Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess: Dishes, Dancing, and Dreams by Deedee Cummings {Children's Book Review}

Dishes, Dancing, and Dreams is book 2 in the Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess series and is another win for author Deedee Cummings!

Disclosure: I received this book to review through iRead Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

The Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess series of #OWNVOICE books is for Dreamers and the Doers of all ages. This diverse picture book series is a heartwarming look at the importance of family, speaking our truth, dreaming freely, and knowing our worth. Book 2 is part of a five-part series that shines the spotlight on a little Black girl who never lets anything get in the way of her dreams.

Parents, Caregivers, and Educators: By investing in this series, you help every child see that Black and Brown girls can be leaders, princesses, and the stars of their own stories. Children need to read stories that include characters who look like them. Offering these types of books to young readers is an essential part of building self-esteem, cultivating empathy, encouraging tough conversations, and letting children of color know they matter.

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.

Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess is a heartwarming story about the importance of family, dreams, knowing your worth, and a determination for growth. Dishes, Dancing, and Dreams is the second book in a five-part series that shines the spotlight on a little Black girl who never lets anything get in the way of her dreams.

Reading stories with characters who look like you, builds self-esteem.
Reading stories with characters who look like our world builds empathy. Kayla shares her world with everyone around her and learns not to judge others along the way. The world is filled with gifts sent directly to you. Staying open to finding them is key.

Buy the Book: Amazon.com, Make a Way Media
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Dishes, Dancing, and Dreams touched me differently than the previous Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess book did. It felt like there was so much packed into this little story, that it was almost an emotional overload! (I am sure a child won’t see it that way, but an adult with an anxious imagination definitely did!)

My favorite line of the entire story is “Even though Kayla is a princess, she still has to help out around the house.” Y’all. I am going to tell my kids that even modern-day princesses have chores and see if that kicks their rears into gear to help do their chores!! Kayla said so!

Kayla is a bit of a bossy pants, but she soon learns that something trivial and small, really isn’t a big issue; some people have bigger problems, such as her new friend Tommie. (For the record, a baby tree’s mama may not like children climbing on them! A true statement from someone who may agree that all living things have feelings!)

The story leads us to knowing that not all families are the same; therapy is okay; and therapy doesn’t necessarily mean seeking out a therapist, but having a positive outlet for your emotions and feelings.

And we cannot forget the message that all children are special and matter!

Meet 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 22nd and 23rd, 2021.

More by Deedee Cummings

This Is The Earth by Deedee Cummings, Illustrated by Charlene Mosley
In the Nick of Time by Deedee Cummings, Illustrated by Charlene Mosley
Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess by Deedee Cummings