Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess These Shoes Are Made For Dancing

by Deedee Cummings

Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess--These Shoes Are Made For Dancing is the fourth book in a five-book #OWNVOICES series that follows the story of a little brown girl who loves musical theatre and never lets anything get in the way of her dreams.
In These Shoes Are Made For Dancing, Kayla faces feelings of self-doubt and loss while finding new ways to remind herself of what is real and important in life. This feisty little dancer is determined to carve her own path as she continues to fall in love with the world of performing arts. The Kayla series was inspired by the author's daughter and Broadway actress, Kayla Pecchioni.
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.

24 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2021

About the author

Deedee Cummings is a professional dreamer, author, therapist, attorney, and mom from Louisville, Kentucky. She founded Make A Way Media to create diverse, hope-filled stories for children and adults, and is also the founder of The Louisville Book Festival. Her work—centered on healing, literacy, and the power of starting over—has been featured in Forbes, Essence, USA Today, and NPR. Deedee was appointed twice to Kentucky’s Early Childhood Advisory Council by the Governor of Kentucky and will release her newest children’s book, Hope In the Nick of Time, in the fall of 2025.

Reviews

[Jami Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The next book in the Kayla series continues to teach children more inspirational lessons about how everyone is special and capable of accomplishing their dreams. I love how the story begins with Kayla explaining how everyone has bad days and they will pass, but it is crucial to have anchors to help you feel better when those bad days come. Kayla gives examples that can help children generate their own anchors to use as strategies when they are having a tough time. Then, the story ends with instructions for making an anchor or memory box. What a powerful way to begin and end. Throughout the middle of the book, Kayla's sweet and loving relationship with her mother is depicted as it has been in the other books in the series.

I received this book from Deedee Cummings and Make a Way Media for my honest review as a part of Multicultural Children's Book Day 2022.

#ReadYourWorld

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little children's book hooked me immediately on the very first page! This author has a way of relating to a child's feelings in a way that children really want to be understood. Kayla is a 7-year-old girl with brown skin. She wants to learn to dance, and she overcomes obstacles to pursue her dream. I highly recommend this book to be read by all children, regardless of color or gender. Children deserve all of the encouragement that they can get!

[Anna J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. It is a beautiful story inspired by the authors daughter Kayla who is a Broadway actress, Kayla Pecchioni. In this book Kayla faces self-doubt and loss but this girl is determined to make her dreams come true. Such a positive and encouraging book for girls today.

Thank you so much Dee Dee Cummings and Make a way media for this book and this is my honest review.