryant family through a variety of memorials: candlelit vigils, sculptures and public murals, recognizing Kobe and Gianna’s contributions to the world of basketball. Mamba & Mambacita Forever — which will be released on Aug. 19 to mark Kobe Bryant Day several days later — “brings together the images and stories” of the public art installations that honored the Byrants, per a press release shared with PEOPLE.

“Taken together, what emerges is the story of a man who became even more than he himself could have imagined, an avatar of determination, discipline and competitiveness. He was also a worldwide icon, one of the greatest athletes of our time, a man committed to his family and to fatherhood,” the release continues.

Vanessa Bryant.Lakers

The name of the forthcoming book mirrors that of the nonprofit organization founded by Kobe — now the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation — which Vanessa announced was changed from its previous name “Mamba Sports Foundation” several weeks after the fatal crash in 2020.

“Because there is no #24 without #2,” Vanessa wrote on Instagram at the time, referencing Kobe and Gianna’s basketball jersey numbers.

The book’s photography is by award-winning photographer Andrew D. Bernstein — who previously collaborated with Kobe for his 2018 autobiographical book The Mamba Mentality: How I Play.

In addition to the memoir, Kobe also penned several YA novels, including the sports fantasy middle grade books Legacy and the Queen and Legacy and the Double, the latter of which was released posthumously, in collaboration with former pro squash player-turned-novelist Annie Matthew.

Mamba & Mambacita Forever by Vanessa Bryant.MCD

“I’m so proud we [Granity Studios] were able to have Legacy and the Double come out,” Vanessa told PEOPLE at the time of its release. “These books filled with valuable lessons and stories were really important to my husband. He felt it was important to teach kids lessons about life and emotions through the art of storytelling.”

In the years since Kobe and Gianna’s death, the family has honored their passing with a series of memorials. In August, in collaboration with Kobe’s former team, the Lakers, Vanessa unveiled a bronze statue titled “Girl Dad” outside of Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

“Happy birthday @kobebryant . I love you for now, forever & for always. ❤️,” shared Vanessa on Instagram later that month, marking what would have been her late husband’s 46th birthday.

Mamba & Mambacita Forever by Vanessa Bryant comes out Aug. 19 from MCD, an imprint of Farrar, Straus and Giroux and is available for preorder now, wherever books are sold.