Zaila Avant-garde is a multitalented powerhouse. Hailing from New Orleans, she won the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee, making her the first African American winner in the competition’s almost one-hundred-year history. She was named SportsKid of the Year 2021 by Sports Illustrated Kids. Zaila also holds two Guinness World Records for her basketball skills. Her success has been celebrated by the likes of Barack and Michelle Obama, LeBron James, and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. It’s Not Bragging if It’s True is her debut novel, and Words of Wonder from Z to A is her first picture book.
