The Inspiration Behind 'Addie B. Strong – I Am So Strong,' by Alyson Flippo

My guest today is children's author Alyson Flippo. In this guest post, Alyson talks about the story behind her adorable picture book, Addie B. Strong – I Am So Strong. She's currently touring the blogosphere with The National Writing for Children Center. Let's give her a warm welcome!

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Guest Post:

On a beautiful spring day, my husband and I strolled our then-one-year-old daughter through an art festival and were struck by a portrait of a simple girl with her arms held high and a smile on her face. Underneath this character were the words “I Am So Strong.” Even in her simplicity, she emitted a strength and character that spoke to us both. On our way home we talked about how we were both more than touched by the sentiment, and as parents of a young girl, identified with the message. After all, what parent wouldn’t want their child to embrace and be empowered by that notion. As the days passed, we couldn’t stop thinking about what we wanted for our own daughter and for young girls everywhere, and how important it is that they believe in themselves as they grow up in a world that presents so many challenges to their sense of self-esteem.


Given my own challenges as a young girl growing up, I was determined to do something to try to make a difference for our young girls of today. With my husband’s encouragement, I began visualizing a way to help our girls focus on their strength and self-worth, instead of more superficial characteristics. And so our character Addie B. Strong was created.
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Title: Addie B. Strong – I Am So Strong
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Author: Alyson Flippo
Publisher: B-Strong, LLC
Purchase link: www.iamsostrong.com; www.bstrongbrand.com; Amazon.com 

Join Addie B. Strong as she embarks on her journey of self-discovery, and learns with a little help from her mom, that it is not what you have or look like but who you are inside that really counts.
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Alyson Flippo is the author of Addie B. Strong – I Am So Strong, released Fall 2013. Ms. Flippo’s book was inspired by the desire to remind each and every reader of their vast potential – the strength that comes from inside.

Given her own challenges as a young girl growing up, she was determined to do something to try to make a difference for our young girls of today.  The story of Addie B. Strong her way of helping our girls focus on their strength and self-worth, instead of more superficial characteristics.  She wants to help inspire our girls to see that they are amazing, not because of how they look but because of what they can do; that the only person they need to impress is themselves; that the sky is not the limit and there is nothing they cannot do.

An only child, Ms. Flippo grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, and graduated from New Jersey’s Ramapo State College with a degree in business administration.  Prior to her writing career, she spent 20 years as a paralegal at several East Coast law firms. She currently lives in South Florida with her husband and children, pursuing her passions which include eating ice cream daily, playing hide-and-seek, and spreading the love along with Addie B. Strong


Comments

Rosi said…
This sounds like a wonderful book, a very important book. Thanks for telling me about it. I will be checking it out.