For millions of military families, service often comes with sacrifice that extends far beyond the uniform. Frequent relocations, changing schools, long deployments, and emotional uncertainty shape the childhood experiences of military connected children in ways many civilians rarely see. Yet despite these unique realities, military children remain significantly underrepresented in children’s publishing. Maria Volodkevich, Air Force veteran, U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, and founder of Little Wingmen Press, is working to change that through stories designed specifically for military families.
In April 2026, Maria launched her debut picture book, Operation: Care Package, the first title in the Zooming Zoey & Wingman Willie series. The response quickly revealed an unmet need.
Within its launch period, the book sold more than 300 copies, outperforming the average lifetime sales of many independent picture books and signaling strong demand for stories where military children can finally see themselves represented.
Turning Personal Experience Into Purpose
For Maria, the project is deeply personal.
As both an Air Force veteran and member of the military community, she understands firsthand the emotional realities military families navigate. Constant transitions, uncertainty, and periods of separation can profoundly shape childhood, yet stories reflecting those experiences remain surprisingly scarce.
“Military kids are little heroes who face deployments, new schools, constant moves, and change,” Maria explains. “They deserve to see themselves in books too.”
That belief became the foundation for Little Wingmen Press, a children’s publishing company dedicated to helping military connected children feel seen, understood, and empowered through emotionally meaningful storytelling.
Rather than focusing solely on entertainment, Maria’s books are designed to help children better understand the emotional dimensions of military life while reinforcing resilience, connection, and belonging.
Building Stories Around Representation
The launch of Operation: Care Package reflects a growing recognition across publishing that representation matters not only in identity, but also in life experience.
For military children, everyday realities often look very different from those portrayed in traditional picture books. Long absences from deployed parents, repeated goodbyes, and adapting to unfamiliar environments can shape a child’s emotional world in meaningful ways.
Maria believes storytelling can help bridge those experiences.
Since launch, the book has sold globally, sponsored forty three copies for military families, and expanded its reach through storytime events hosted at organizations including USO North Carolina Fort Bragg and Fort Belvoir, with additional military base partnerships planned.
Illustrator Garry Vaux also played an important role in helping bring the story to life visually, contributing to the series’ approachable and emotionally engaging style.
A Growing Mission Beyond One Book
Looking ahead, Maria plans to continue expanding the Zooming Zoey & Wingman Willie series through Little Wingmen Press, creating more stories that celebrate military children as heroes within their own families.
In a publishing landscape where many military experiences remain overlooked, Maria’s work highlights an important truth: every child deserves to see their story reflected somewhere on the page.
Learn More
To learn more about Maria Volodkevich and Little Wingmen Press, visit:
Zoey & Willie
