Children's Book Series Highlighting Black Role Models Published

Sudbury, MA resident and entrepreneur Vona Hill’s announced the release of Little Miss Everything, the first installment of her new children’s book series by the same name.

Hill was recently profiled on WCVB-TV Channel 5 Boston’s Chronicle, in the segment “Get Inspired by Little Miss Everything,” in addition to being interviewed on TALKRADIO.NYC. Her recent Kickstarter, to raise funds to self-publish, exceeded its $25,000 goal with over 173 backers. This month, The Peace Institute ordered 200 books to distribute to children in, Netherlands, Nigeria, and Jordan, Yemen, and the United States.

Written and illustrated by Hill, it’s an adventurous story of an ambitious and imaginative young girl named Rashada who is tasked with deciding what she wants to be when she grows up. With the love and support of her family, she embarks on a journey in which she meets ten real-life Black role models who shattered glass ceilings to achieve success including Marcus Samuelson, a world-class chef; Gail Anderson, Michele Washington, and Sylvia Harris—award-winning graphic designers; Bill Lester and Wendell Scott, trail-blazing race car drivers; Cynthia Marshall, a CEO; Michele Roberts an Executive Director; Buffie Purselle, who started several financial services businesses—and singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder. They all inspire her to embrace self-confidence and reach for greatness in whatever career path she chooses.

“There aren't nearly enough books about ambitious little Black girls, and because I was an ambitious little Black girl, myself, I saw the need for this book,” asserts Hill. “I am a life-long learner with an optimistic attitude and an insatiable curiosity. I am self-assured, confident, and have a ‘can-do’ way of looking at every obstacle. I have a brave and risk-taking spirit, and I know my self-worth. And sadly, all of these empowering attributes are often frowned upon, just because I am a woman and just because I am Black. This book inspires that can-do spirit in every child.”

When one hears Hill talk, it’s clear that she herself grew up determined to break society’s limits. Along with a growing set of skills she plans to master, her list of achievements is long: a chemical engineer, business strategist, serial entrepreneur, youth football coach, instructor, graphic designer, journalist, activist, wife, and mother to three boys.

“When children of all races are given Black role models to look up to, Black success can be normalized—and when Black success is normalized—there’s an erosion of systemic inequality,” stated Hill on TALKRADIO.NYC.

And that systemic inequality gets to the heart of what drove Hill to give life to the adventurous little Black girl in Little Miss Everything. In addition to recent book publication, in July Hill launched Black Vanguard Alliance, an organization dedicated to creating a community of Black and non-Black member-allies to formulate and deliver systemic solutions to racism. Rashada’s story forges one path towards the change and equality Hill so strongly believes can be achieved when people work together for a common goal.

Learn more about the launch of Little Miss Everything and discover the inspiration behind the story at littlemisseverything-books.com