5-book Kayla Collection with Activity Book

Author Deedee Cummings

Deedee Cummings is a professional dreamer. She is also an author, therapist, attorney, and mom from Louisville, Kentucky. Cummings founded Make A Way Media in 2014 after struggling to find books with characters who looked like her own children and an extreme lack of stories that reflected their life experiences. Books published by Make A Way focus on hope, diversity, social justice, and therapeutic skills for children and adults. Her work has been featured in HuffPost, Forbes, NPR, USA Today, Essence Magazine, Psych Central, well+Good, and The EveryGirl, among other media outlets. In 2021, she was appointed to the Kentucky Early Childhood Advisory Council by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and reappointed to a second term in 2025, acknowledging her decades-long service to the children and families of Kentucky. Cummings is also the founder of The Louisville Book Festival. She was inspired to work to highlight and celebrate a culture of reading in her community after working as an in-home therapist and visiting homes of children who had no books. Cummings believes literacy is a fundamental human right. Her work highlights inspiring messages that remind us all it is never too late to begin again.

Illustrator Charlene Mosley

Charlene is a German-American fine artist and illustrator based in San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in Art from San Diego State University. She has traveled worldwide to create art and to immerse herself into different cultures. Charlene has illustrated various award-winning children’s books and other literary works. Creating illustrations for children’s books has been one of the artist’s favorite things to do. Every time she reads a new manuscript, it gives her imagination the freedom to embark on another colorful journey of exploration and discovery. Besides being an illustrator, Charlene is also a muralist and fine artist.

Awards:

Purple Dragonfly Award Winner

Reviews:

A Great Book for Families!

I enjoyed the book because it was whimsical, but it still told a real story. It highlighted the positive relationship between a mother and her daughter. The illustrations were wonderful and unique. The pages really pop with color. As a school teacher, this will be added to my library because it is different from other “princess” books. Children will get to see diversity represented in one of our library books and that is always important. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series!

-Marc T. McFadden 

Special story for Princesses and Princes

I read this book to my sons and we all enjoyed it from start to finish! The story is one that doesn’t only resonate with “princesses” but with “princes” just the same with the themes of determination, strength, and family values. The illustrations are beautiful and draw you into the story. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

– Kayla 

My new favorite book