This beautiful diverse picture book is a heartwarming story about family matters, role models, dreams, gender diversity, and discovering a determination for growth. As the third book in a five-book #OWNVOICES series, Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess shines the spotlight on the evolving life of a little Brown girl who loves musical theatre and never lets anything get in the way of her dreams.The Kayla series was inspired by the author's own 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. Cummings' third book in the series pushes forward issues of gender bias and negative self-image among tweens, and its overall messages are valuable and necessary.