FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Little Girl with the Big Voice
By Wé McDonald
Giving Kids the Confidence to Make Their Voices Heard:
THE VOICE’S Wé MCDONALD PENS INSPIRING CHILDREN’S BOOK ABOUT OVERCOMING BULLYING
As anyone who works with children on a regular basis knows, bullying is not something to be taken lightly; a few words or actions can leave a lifelong impact, sometimes in ways that are literally life-altering. This is something Wé McDonald — a successful and beloved contestant on NBC’s The Voice — knows all too well. And, in her new children’s book, The Little Girl with the Big Voice (Lightswitch Learning, April 24, 2018), she tackles this issue with an inspiring tale of how one young girl overcomes bullying and finds success; a story based on McDonald’s own childhood experiences.
The Little Girl with the Big Voice is a motivating story that will leave kids excitedly turning its pages. The book teaches valuable lessons, like how to triumph against adversity, and how to build self-confidence. McDonald hopes The Little Girl with the Big Voice, combined with her platform and experience, will ultimately help others. “I was bullied as a child but overcame it,” shares McDonald. “I want whoever is reading this book to know that they’re more than enough, and that special awareness doesn’t even begin to describe who they are.”
Written in McDonald’s own words, The Little Girl with the Big Voice is a powerful story about a girl who courageously embraces her uniqueness and discovers her true voice — overcoming personal struggles and great challenges. She does so by working hard to fulfill her dreams, and expanding her own understanding of herself and the world around her.
Throughout her life, McDonald has been faced with bullies and naysayers. With the support of loving friends and family, she stayed focused on her dreams and her passion to share her voice with the world. On The Voice, McDonald’s inner confidence radiated. A strong contestant with an even stronger drive, she was a finalist on the show and has gone on to perform with music industry legends all while laying the foundation for her career as an artist. McDonald is living proof that from hate, a person can motivate. Her story is inspiring to adults and children alike, from the days of grade school bullies to being thrown into the public eye and being bullied on social media.
One of the driving forces behind the book is to recognize the importance of support systems for children who are being bullied. In fact, a portion of the proceeds from the book will be donated to No Bully, an organization that fights bullying around the world by creating stronger connections between people. “I am so lucky to have a great support system of my own,” continues McDonald. “I want children to be able to feel less alone, find their confidence, and know that the best may in fact be yet to come.”
About the Author:
Wé McDonald is a 19-year-old singer/ songwriter, dancer, actress, and author. She was born in Harlem, New York, and raised in Patterson, New Jersey. McDonald was a finalist on Season 11 of NBC’s The Voice, joining coach Alicia Keys’ team. Since her television debut, Wé McDonald has performed alongside Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Tony Bennett, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Josh Groban, Cee Lo Green, Estelle John Lenten and many more. During her childhood, she was bullied at school, which brought forth the inspiration for her debut children’s book, The Little Girl with the Big Voice. McDonald hopes to be an inspiration to children, letting them know that, when you are bullied, it is not your fault. She currently resides with her parents, sisters, and brother.
About Lightswitch Learning:
Lightswitch Learning is a division of Sussman Education Company, a leader in K-12 digital and print educational resources for over 45 years. Lightswitch Learning’s mission is to provide the most engaging and relevant resources parents and teachers need to help children succeed socially, emotionally, physically, and academically.
To support its mission, Lightswitch Learning publishes inspiring picture books, informational text collections, fiction collections, and bullying prevention programs for students. These titles model positive behaviors that can help students build the self-confidence they need to manage academic and social stresses, while improving literacy skills and subject knowledge. Resources for teachers include professional development materials, companion teacher’s guides, classroom activities, and more. Parents are supported with parent guides created by leading practitioners to provide practical strategies to support their children in today’s complex world. These resources help students build 21st century skills and are available in grade-appropriate bundles for schools and community engagement programs.
Lightswitch Learning donates a portion of the proceeds from their books to a number of non-profit organizations with related social missions, including: pacer.org, nobully.org, reason2smile.org, afroamcivilwar.org and many others.
For more information on Lightswitch Learning and to view the full catalog of books and resources visit www.lightswitchlearning.com.
The Little Girl with the Big Voice will be available via Amazon and through all major retailers on April 24, 2018.
ADVANCE REVIEW COPIES OF THE LITTLE GIRL WITH THE BIG VOICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
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