It’s HERE!
The much-anticipated Book Four in the Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess by Deedee Cummings is available on Amazon and Kindle!
These Shoes Are Made For Dancing shares the continuing story of a feisty little brown girl who has big dreams but is also learning to navigate life surrounded by people in her life who do not always support her.
Released on July 31, 2021, this picture book is the fourth book in a five-book series. Through beautiful images, thoughtful text, and the benefit of a strong female role model, young Kayla learns that her intuition and courage are her superpowers.
Thoughts and Advice from Deedee Cummings
To say I am excited to be on the home stretch of this five-book series is an understatement! This journey started with a successful (and grueling!) Kickstarter Campaign to sending the final proofs to the printer has been filled with teachable moments. And it’s been all worth it.
There were some disappointments, but far, far more moments of pure joy surrounding the creation of the Kayla 5-book series. As with all of my books, there are many gentle lessons woven into These Shoes Are Made For Dancing that will strike a chord with kids and adults. But one that I hope everyone who reads this takes away is that it is OK to walk away from people and situations that are hurtful and unfair.
As a former CPS worker and current family therapist, I know for a fact that too many kids suffer in silence instead of speaking their truth. I hope that these same kids will see how the character of Kayla continually finds new ways to remind herself of what is real and important in life and how she used that determination to pursue her musical theatre dreams.
If I had a special message to share with teachers and parents, it would be that all fifteen of my diverse children’s books mirror the wisdom I have gained from more than two decades working within the family therapy and support field. And this includes my experiences of working with kids in therapeutic foster care. I’ve taken great care to include simple therapeutic techniques in all of my stories that will teach coping skills and lessen the stigma surrounding children and adults suffering in silence from mental health issues.
This book series is not just for girls or children of color either. Frequently, adults forget the “Windows” part of “Windows and Mirrors.” A Mirror is a story that reflects your own culture and helps you build your identity, but a Window is a resource that offers you a view into someone else’s experience. It is critical to understand that students cannot truly learn about themselves unless they learn about others. White kids need to read books that provide a “window” into new cultures, races, traditions, family dynamics, and religions to drive the point home.
Kids of all ages and races need to know that they are beautiful and amazing just the way they are. Some kids have been mistreated, excluded, or dismissed because of the color of their skin. These same kids also had no one to advocate for them. We need to teach our kids, especially our girls, that their gut will never lie, and they need to speak up when a situation does not feel right.
Thank you for your support and encouragement as I continue to bring my dreams to life!
More About The Kayla Series: The Inspiration
The Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess series is inspired by real-life budding Broadway Star, Kayla Pecchioni: a young Black woman who has always lived her life by believing in herself while letting nothing get in the way of her dreams. You can read the interview with this beautiful, triple-threat entertainer here.
“The world is filled with gifts sent directly to you. Staying open to finding them is the key.” ~Deedee Cummings
More About The Kayla Series: The Author
As a therapist, attorney, CEO of Make A Way Media, and author of over a dozen children’s books, Deedee Cummings has a passion for ensuring equality, inclusion, and social justice for the next generation. Since her first book published in 2014, Cummings has been on a mission to help young dreamers and doers “see themselves” in the pages of the books they read.
Cummings has spent more than two decades working within the family therapy and support field, and much of her writing shares her experiences of working with kids in therapeutic foster care.
By the end of 2021, this #OWNVOICES author will have fifteen diverse children’s books to her credit, including the Rapid Release of her Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess five-book series. All fifteen of Cummings’ diverse picture, poetry, and workbooks for kids reflect her professional knowledge and love of life.
Cummings is also the founder and creator of the Louisville Book Festival, a literacy-based celebration in Louisville, KY, celebrated on October 23rd and 24th, 2021.
More About The Kayla Series:
Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess Series Book One is HERE!
Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess: is a heartwarming story about family, role models, dreams, and discovering a determination for growth. This five-part diverse picture book series shines the spotlight on a little brown girl who loves musical theatre and never lets anything get in the way of her dreams. It seems that everyone else has an idea for who she should be, but in the end, she discovers that she is the one who gets to decide.
Grab your copy of Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess (Book One) in the Make A Way Media Bookstore or on Amazon in paperback form or for Kindle.
GO HERE to order your copy of Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess: Dishes, Dancing, and Dreams (Book Two in the Kayla: Modern-Day Princess series).
Available on Amazon and Kindle.
Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess: Tough as Tulle is available! Order your copy HERE.
Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess: These Shoes Are Made For Dancing will be available on July 31, 2021!
Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess: A Little Magic will be available in October of 2021!
All Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess books are FREE on Kindle Unlimited! Download today!