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These ABCs Belong to Me!

Illustrated by Sarah Demonteverde
Published by The Collective Book Studio
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book

These ABCs Belong to Me! transforms stigmatized words into badges of honor, empowering kids to build positive self-talk and embrace their genuine personalities through thoughtful and vibrant prose.

Sometimes, the words used to describe us can sting. What if we turned those words into our superpowers, from A to Z? "Bossy" means we are the captain of the ship, "shy" means we are secret agents, and "picky" means we are experts at choosing the best. What’s most important is how we define ourselves.

Author Alicia McKenzie and illustrator Susan DeMonteverde introduce a story that helps us reclaim the words that beautifully describe us, help us understand others, and allow us to take pride in the qualities that make us unique. These ABCs Belong to Me! reminds us that our words possess the power to shape our world, reinforcing that the stories we tell ourselves are the most crucial of all.

About The Author

Alicia McKenzie is a true Renaissance woman—a former USAW and CrossFit athlete, health and wellness coach, author, real estate investor, and the proud mother of five. After concluding her competitive athletic career, she turned to real estate investing and health and wellness coaching, with a focus on incorporating evidence-based holistic health practices into the lives of adults and children. Drawing from her real-life experiences as a biracial woman juggling parenting, marriage, and business, Alicia imparts insights on developing healthy habits through her blog, LiftLikeAMother, and her podcast, "Married to the Start-up." She explores ways to reinterpret commonly misunderstood defining words, aiming to reshape both your and your child’s mindset to embrace them positively. Alicia resides in McLean, Virginia, with her husband George, their children Ava, Makayla, Maddox, Maverick, and Maya, and their dogs Huck and Olive.

About The Illustrator

Sarah Demonteverde is a Filipino American illustrator and designer living in sunny southern California. Combining her love for the vividness of life and the things that make us unique, she enjoys illustrating scenes of nature, culture, history, and other enjoyable subject matter. She has illustrated several books including My Name Is Cool, You're More Than a Sprout, and A Child's Introduction to Asian American and Pacific Islander History. Sarah is an avid plant collector who enjoys gardening with her family, hiking, dancing, and trying all the diverse food and coffee shops LA has to offer.

Product Details

  • Publisher: The Collective Book Studio (April 30, 2025)
  • Length: 40 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781685557997
  • Ages: 4 - 8

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