Welcome to our latest blog post, where we shine the spotlight on an incredible young talent and her supportive family!
We’re thrilled to introduce you to Alayah Jenkins, a remarkable 9-year-old author whose boundless imagination and creativity have brought her characters to life in a way that’s capturing hearts everywhere. Alongside her mother, Ashlee Jenkins, Alayah has transformed her everyday experiences into exciting adventures through her book series, The Little Agent.
In this blog, we’re exploring Alayah’s impressive achievement of becoming a published author at such a young age. Her animated stories, which feature her adventurous alter ego LayJ, also known as Agent 3, her mom, also known as Agent 11, twin brother and sister “The Letter Twins,” and dad, known as Agent 10, are now part of the Playwatch Kids collection and are available on the JASON Digital Platform.
These engaging stories not only entertain but also impart valuable life lessons and encourage children to navigate their own challenges with resilience and good character. Join us as we explore Alayah’s creative process, the support of her family, and what makes The Little Agent a unique addition to our educational content.
Alayah’s Journey as a Young Author
Q: Alayah, what inspired you to start writing your own stories?
“I was being bullied in school, and I wanted a positive way to get my feelings out because I was having a bunch of them at that time. So, my positive way was writing… I find the experience I think is the most important, and then I write about that certain one.”
Alayah began writing her own stories as a positive outlet during a difficult time when she was being bullied at school. Writing allowed her to express her emotions constructively. She started by sharing her stories with her mother, who recognized the talent and potential in her work, leading to the creation of a publishing company, SRIES Collective Inc. Alayah draws inspiration from her personal experiences, focusing on what she believes is most important and turning those moments into stories.
Q: Can you tell us more about LayJ and how she reflects your personality?
“LayJ represents me because she’s like a cool kid, and I think that I’m a cool kid… She shows resiliency by keeping up. She keeps on bouncing back from the Itchy Monster, and she always battles him, and she just gets through it.”
LayJ, the character created by Alayah, loves going on adventures with family and friends and enjoys having fun. LayJ embodies qualities that Alayah values, such as having a “lionheart” and showing resilience. One example of this resilience is how LayJ continuously battles and overcomes challenges like cavities and bullying, always bouncing back no matter what.
Q: What is it like working together on Little Agent?
Alayah: “It’s fun getting to see everything come together and getting to see all these amazing people and their stories… it’s like a dream come true.”
Ashlee: “It’s a lot of work, but it doesn’t feel like work because we enjoy it so much… It’s been awesome. We enjoy recording together, and it’s just a fun experience.”
Ashlee, her mother, also shared that as Alayah gets older, she’s becoming more hands-on with the project, making the experience even more rewarding and enjoyable for both of them.
Q: What do you hope other kids will learn from Little Agent LayJ?
“I hope that they learned that being a bully isn’t a nice thing and that they’re not alone in the world… I hope that adults learn that this is very important to children and that they learn themselves not to be a bully.”
Q: How does it feel to see your stories and animations on the JASON Learning platform?
“It’s amazing and super cool getting to see my animations and stories on another platform… other than my bedroom.”
Q: Do you have any new adventures planned for Lay J?
“I have several more adventures planned, ranging from birthday party bashes to family reunion fun and stinky shirts.”
As we wrap up our spotlight on Alayah Jenkins and her captivating series, The Little Agent, it’s clear that her journey embodies the very essence of JASON Learning’s mission. Alayah’s ability to transform everyday experiences into imaginative missions not only showcases her creativity but also aligns perfectly with our goal of inspiring and educating young learners from all backgrounds. Her stories encourage kids to explore their world, tackle challenges with courage, and develop a strong sense of character—all key values we strive to foster through our programs.
We invite you to dive into the adventures of LayJ and experience the joy and lessons embedded in each story. Explore the Playwatch Kids collection on the JASON Learning Digital Platform to see Alayah’s animated tales in action. Learn more here: https://jason.org/playwatch-kids/.
