Frontlist | 7-year-old publishes second book, celebrates success

A 7-year-old girl from Houma published her second book titled, Seasoned with Love. Alyssa McClelland's story in June when she released her first book on Juneteenth at just 6 years old. That book was titled, My Big Curly Fro. She wrote that book, she said, after children at school made fun of her natural hair. Since then, Alyssa's book writing career took off with sales skyrocketing in months. Last time I checked, they were at 2,000. Right, mom? Yeah, we were at right around 2,000 books sold, said Alyssa and her mother, Tamara McClelland. That was just the beginning of this young author's journey. Alyssa turned My Big Curly Fro into a coloring book, and she's been featured in many places. I'm in a magazine! Oh my gosh, she said. She participated in two successful book events and started working on a series about friendship called The Castleberry Girls, which is inspired by her cousins. She does all this while she continues to focus on her first grade studies from home, and while writing her newest book. I wrote 'Seasoned with Love.' It's about a little girl who's cooking and adding different life ingredients, she said. Seasoned with Love is a rhyming book aimed at giving families the chance to dive into the important ingredients of a successful life. Kindness, friendship. We just, right now, during this pandemic, everyone’s emotions are high. So, we think this book is going to help them. It has little reminders to be kind to one another. You know, we’re all afraid. We’re trying to get through it. This is something new for us. We’ve never been through this before. So, just some comfort, McClelland said. Everyone, young or old, should learn these life lessons, Alyssa said. Alyssa said she looks forward to seeing how her new book will uplift families during the pandemic. Source: WDSU