Deedee Cummings's Blog, page 24
February 24, 2021
One Step Further: My Story of Math, the Moon, and a Lifelong Mission by Katherine Johnson
If you have read the book or seen the movie book HIDDEN FIGURES, you know who Katherine Johnson is and what she was able to achieve for NASA and history. With ONE STEP FURTHER we get not only her work but what it was like for her daughters to be a part of their mother’s passion and history-making path.
As Black History Month draws to a close, I am more than thrilled to be able to not only showcase this beautiful book and amazing woman but also be part of a blog tour and giveaway in her honor. Social Justice continues to be a relevant topic and the timing of Katherine’s story that highlights her demand for equality could not come at a better time. For parents, educators, and kids, the back of the book gives historical notes and context on the topic of racial segregation in the United States in addition to a lengthier recap of Katherine’s life.
Welcome to the One Step Further Blog Tour!
To celebrate the release of One Step Further by Katherine Johnson and her daughters Joylette Hylick and Katherine Moore, and illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow on January 5th, blogs across the web are featuring exclusive photos and stories from the life of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson, plus 5 chances to win a hardcover copy!
In Praise of One Step Further“Engaging, collage-style art augments the text, with speech bubbles, archival family photographs, and Barlow’s child-friendly illustrations. Concurrently accessible and intimate, this book will both inform readers and inspire them to reach for the stars.” ―Publishers Weekly “A concise, engaging story of a Black family in the South during the Civil Rights era.” ―Booklist “The blend of Johnson’s and her daughters’ voices is intimate and inspiring.” ―Horn Book The Life of a LegendThis timeline was so informative to me! I was also very happy to see that Katherine briefly attended my HSBU Bennett College as well!
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Katherine’s Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority pin
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(L to R) Unidentified man, Kathy, Katherine, Joylette, Katherine’s father Joshua, Connie, Unidentified man in 1961
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Katherine’s Certificate of Recognition declaring June 19, 2019 as Katherine G. Johnson Day in Virginia*****
Blog Tour Schedule:
February 22nd – Multicultural Children’s Book Day Blog
February 23rd – Here Wee Read
February 24th – Make a Way Blog
February 25th – BookHounds
February 26th – Frantic Mommy
Buy: Amazon | Indiebound | Bookshop
Add on GoodreadsFollow National Geographic Kids: Website | Twitter | Books Twitter | Facebook | YoutubeThis inspirational picture book reveals what it was like for a young black mother of three to navigate the difficult world of the 1950s and 60s and to succeed in an unwelcoming industry to become one of the now legendary “hidden figures” of NASA computing and space research.Johnson’s own empowering narrative is complemented by the recollections of her two daughters about their mother’s work and insights about how she illuminated their paths, including one daughter’s fight for civil rights and another’s journey to become a NASA mathematician herself. The narrative gracefully weaves together Johnson’s personal story, her influence on her daughters’ formative years, her and her daughters’ fight for civil rights, and her lasting impact on NASA and space exploration. Filled with personal reflections, exclusive family archival photos, and striking illustrations, readers will be immersed in this deeply personal portrayal of female empowerment, women in STEM, and the breaking down of race barriers across generations. Historical notes, photo/illustration notes, and a timeline put the story into a historical and modern-day context.The inspirational tale of Johnson’s perseverance is both intimate and global, showcasing the drive of each generation to push one step further than the last. With its evocative family album-style format and novel approach to storytelling, One Step Further is sure to inspire the next generation of rising stars.
Joylette (L), Kathy (R), Katherine (F) ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Katherine Johnson was an American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics as a NASA employee were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights. She calculated and analyzed the flight paths of many spacecraft during her more than three decades with the U.S. space program, and her work helped send astronauts to the moon. She died on February 24, 2020.
ABOUT THE CO-AUTHORS: Joylette Goble Hylick and Katherine “Kathy” Goble Moore grew up during the space race of the 1960s but never fully grasped their mother’s role in it until years later. Hylick graduated from Hampton University and received a Master’s at Drexel University. She followed in her mother’s footsteps, working at NASA as a mathematician before taking a job with Lockheed Martin as a Senior Requirements Engineer. She lives today in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. After attending Bennett College and Hampton University, and receiving a Masters of Science in Information Systems from Montclair State University (formerly Montclair State College), Moore spent 33 years working in public education as an educator and guidance counselor in New Jersey. She currently resides in Greensboro, North Carolina.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR : Charnelle Pinkney Barlow, the granddaughter of Caldecott-winning illustrator Jerry Pinkney, was surrounded by art as a child. Her passion for illustration grew after being introduced to the world of watercolors. She received her BFA in Illustration from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and her MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.Follow Charnelle: Facebook | Instagram GIVEAWAY: Win a SIGNED Copy!One (1) winner will receive a hardcover copy of One Step Further signed by Katherine Johnson’s daughters and co-authors Joylette Hylick and Katherine Moore!Check out the other four stops for more chances to winUS/Can onlyEnds 3/7 at 11:59pm ETa Rafflecopter giveaway
The post One Step Further: My Story of Math, the Moon, and a Lifelong Mission by Katherine Johnson appeared first on Make A Way Media.
February 23, 2021
Kindness 365 Days a Year?
February 17th was National Random Acts of Kindness Day.
I appreciate this day and all of the enthusiasm that goes along with it. But, I still keep coming back to one main thought.
Wouldn’t it be better to have random acts of kindness every day? Like, 365 days a year?
You’ve probably been the recipient of a random act of kindness in your lifetime. Think back to an instance in which someone has helped you out of a tough situation when they could see you were having difficulty or when a friend simply paid you a compliment out of the blue. A sweet surprise like this can really make a difference. Did you also know such experiences can also be good for your health and overall well-being? It’s true.
A random act of kindness can be as simple as buying coffee for the person behind you in line or as complex as mowing the grass for an elderly neighbor. Random Acts of Kindness can also be a kind word, supporting a local business, or even a smile. Oftentimes, it doesn’t take much effort to brighten someone’s day.
So why aren’t we kind more often? I get that these last twelve months have been beyond odd and stressful. People are afraid, uncertain, and exhausted and many times it leaks out as impatient, self-centered, and rude. But I also truly believe that, behind every mean person, is a wounded soul who just needs to be seen.
To be heard. To be told that they matter.
Did you know that not only do random acts of kindness promote good feelings among other people, being nice to others makes us feel better as well?
Numerous studies have shown a positive effect on mood when people engage in random acts of kindness. For me, I always feel uplifted when I do right by someone. My mood improves, my anxiety lessens, and many times I just feel energized.
But I also know that, by nature, I am a “giver.” Early on in my adult career path, I shifted from being an attorney to being a licensed family therapist because I wanted to heal instead of fight.
This also means my “energy well” runs a little low sometimes because I am so busy supporting others. If you know of someone like that (your mom, sister, daughter, your child’s teacher, and your significant other) take the steps to do some extra acts of kindness for them as well.
Right now, I am knee-deep in the most ambitious project I’ve ever created; a goal of publishing FIVE #OWNVOICES diverse picture books in 2021.
This monster of a project is being funded by Kickstarter so your random act of kindness will mean SO much to me and the hundreds of young readers who will benefit from the Kayla: A Modern Day Princess series. Learn more about the Kayla Kickstarter and make a pledge HERE.
Need some other ideas for spreading Kindness? Check out this past blog post (one of my most popular posts from 2o20) called 100 Simple Ways to Be Kind.
RandomActsofKindness.org also has a wonderful free downloadable Kindness Bingo Game here.
Now more than ever, the human race needs to really work on…and really be mindful of… what is needed to practice KINDNESS.
Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess proves that Black and Brown characters can be the stars in stories about hope and dreams.
There are SO many ways you can support this Kickstarter campaign. No matter the pledge amount, YOU are making an impact on young readers everywhere.
Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess:
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.
The story also reveals the very 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 4 to 8}
Written by veteran author, Deedee Cummings, the Kayla: Modern-Day Princess series is inspired by her own real-life princess and Broadway actress, Kayla Pecchioni. This #OwnVoices project is a five-part series set for Rapid Release in the spring and summer of 2021. Following the picture series will be a middle-grade series and a script to continue to tell the story of this dynamic and necessary character.
Learn more about the Kayla Kickstarter and make a pledge HERE.
Please share this Kickstarter on social media and with friends and family 
The post Kindness 365 Days a Year? appeared first on Make A Way Media.
February 18, 2021
A Picture Book Series for the Dreamers and the Doers
Did you know that, in the children’s publishing industry, books are eight times more likely to feature an animal as the protagonist than a person of color?
In classrooms and home bookshelves across America, children are not seeing it modeled for them that Black children can be leaders too because it is not reflected in the media that they are exposed to from birth.
This fact makes my heart hurt…but it also fuels me to take action.
From the moment my first book was published by Make A Way Media in 2014, I knew I wanted to write beautiful books for kids that modeled equality, inclusion, and social justice for the next generation. I was (and still am) committed to helping young dreamers and doers “see themselves” in the pages of the books they read.
Fast forward 7+ years and I am proud to share that by the end of 2021, I will have fifteen diverse #OWNVOICES children’s books to my credit!
I truly believe that sometimes social justice can be as easy as introducing our children to diversity in children’s literature as early as possible. Children of all colors need to see Black and Brown characters as leaders as well. Seeing a character who looks like them in a book is essential for building self-esteem in kids because they understand that they matter.
They can see with their own eyes that others see and acknowledge them.
I’ve always believed that reading is magic. Providing endless opportunities for young readers to “see themselves” in the pages of the books they read not only reinforces the belief that reading is fun, seeing faces and places that look familiar only amplifies that awestruck wonder. Children of all colors need to see BIPOC characters as leaders, change-makers, peacekeepers, activists, love warriors, heroes, and SHEroes.
This passion has guided my career as a mom, #OWNVOICES author, therapist, attorney, CEO of Make A Way Media. That’s why I am excitedly orchestrating my latest (and most ambitious!) publishing endeavor to date. I also feel like it’s my most important one as well.
With the help of Kickstarter and my illustrator, Charlene Mosley, along with the inspiration of my daughter, Kayla (who is a real-life Broadway actress), I will be releasing the first Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess book as part of a five-part diverse picture book series about family, growth, and following your dreams beginning in April of 2021. The rest of the series will follow in a “rapid release” format of one book published a month.
As I said, this is a HUGE project!
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. The series will also touch on important and timely topics like family dynamics, challenging gender stereotypes, acceptance, social justice, and inclusion.
Unfortunately, the aspirations and goals of young Black and Brown girls are often overshadowed by naysayers and well-meaning adults. One of my goals with the Kayla series is to help all kids understand that they have the right to be true to themselves and their dreams no matter what other people may think.
This series is not for the doubters; it’s for the dreamers.
There is a lot more information about what we are doing and why on our Kickstarter page that launched February 1st, 2021! I am excited to share that, with a few weeks left to go, my #OwnVoices Project has over 118 Backers and I am more than halfway to my final goal. As you can imagine, writing, publishing, and marketing five diverse picture books is an expensive venture so every penny donated counts!We need to shatter the goal we have set for this illustrated series so that we can achieve the projects we have beyond the goal of these books. It is all needed in a world that lacks the richness of diverse stories.
Please do not think any monetary gift is too small. We need hundreds of people to say, “YES! These stories need to be told!
There are many ways you can help support this Kickstarter campaign:
· Pledge as much as you can.
· Share the Kickstarter link with everyone you know by email, text, and social media.
· Talk about this project in a blog.
· Buy extra copies to share with a classroom, community center, neighbor, or a library.
· Pledge one of the higher levels for your child’s classroom and Deedee (the author) or Kayla (the inspiration) will schedule a virtual visit!
· Tell people about this dream & ask them to give and tell others too.
The more we continue to support the initiatives that get diverse books on shelves, the less it will stop seeming like a radical idea. It will become a norm to go to any library or bookstore and see books that feature characters of all colors and backgrounds. We have seen the impact a children’s series can have on young readers, long after they have turned the last page.And please help us spread the word about this Kickstarter #OwnVoices project during Black History Month this February! We need you!VISIT OUR KICKSTARTER PAGE HERE & THANK YOU:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ownvoices/an-ownvoices-project-kayla-a-modern-day-princess?ref=discovery&term=%23OwnVoices[image error]The post A Picture Book Series for the Dreamers and the Doers appeared first on Make A Way Media.
February 16, 2021
A Black Queen Who Inspired This Former Princess
Determination and drive are in my DNA.
I am not “built” to back down from what I believe. And I have the past and present Black Queens in my life to thank for it. Especially my beloved mom.
My parents are an interracial couple who married in 1970. A climate then was nowhere near as accepting of that as we are now. No cheerios commercials, many schools still largely segregated, hippie love abounding. Despite all of their hardships and adversity they somehow raised three smart, popular, funny, and caring daughters.
Deirdre “Deedee” Bianca Cummings – Author, Lawyer, Therapist & Entrepreneur Amanda Ella Compton – Attorney & Law Professor Louisa Lucia Pecchioni – One of the very few female vascular surgeons in the countryMy mother was a Mast. My father a Pecchioni. Two very strong and respected families in their communities. Pecchioni [pronounced Peck-ee-oh-nee] is Italian and means “keeper of the bee”. The Pecchionis were beekeepers in Northern Italy. A severe drought forced them to migrate South. They eventually settled in Sicily and continued to raise bees. Bees to this day have been significant symbols in our family.
My mother, Andrea Mast Pecchioni, was an innovator, leader, and very passionate about the Arts. Because of this love, she was instrumental in founding the first alternative theatre in KY during a time when the Arts were not very well supported. Kentucky Cooperative Theatre 1982 was created in 1982 and this was exceptionally remarkable because my mother was a woman of color. And at the time, there was not a lot of interest or respect for either.
Despite the naysayers, she followed her dream and did something that everyone said was crazy; she created a beautiful place for the Arts to come to life. It wasn’t about money, it was about following her heart. For more than 15 years, despite the naysayers, she helped the dreams of many playrights and actors come to life on stage.
My mother was also strong, loving, and no stranger to speaking her mind when she felt things were not as they should be or injustice had been done. That precious gift is one of the many she gave to me.
THANK YOU, Mom. I miss you.
Social justice can take on many forms.
Not everyone is comfortable with calling their Senators, posting on social media, or calling out racism when they see it. Getting diverse books into the hands of children is an important and necessary way to make a difference. Series like
Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess
prove that Black and Brown characters can be the stars in stories about hope and dreams.Learn more about the Kayla Kickstarter and make a pledge HERE.There are SO many ways you can support this Kickstarter campaign. No matter the pledge amount, YOU are making an impact on young readers everywhere.
Please share this Kickstarter on social media and with friends and family
The post A Black Queen Who Inspired This Former Princess appeared first on Make A Way Media.
February 9, 2021
Black History Month: SheRoes and Queens
I have so much to say about Black History Month, I honestly don’t know where to begin. Some of the following are my own thoughts, but some are also images/memes from other sources that sum up what’s in my heart more than I can ever say.
This February, I encourage everyone to learn as much as they can about the amazing, untold stories of Black Americans who have changed history. These stories are filled with struggle and suffering, but also priceless advice from the people who have been there. Black history did not begin with slavery and does not end with the Civil Rights Movement.
This discovery during the next 30 days SHOULD NOT end as soon as the calendar flips to March. Please continue to expand your knowledge, and your children’s knowledge, for the year and beyond.
We were Kings and Queens for centuries. Entrepreneurs. Mothers. Fathers. Warriors. Didn’t start with slavery. Won’t end with slavery. #BlackHistoryMonth
Found on Facebook. This is life. This is everything.
Image: A screenshot of an article by McKenzie Jean-Philippe that headline reads “125 Black-Owned Bookstores in America That Amplify the Best in Literature” with a graphic of a map of the United StatesSheRoes and Queens Among UsStacey Abrams
Photo Source: MSN News“Abrams gained national attention when she ran for governor of Georgia in 2018, ultimately losing to Republican Brian Kemp by a margin of less than two percentage points. Exposing voter suppression in her state was a cornerstone of her campaign. After losing the gubernatorial race, Abrams launched Fair Fight Action, a voter education campaign that took the fight against voter suppression across the country.”Rosa Parks
Imagine at 6 yrs old having to be escorted into your school by Federal Marshalls as a part of integration. That’s just what Ruby Bridges did in 1960. It’s why she’s our #HistoricalHiddenFigures feature today. Thanks for changing the game in education #BlackHistoryMonth @WeAreABIS pic.twitter.com/UPHwLwMgUe
— Mike Boynton (@thacoachmike) February 4, 2021
“The only tired I was, was tired of giving in.” ~RP Amanda Gorman
Amanda Gorman: We’re living in an important moment in Black art because we’re living in an important moment in Black life.“I’m learning that I am not lightning that strikes once. I am the hurricane that comes every single year, and you can expect to see me again soon”
Social justice can take on many forms.
A must read for so many reasons.
Posted by Make A Way Media on Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Not everyone is comfortable with calling their Senators, posting on social media, or calling out racism when they see it. Getting diverse books into the hands of children is an important and necessary way to make a difference. Series like
Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess
prove that Black and Brown characters can be the stars in stories about hope and dreams.Learn more about the Kayla Kickstarter and make a pledge HERE.There are SO many ways you can support this Kickstarter campaign. No matter the pledge amount, YOU are making an impact on young readers everywhere.
Please share this Kickstarter on social media and with friends and family
The post Black History Month: SheRoes and Queens appeared first on Make A Way Media.
February 3, 2021
How My Project Became a Kickstarter “Project We Love”
The post How My Project Became a Kickstarter “Project We Love” appeared first on Make A Way Media.
February 2, 2021
The Best Diverse Picture Books About LOVE
There are so many wonderful picture books about the emotion of LOVE.
A parents’ love for their children.
A child’s love for family.
Love for each other.
So in honor of Valentine’s Day, here are my top picks for The Best Diverse Picture Books About LOVE.
Family LoveLove is a Family by Sophie Beer
This fun, inclusive board book celebrates the one thing that makes every family a family . . . and that’s LOVE. Love is baking a special cake. Love is lending a helping hand. Love is reading one more book. In this exuberant board book, many different families are shown in happy activity, from an early-morning wake-up to a kiss before bed. Whether a child has two moms, two dads, one parent, or one of each, this simple preschool read-aloud demonstrates that what’s most important in each family’s life is the love the family members share.
My Dad’s Job by Deedee Cummings
My Dad’s Job is a book about the relationship between a father and son. I wrote the book for many reasons, but first and foremost was probably my frustration with finding a good book on fatherhood that had characters resembling my own family. There are many books with dads as the main character, but not many books with Black dads as the main character.
While not 100% true to life, it is inspired by my family’s story and follows the relationship of a father and son as the son grows up. The dad and son talk about what the dad’s job is and the dad focuses on the fact that his primary and most important job is being his dad.
It is important for families to see that love and loyalty are shown in lots of different ways. Each person’s version or idea of what love looks and feels like will not always be the same. In this story, the father is a man of few words, but a lot of action. The father shows his family every day what it means to love, care, provide for and protect his family more through modeling than talk.
When the dad tells the son that he is going to track him how to be a man, the boy misunderstands how this will happen. Maybe the son thinks that this education will look more like a classroom or a formal lesson. He just does not realize that the father is showing him by his own daily actions and interactions exactly how a man should be. This is a story of the power of modeling and the importance of being there in a child’s life. Just keeping your word can be a powerful lesson for a child to absorb. Showing is often better than telling.
Sibling LoveThe Proudest Blue A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali, illustrated by Hatem Aly
This beautiful picture book shares the sweet bond between the sisters. Woven into the story is also the importance of the hijab in the Muslim faith and the feeling of pride for who you are. Faizah, looks up to her big sister, Asiya, and especially when her big sister wears a beautiful, blue hijab for the first time. Not everyone at schools sees Asiya’s hijab as beautiful, but Faizah only sees her sister’s beauty and strength despite the comments of others.
The New Small Person by Lauren Child
This book shares the familiar tale of the adjustment period that sometimes takes place when a new little human is added to the family. Elmore Green is perfectly satisfied with his life. He a room to himself and toys that no one else can mess with. But then one day, everything changes and a new small person infiltrates his comfortable world. In her signature visual style, Lauren Child gets to the heart of a child’s evolving emotions about becoming a big brother or sister.
The Emotion of Love
Love Is…is a succinct 73-word diverse children’s picture book that reveals a powerful lesson through lyrical verse and beautiful illustrations. Within the vibrant pages, author Deedee Cummings shares a simple message that bears repeating; Love is precious and it is something we must nurture, take care of, and never take for granted.
Love Is… reminds readers of all ages that Love is a gift meant to be shared by every being. Love is… is a masterpiece of word and color poetry that draws readers of all ages in. {ages 2 and up}
Love Is...is a charming children’s book that shares a valuable message: love is a gift meant to be shared by every being. Filled with beautiful illustrations and a stunning palette, this book shows children the many different ways that love is expressed – many of which can easily be forgotten or taken for granted. Love is… is a masterpiece of word and color poetry that draws readers of all ages in. {ages 2 and up}
“My 6- year old son saw ‘Love is…’ and couldn’t wait for me to read it to him. It filled his bucket. We discussed the beautiful illustrations and talked about love. We love the positivity of the book and that it reminds us to shine our light and to not close off our hearts.”~Eat Pure Love
Love is Powerful by Heather Dean Brewer and LeUyen Pham
Mari raised her sign for everyone to see.
Even though she was small and the crowd was very big,
and she didn’t think anyone would hear,
she yelled out.
Mari is getting ready to make a sign with crayons as the streets below her fill up with people. “What are we making, Mama?” she asks. “A message for the world,” Mama says. “How will the whole world hear?” Mari wonders. “They’ll hear,” says Mama, “because love is powerful.” Inspired by a girl who participated in the January 2017 Women’s March in New York City, Heather Dean Brewer’s simple and uplifting story, delightfully illustrated by LeUyen Pham, is a reminder of what young people can do to promote change and equality at a time when our country is divided by politics, race, gender, and religion.
A little girl carries a big message—and finds it thrillingly amplified by the rallying crowd around her—in an empowering story for the youngest of activists.Caregiver LoveThe Remember Balloons by Jessie Oliveros
Sometimes relationships with grandparents are coupled with difficulties due to age-related decline. This sensitive tale of how a boy and his grandfather use balloons to represent memories offers children a positive way of coping with a grandparent’s memory loss.
I Really Want to See You, Grandma, by Taro Gomi
This is a joy-filled diverse picture book about the excitement and anticipation surrounding a trip to see grandma. Yumi and her grandma are so excited about seeing each other that they race to the other’s house–at the same time! Will they cross paths? Or miss each other completely?
Superhero Gran by Timothy Knapman and Joe Berger
All grandmothers are wonderful, and this gran is no exception. She might not lift buildings or go whooshing through the sky, but she can plan super sleepovers, tell tickle-filled stories, and even put together great disguises to make a superhero team with her grandchildren.
In 2020, I made the decision to rewrite Kayla: A Modern Day Princess with new illustrations and a stronger message. But my brain and creativity didn’t want to stop at just one book! That’s when an epic project began to unfold as my team and I met and brainstormed on how to help the world see the beauty and power of how our Brown and Black girls all have the potential to be QUEENS
A princess is a queen in training. According to the dictionary, a queen is the reigning female of her family, regarded as the most outstanding in a particular sphere or group. How better does a young girl figure out her place in the world than by watching her mother proudly proclaim hers?
Girls become strong by witnessing the challenges of their mothers. It is life training in real-time and it was definitely the case for my daughter and me.
This #OwnVoices project is a five-part series set for Rapid Release in the spring and summer of 2021. Following the picture series will be a middle-grade series and a script to continue to tell the story of this dynamic and necessary character.
Why Kickstarter?
Because this project is innovative and unique!
This Kickstarter Project will be supporting author Deedee Cummings’ mission of Rapid Releasing a picture book series and sharing Black Girl Magic with the world! These five beautifully-illustrated books will be released back-to-back so readers can watch Kayla grow up and, through her eyes, see the power of following your dreams.
Kickstarter is wonderful because it gives creators the chance to offer fun rewards, and it fosters a spirit of community giving. There are many amazing themes and topics within the Kayla series, including following your dreams, the bond between mothers and their daughter(s), the importance of representation, and pursuing a career in the performing arts.
We have a lot of rewards to share with those who support this dream, and Kickstarter is the perfect way to make this vision come to life.
What is Rapid Releasing?
Rapid Releasing is the act of releasing 3+ books within a month of each other for maximum buzz, marketing, and visibility. Every time a new book is released, it will stay on Amazon’s Hot New Release list for 30 days. By releasing a Kayla book every 30 days, there will always be one of our beautiful series on the Hot New Release list. It’s an epic way to build buzz and build momentum for the next book in the series!
Rapid Releasing is an expensive and ambitious project, but it is one that the Make A Way Team is committed to implementing and successfully completing. Releasing Kayla: A Modern Day Princess books 2-5 in rapid succession allows readers, parents, caregivers, educators, and librarians to seamlessly share the story of a little Brown girl who grows, evolves, and inspires as the story continues.
Watch social media and this blog to participate, donate, and enjoy some of the wonderful rewards and incentives this project has in store for everyone! And follow these hashtags on Instagram: #moderndayk #moderndayprincess #makeawaymedia #kaylapecchioni #deedeecummings #diversebooks
GO HERE to preorder your copy of Kayla: A Modern Day Princess (Spring of 2021) OR, support our unique and innovative Kickstarter 5-Book Rapid Release Project!
The post The Best Diverse Picture Books About LOVE appeared first on Make A Way Media.
January 29, 2021
Happy Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021!
The 2021 celebration includes 25 CoHosts and Global CoHosts, 23 Medallion (including Make A Way Media!), and 36 Author Level Sponsors that are all working together to support this important diversity in children’s literature initiative.
Thanks to over 700 dedicated book reviewers, 1400-1500+ diverse book reviews will be shared on social media during the last few weeks of January under the #ReadYourWorld hashtag.
To date, Multicultural Children’s Book Day (MCBD) has gifted over 9,000 diverse books to end-users.
Countries Represented via Book Reviewers, Sponsors, and Global CoHosts: USA, Germany, Greece, Australia, Mexico, Iran, India, UK, Canada, Philippines, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Hawaii, and New Zealand.
MCBD came from a seed of an idea thanks to two book-loving moms who noticed that finding children’s books that represented their family was ridiculously difficult. Determined to change that fact, they joined together to create a massive and vibrant online celebration that occurs on the last Friday of every January. Their mission was (and still is) to raise awareness for children’s books and the diverse authors, illustrators, and publishers that create these books while working on getting more of these books into classrooms and libraries. This non-profit also strives to shine the spotlight on the diverse books and authors that often get overlooked by mainstream publishing and media.
I’ve been fortunate to be part of Multicultural Children’s Book Day for several years now and I’ve always found that this team of hard-working people tries very hard to keep their finger on the pulse of what is happening in the world and where the gaps are in kidlit representation.
I even did a very nice Q&A with long-time Project Manager, Becky Flansburg, and our discussion was not only a perfect example of this non-profit’s dedication, but it was also proof of how much this initiative has benefitted me as a diverse picture book author. Read the full interview HERE.
How You Can Support Multicultural Children’s Book DayFollow them on social media! This will help supporters get a more in-depth understanding of why their work is so important.
Donate to them directly to support the impact they have on getting these books directly into classrooms- right into the hands of teachers and children. Children need to see that the world is bigger than their backyard and we can achieve that when we all work together cooperatively.
We can all be leaders.
We can all be heroes.
A Summary of their 2021 Celebration (and Twitter Party!)Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021 (1/29/21) is in its 8th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those book into the hands of young readers and educators.
Eight years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission & History HERE.
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr’s (Audreypress.com)
Platinum Sponsors: Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ Languages, Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media
Gold Sponsors: Barefoot Books, Candlewick Press, Capstone, Hoopoe Books, KidLitTV, Peachtree Publishing Company Inc.
Silver Sponsors: Charlotte Riggle, Connecticut Association of School Librarians, Author Kimberly Gordon Biddle, Pack-N-Go Girls
Bronze Sponsors: Agatha Rodi and AMELIE is IMPRESSED!, Barnes Brothers Books, Create and Educate Solutions, LLC, Dreambuilt Books, Dyesha and Triesha McCants/McCants Squared, Redfin Real Estate, Snowflake Stories, Star Bright Books, TimTimTom Bilingual Personalized Books, Author Vivian Kirkfield, Wisdom Tales Press, My Well Read Child
MCBD 2021 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!Poster Artist: Nat Iwata
Authors: Author Afsaneh Moradian, Author Alva Sachs & Three Wishes Publishing Company, Author Angeliki Stamatopoulou-Pedersen, Author Anna Olswanger, Author Casey Bell , Author Claudine Norden, Author Debbie Dadey, Author Diana Huang & Intrepids, Author Eugenia Chu & Brandon goes to Beijing, Green Kids Club, Author Gwen Jackson, Author Janet Balletta, Author Josh Funk, Author Julia Inserro, Karter Johnson & Popcorn and Books, Author Kathleen Burkinshaw & The Last Cherry Blossom, Author Keila Dawson, Maya/Neel Adventures with Culture Groove, Author Mia Wenjen, Michael Genhart, Nancy Tupper Ling, Author Natalie Murray, Natalie McDonald-Perkins, Author Natasha Yim, Author Phe Lang and Me On The Page Publishing, Sandra Elaine Scott, Author Shoumi Sen & From The Toddler Diaries, SISSY GOES TINY by Rebecca Flansburg and B.A. Norrgard, Susan Schaefer Bernardo & Illustrator Courtenay Fletcher, Tales of the Five Enchanted Mermaids, Author Theresa Mackiewicz, Tonya Duncan and the Sophie Washington Book Series, Author Toshia Stelivan, Valerie Williams-Sanchez & The Cocoa Kids Collection Books©, Author Vanessa Womack, MBA, Author Veronica Appleton & the Journey to Appleville book series
MCBD 2021 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!MCBD 2021 is Honored to be Supported by these Media Partners!Check out MCBD’s Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!
Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents
Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Activism and Activists Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Empathy Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Kindness Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Poverty Kit
FREE Diversity Book for Classrooms Program
TWITTER PARTY! Register here!
Join us on Friday, Jan 29, 2021, at 9 pm EST for the 8th annual Multicultural Children’s Book Day Twitter Party!
This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.
We will be giving away an 8-Book Bundle every 5 minutes plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. **
Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. See you all very soon on Twitter!
Hashtag: Don’t forget to connect with us on social media and be sure and look for/use our official hashtag #ReadYourWorld.
The post Happy Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021! appeared first on Make A Way Media.
January 26, 2021
Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess: Why We Need a Kickstarter Campaign and YOU!
Things like posting to social media, signing petitions, and calling out racism when you see it are all important, but not everyone is comfortable taking the same actions.
Long term, how can we help to prevent the need to have to take this kind of action in the first place?
Sometimes social justice is ensuring books with diverse characters get into the hands of the next generation of children.
In the children’s publishing industry, books are eight times more likely to feature an animal as the protagonist than a person of color. In classrooms and home bookshelves across America, children are not seeing it modeled for them that Black children can be leaders, or even seeing what a diverse team of people look like, because it is not reflected in the media that they are exposed to from birth.
“I love Pete the Cat, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and the Berenstain Bears, but what I am saying is, my children should have an easier time finding a book with a character who looks like them than an animal.” ~Author Deedee Cummings
Sometimes social justice can be introducing our children to diversity as early as possible. Children of all colors need to see Black and Brown characters as leaders. Reading is magic. Seeing yourself in a book builds your esteem. Seeing your world in a book builds your empathy.
There is a lot more information about what we are doing and why on our Kickstarter page opening February 1st, 2021! We hope you will follow along with us on a journey to change a generation.We need to shatter the goal we have set for this illustrated series so that we can achieve the projects we have beyond the goal of these books. It is all needed in a world that lacks the richness of diverse stories.
Please do not think any gift is too small. WE NEED NUMBERS TOO! We need hundreds of people to say, “YES! These stories need to be told!”
Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess is a five-part series with so many important themes for today’s youth and is inspired by the life of the author’s daughter, actress Kayla Pecchioni.
The series will be released during the Spring and Summer months of 2021. Follow this story as Princess Kayla pursues her dream of a career in musical theatre. Along the way, Kayla will form beautiful friendships, learn from her mother’s example, and always stay true to herself. Kayla will show girls that princesses, leaders, and heroes come in all colors.
There are many ways you can help support this Kickstarter campaign:
· Pledge as much as you can.
· Share the Kickstarter link with everyone you know by email, text, and social media.
· Talk about this project in a blog.
· Buy extra copies to share with a classroom, community center, neighbor, or a library.
· Pledge one of the higher levels for your child’s classroom and Deedee (the author) or Kayla (the inspiration) will schedule a virtual visit!
· Tell people about this dream & ask them to give and tell others too.
The more backers we have, the more Kickstarter will realize how great the desire for diverse books is. This increases the likelihood that Kickstarter will feature this project on their page and in their newsletter- especially in the first few days. You will also find exclusive rewards and take part in group goals that will help our community.We don’t just publish diverse books. We do a lot of good work. Please read all about Make A Way Media on our Kickstarter page February 1-28, 2021! And please help us spread the word about this Kickstarter #OwnVoices project during Black History Month this February! We need you!***
The Children’s Book Council: The Numbers Are In: 2019 CCBC Diversity Statistics “What does all of this mean? Our numbers continue to show what they have shown for the past 35 years: Despite slow progress, the number of books featuring BIPOC protagonists lags far behind the number of books with white main characters–or even those with animals or other characters. Taken together, books about white children, talking bears, trucks, monsters, potatoes, etc. represent nearly three quarters (71%) of children’s and young adult books published in 2019.”
The post Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess: Why We Need a Kickstarter Campaign and YOU! appeared first on Make A Way Media.
January 23, 2021
Challenging the Gatekeepers (and Never Giving Up)
Not long ago, I shared a blog post about my book, Kayla: A Modern Day Princess during the early days when I first published was y back in 2017.
In that post, I shared how I had proudly submitted this book to Kirkus Reviews (an American book review magazine that provides authors with professional critiques of their books) and was very frustrated and dishearted by one of their reviewer’s critiques of my book.
I admit, when I received their review, it knocked me back a few steps. While the review was not bad, it was my first book review from Kirkus, and I took the feedback hard. The one piece of the critique that frustrated me the most was where the reviewer stated that I “seemed to insinuate” that that being a mother is the highest calling a woman could achieve.
For me, in this story, I did not insinuate this. I flat out stated it.
So, I thought long and hard about it and felt compelled to respond to Kirkus in the firmest and most professional way possible.
I pushed back because I knew then (and now) that I was not the only author who was finding it increasingly hard to compete and deal with the people I refer to as The Gatekeepers.
In the children’s book industry, Gatekeepers are is the person (or people) who have control over who gets access, recognition, and the decision-makers in the world of children’s literature. They are also the people that important end-users like editors, librarians, booksellers, etc. take very seriously.
I don’t want to waste precious time arguing whether Gatekeepers are a “myth” or not (I can assure you, they are NOT a myth) but instead share my story of how I took a stand.
And how that ultimately has led to one of my next projects: a project that is my largest and most exciting to date. Below is my response letter to Kirkus written on September 25, 2017
***
Hi Kat,
Thank you so much for the fast reply. I received a review from Kirkus several months ago and was not happy with the outcome. I did not write about my concerns then, because I thought it would simply appear as a case of sour grapes. However, since that time things continue to come across my desk and my day, which reinforces to me that I should speak up about my review.
First, let me preface my complaint with the understanding that I value an unfavorable review as much, if not more so than a favorable review. Unfavorable reviews and critiques about my work help make my work better. I welcome, invite, appreciate, and as in this case, even pay for valuable feedback that will only strengthen my focus and my vision. I do not believe the review I received from the Kirkus reviewer was fair, and moreover, I believe it is implicitly biased.
The three most troubling statements in this Kirkus critique (in their own words) are:
• “Kayla’s mother says she should be treated like a princess, (but) Kayla has to do the dishes while her brother gets to go to football practice and play video games.”
• “Kayla’s mother obviously takes her career seriously, but she seems to suggest that motherhood is a woman’s greatest possible achievement.”
• “The idea that girls should be treated like royalty in order to feel special could also bear
more examination.”
“My concern is that this review is clearly written from a biased standpoint. Yes, to some extent all reviews are, but this reviewer discusses at great length for the majority of this piece, that this story is about:
• A little girl “with hopes and dreams.”
• That this is a “warmhearted story depicting an affectionate relationship between Kayla and
her mom.”
• And even further, that this story, “effectively shows how a lonely (neighbor) finds new friends in Kayla and her brother.”
Yet the reviewer is compelled to end this review with a few lines about whether a girl can be a princess and wash dishes. And, worse, the merits of whether a woman can declare for herself, what her greatest possible achievement is?
The reviewer states: “Kayla’s mother obviously takes her career seriously, but she seems to suggest that motherhood is a woman’s greatest possible achievement.” I do not seem to indicate this viewpoint; I outright say it is so.
This is one person’s story; one person’s viewpoint. You don’t have to agree with it or like it, in the same way, that I don’t knock moms who do not feel this way. Some will relate and some will not. Some will find themselves in Kayla’s mom and some will find themselves in the neighbor’s mom. It is not for me (or for this reviewer) to judge who we choose to relate to.
If the illustrations are “lively,” “expressive,” and “dreamy. ” If the story is “warmhearted” and “effectively,” told, is it the place of a Kirkus reviewer to put such qualifiers regarding her opinion of what a princess is or that of what a woman’s highest calling could or should be?
Now that I have written this letter of concern I am so glad I finally did so. This review is laden with biased statements, not a review of my work as an author in effectively telling the story of one little girl’s life, who just maybe, will be relatable to many others. If the writing was poor, the plot was confusing, or the message trite and uninspired… I can take that. I need to head back to my writing table if that be the case.
But that is not the case. Instead, I’m told this is a warm and effectively told tale that is full of mixed messages. This is just not acceptable. This story belongs to many people. I feel as though, with the very last couple of lines of this review, your reviewer put all of these people’s lives and viewpoints in a box and stamped it as problematic. According to whom?
As problematic as it seems to be to the reviewer that I choose to tell my child, and then announce to the world via this text, that she is my greatest achievement, it is equally as problematic to me that this is perceived as an issue.
This is a value statement, not a book review.
I, nor any other author, can be forced to carry the weight of correcting all of society’s ills, misperceptions, and or dual messages in a twenty-page children’s book Further, the comment that the idea of young girls being treated like royalty is a message needing to be further examined is precisely why I made clear to state that this message will be told over a series of six more books. (I do understand that she only had this one to review.)
There is no question that this reviewer has a negative mental mindset towards the roles as described in this book, but I was not under the impression that the reviewer’s personal beliefs about motherhood and the life of a princess would be the foundation for my review. Thank you again as I know your time is very valuable. You definitely do not have to agree with me, but I feel so much better about having finally shared this with your company.
***
Looking back, I now am so relieved I held firm to my beliefs and my work. If I would have let this particular GateKeeper shut me down or discourage me from ever writing again, I wouldn’t be the proud author of eleven diverse children’s books. Eleven!
And that number is about to change as I launch one of my most exciting and ambitious publishing projects to date. And the book in question, the book that the Kirkus reviewer has such an issue with, is the inspiration for all of it.
The Kayla: A Modern Day Princess 5-Book Kickstarter Campaign
In 2020, I made the decision to rewrite Kayla: Modern Day Princess with new illustrations and a stronger message. But my brain and creativity didn’t want to stop st just one book! That’s when an epic project began to unfold as my team and I met and brainstormed on how to help the world see the beauty and power of how our Brown and Black girls all have the potential to be QUEENS
A princess is a queen in training. According to the dictionary, a queen is the reigning female of her family, regarded as the most outstanding in a particular sphere or group. How better does a young girl figure out her place in the world than by watching her mother proudly proclaim hers?
Girls become strong by witnessing the challenges of their mothers. It is life training in real-time and it was definitely the case for me and my daughter.
This #OwnVoices project is a five-part series set for Rapid Release in the spring and summer of 2021. Following the picture series will be a middle-grade series and a script to continue to tell the story of this dynamic and necessary character.
Why Kickstarter?
Because this project is innovative and unique!
This Kickstarter Project will be supporting author Deedee Cummings’ mission of Rapid Releasing a picture book series and sharing Black Girl Magic with the world! These five beautifully-illustrated books will be released back-to-back so readers can watch Kayla grow up and, through her eyes, see the power of following your dreams.
Kickstarter is wonderful because it gives creators the chance to offer fun rewards, and it fosters a spirit of community giving. There are many amazing themes and topics within the Kayla series, including following your dreams, the bond between mothers and their daughter(s), the importance of representation, and pursuing a career in the performing arts.
We have a lot of rewards to share with those who support this dream, and Kickstarter is the perfect way to make this vision come to life.
What is Rapid Releasing?
Rapid Releasing is the act of releasing 3+ books within a month of each other for maximum buzz, marketing, and visibility. Every time a new book is released, it will stay on Amazon’s Hot New Release list for 30 days. By releasing a Kayla book every 30 days, there will always be one of our beautiful series on the Hot New Release list. It’s an epic way to build buzz and build momentum for the next book in the series!
Rapid Releasing is an expensive and ambitious project, but it is one that the Make A Way Team is committed to implementing and successfully completing. Releasing Kayla: A Modern Day Princess books 2-5 in rapid succession allows readers, parents, caregivers, educators, and librarians to seamlessly share the story of a little Brown girl who grows, evolves, and inspires as the story continues.
Watch social media and this blog to participate, donate, and enjoy some of the wonderful rewards and incentives this project has in store for everyone! And follow these hashtags on Instagram: #moderndayk #moderndayprincess #makeawaymedia #kaylapecchioni #deedeecummings #diversebooks
GO HERE to preorder your copy of Kayla: A Modern Day Princess (Spring of 2021) OR, support our unique and innovative Kickstarter 5-Book Rapid Release Project!
The post Challenging the Gatekeepers (and Never Giving Up) appeared first on Make A Way Media.
