I love the work we do at Make A Way Media. We are empowering children and adults of all backgrounds to follow their hearts, listen to the little voice inside, and pursue their dreams. We believe in planning and goal setting. Not just for today or tomorrow, but for where you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years, and beyond.
As the calendar flips to July, the team at MAWM is as busy as ever. But our most exciting news is that Book Three in the Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess series is HERE!
Available on the MAWM Website, Amazon, and on Kindle, Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess—Tough As Tulle is the perfect diverse picture book for the young dreamers and doers in your life.
Tough As Tulle is a heartwarming story about being open-minded to new possibilities, role models, dreams, gender diversity, and discovering a determination for growth. As the third book in a five-book #OWNVOICES series, Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess shines the spotlight on the evolving life of a little Brown girl who loves musical theatre and never lets anything get in the way of her dreams. The Kayla series was inspired by the author’s own daughter and Broadway actress, Kayla Pecchioni.
Learn more about this book, and others in the series, on the MakeAWayMedia.com website.
Being A Dreamer and a Doer
Everyone has dreams. Some are simple, some are more complex, but ALL are doable once you put action behind the words.
One way to keep dreams alive and growing is to Write.It.Down!
When you write down your dreams and goals you are 42% more likely to achieve them. You are not just activating your imagination, but you are also documenting your journey while holding yourself accountable. Use a journal like the ones we have available on the makeawaymedia.com website, but really, you can just use good old-fashioned sticky notes or index cards as well.
Review and Revisit OFTEN: Keep your written goals somewhere you will look often:
- Inside your wallet
- Inside or on top of your nightstand drawer
- On the bathroom mirror
- Inside a book you are reading
- Taped to your computer screen
Dreamers and Doers like journaling because they can tell their stories along the way!
As you journal, remember your feelings, the pitfalls, and all the achievements. Document all of those things too because they will be part of your success journey,
Fun Tip: Use colored pencils to add doodling’s and artwork. Make it fun!
Make your wildest dreams come true. Make it happen. MAKE A WAY.
About K3
This beautiful diverse picture book is a heartwarming story about family matters, role models, dreams, gender diversity, and discovering a determination for growth. As the third book in a five-book #OWNVOICES series, Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess shines the spotlight on the evolving life of a little brown girl who loves musical theatre and never lets anything get in the way of her dreams.
Parents and Teachers: Deedee 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. Using therapeutic techniques in her stories to teach coping skills, Cummings strives to lessen the stigma surrounding children and adults suffering in silence from mental health issues. As a family therapist, many of her tried-and-true therapy techniques are skillfully woven into this story to show young readers gentle ways to cope and find inner peace.
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.
“If you care about fostering empathy in children, you need to genuinely care about the journey of other people who don’t look and live as you do.” ~Deedee Cummings
Adults also need to provide books for our kids that do not contribute to harmful stereotypes and misconceptions. This can occur much more quickly when the book is not written by someone who lived that life and learned firsthand from experience. Instead, we owe it to ourselves and to the next generation to share books that help us see the world as the vast, beautiful, and fascinating place that it truly is- from the perspective of many. The most authentic story is told by the one who lived it. By investing in #OWNVOICES stories, book buyers support the stories and amplify the voices, of the authors who lived them.
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
About The Author
As a therapist, attorney, CEO of Make A Way Media, and author of fifteen 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.
The Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess 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 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!