Maria Volodkevich Saw a Gap in Children’s Books and Built a Brand Around It
Some business ideas begin with a new technology or an emerging trend. Others start by paying attention to an audience that established markets have largely overlooked.
Maria Volodkevich’s publishing company belongs to the latter category.
The Air Force veteran and United States Air Force Academy graduate founded Little Wingmen Press, LLC with a specific readership in mind: military children. Its debut picture book, Operation: Care Package, launched in April 2026 and has now sold more than 500 copies globally.
For an independent children’s title, the growing response has given Volodkevich reason to believe she identified a genuine need.
Seeing the Reader Behind the Market
Military children regularly navigate experiences that are difficult to explain to someone who has never lived them. A parent may deploy. Orders may mean another move. A child who has finally settled into one school may suddenly need to begin again somewhere else.
Yet Volodkevich saw relatively few children’s books placing those experiences at the heart of the story.
“Military kids are little heroes who face deployments, new schools, constant moves, and change. They deserve to see themselves in books too,” she says.
That conviction shaped Operation: Care Package, illustrated by Garry Vaux and published as the first title in the Zooming Zoey & Wingman Willie series.
The goal is not simply to explain military life. Volodkevich wants children to experience stories in which their circumstances feel familiar and their resilience is recognized.
Taking the Book Where Its Readers Are
Little Wingmen Press has approached distribution with the same audience specific thinking.
Along with online sales, the company has built connections through military family events and community partnerships. Eighty books have now been sponsored for military families, and Volodkevich has hosted storytimes at USO North Carolina Fort Bragg and Fort Belvoir.
Plans are underway to expand to additional military bases.
That direct connection matters for a young publishing company. It gives Volodkevich an opportunity to meet the families behind the sales figures and see how children respond to the characters firsthand.
From Niche Publisher to National Visibility
The mission is now earning attention outside publishing.
Volodkevich was selected from thousands of applicants to appear on Operation: CEO, produced by Inside Success TV. The television series, scheduled to air this fall, highlights veteran entrepreneurs making an impact in their industries.
Her selection puts a broader spotlight on a business built around a clearly defined audience.
That specificity may ultimately be one of Little Wingmen Press’s strengths. Volodkevich is not trying to create children’s books for everyone. She knows exactly which children she wants to reach and why their stories belong on the shelf.
Learn More
Learn more about Maria Volodkevich, Little Wingmen Press, and Operation: Care Package at www.zoeyandwillie.com.
Instagram: @zoeyandwillie
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