Flip the script: Local author pens book teaching kids how to overcome labels

By Robin Gibson / Author Image courtesy of Tina Leu

Drawing on her 18 years of wrangling five wildly different personalities combined with her own journey as a biracial kid with boundless energy, McKenzie flips the script on 26 common labels, helping kids own their quirks and build confidence that lasts.

Parents, teachers and kiddos, get ready to rip up the rulebook on labels. A local author's book slated to drop in September reveals why. From “bossy” to “zany,” Alicia McKenzie’s brand‑new ABC guide isn’t your grandma’s alphabet primer. It’s a full‑color, fiercely uplifting playbook that teaches kids to turn every put‑down into a power‑up.

We live in a world quick to stick us in boxes: “picky,” “stubborn,” “shy.” But what if you could grab those words, remix them, and make them yours? Drawing on her 18 years of wrangling five wildly different personalities combined with her own journey as a biracial kid with boundless energy, McKenzie flips the script on 26 common labels, helping kids own their quirks and build confidence that lasts.

Thanks to Sarah DeMonteverde’s vibrant, full‑color illustrations, each letter leaps off the page. In it, you’ll find empowering descriptors that could be damaging if not reframed in a positive light.

For example, the letter "H" represents a child who might be labeled as hyperactive, whereas the book describes it as "Jumping, running, dancing, always in the groove... Exploring the world around me makes me feel alive." Further down the alphabet, you see where "L" meant for to infer laziness, instead, tees it up as, "Rest leads to new growth, and for that, I am glad." In other words, nothing to feel ashamed or embarrassed by. All good.

Parents, here’s the deal: those “negative” labels your kid hears? They don’t have to stick. THESE ABCs BELONG TO ME! hands kids the power to reclaim their narrative and celebrate what makes them unique.

“A label is just someone else’s word,” says McKenzie. “My mission? Teach parents how to help kids turn that word into their own superpower.”

A former USAW and CrossFit competitor turned real‑estate investor and wellness coach, McKenzie knows a thing or two about physical and emotional strength. As the mother of Ava, Makayla, Maddox, Maverick, and Maya, she’s learned firsthand how to nurture wildly different kids under one roof. Through her blog LiftLikeAMother, podcast Married to the Start‑up, and the women’s network NextChapterHer, she’s built a reputation for practical, evidence‑based approaches to holistic health. Now, she’s bringing that same energy to young readers everywhere.

Release details

• Publisher: The Collective Book Studio

• On Sale: September 30, 2025

• Format & Price: $18.95 Hardcover

• ISBN: 978‑1‑68555‑799‑7

Get ready to rewrite the ABCs along with your child’s story. These aren’t just letters; they’re the keys to a more confident, self‑defined generation.