Children’s book for teenagers from Omaha aims to let children know what power they have
OMAHA, Nebraska (Nebraska) — Some call her the preeminent teen Miss Lincoln.
“Thanks to all these experiences, I have definitely grown as a person and stepped outside of my comfort zone, which I think is very important,” said Maggie Wadginsky, Senior Lecturer at Westside.
For others, she is a dancer and even a member of the show choir. But the path of growing up Maggie was not easy.
“I was in a wheelchair and I had a cast from my hip to my toes, so I was practically helpless,” Wadginski said.
When she was only three years old, she and her parents learned that she had a tumor on her hip.
“The day of the surgery came and people came to visit me and I was able to go back to school and I had to re-learn how to walk and it was really hard,” Wajinski said.
Fast forward to today, she is working on the Miss Nebraska Teen pageant in June. Her platform started out as suicide prevention, but she wanted to expand to reach a younger audience.
“Of course I can’t go in and just start talking about ‘these are warning signs,'” Wajinsky said.
That’s when this children’s book for the elderly from Westside came to life.
“I kind of went the other way, delving into the topic of courage and the resilience of things, and that is how I came up with my book Courage is our SUPERPOWER!” Wajinsky said.
It’s about her story, which she started writing in late autumn, and it was professionally illustrated. She applied for a grant through the county.
“I got $500 to print the books, and I ended up printing them at Westside Printing,” Wajinsky said.
Maggie became a writer at the age of 17.
“I just wanted to cry. It was crazy to see a book written by me and something especially unique to me,” Wajinsky said.
She now has 1,000 copies to give away for free.
“I think reading is very important. I remember when I was little, my dad especially always read to me,” Wajinsky said. “I just wanted to find a way for everyone to access my message.”
And remind everyone of the courage and resilience within them.
“I hope everyone learns that they can handle any difficult situation that comes up, whether it be physical or emotional. There is always something inside of you that can help you keep going,” Wajinsky said.
You can get one of its copies. Her book launch tour starts this weekend.
On Saturday she will be at the Dundee Book Company from 10 am to 11 am.
In addition, the tour will include:
- Epic Dance Competition, March 18, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm, at Bellevue East High School.
- McGuigan Arts Academy, April 1, from 9:00 to 10:30.
- Fremont Kiwanis book draw, April 5, from 9:15 to 10:45.
- Westside Lions Club, April 25, 7pm, Pizza West.
- Pop-up event at Rae Rae’s in Countryside Village on April 29 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, immediately after National Superhero Day on April 28.
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