Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess by Deedee Cummings {Children's Book Review}

Deedee Cummings mission is to share books with characters that look more like her children; more diverse. Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess is just that – diverse, but perfect for all little kids!

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 by Deedee Cummings {Children's Book Review}

“Daughters often learn their place in the world by watching their mothers claim theirs.” ~author, Deedee Cummings

The first in a five-part series, this diverse picture book shines the spotlight on a little brown girl who loves musical theater and never lets anything get in the way of her dreams. Everyone else has an idea of who she should be, but in the end, she discovers that she is the one who gets to decide.

The story also reveals the special family dynamic that Kayla shares with her mom; a hard-working woman who struggles with the guilt of not being as available for her young daughter as she would like. But as the story progresses, Kayla and her mom realize the impact of valuing the time they have together as well as the importance of seeing each other acknowledge (and pursue) their individual dreams. {ages 5 and up}

Buy the Book: Amazon.com, Make a Way Media
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To start, the illustrations in this book are amazing! Bright, colorful, full – beautiful.

As a mom to a little princess myself, this book is perfect! And while it is geared towards little girls/princesses; the message that it sends is perfect for little boys too – our children are special, always, and even when people are mean and tell you, you are different; don’t pay them any mind.

Every child should have big dreams and should never let anyone snuff out that light! I am a firm believer that anyone can do and be anything they want so long as they put their mind to it and this story goes right along with that.

Further, this book is a great story for any child that looks different than your typical, average, every day child.

While I understand Deedee’s mission is to provide her children with books that have characters that look more like them; I feel the story also fits for children who may wear glasses, have a physical disability (one that can be seen), or in general is a child that doesn’t look like every other child in majority of children’s books.

The lesson to take away is that every child is special in their own unique way.

I am a big fan of Deedee’s children’s books. Her stories have great lessons for adults and kids alike. I feel like, as a mother of your standard children book’s character, it opens up a path of communication with my child about kids who look different than her.

Any books by Deedee Cummings is a great book for the children in your life!

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.