Local author writes about ‘Real Princesses’
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MARQUETTE -- Princesses don't have to wear crowns to carry that title.
That was a main takeaway local author Carrie Pearson wanted youngsters to understand during a tea party and book signing on Sunday at Donckers and Evergreen Market in downtown Marquette.
Pearson, author of "Stretch to the Sun: From a Tiny Sprout to the Tallest Tree on Earth" and other books, has a new book out titled "Real Princesses Change the World." Illustrated by Dung Ho, "Real Princesses" contains biographies of 11 diverse real-life princesses throughout the world, ranging from a lawyer to an Olympic swimmer to a businesswoman.
Pearson stressed that they're not caricatures of princesses, but accomplished human beings.
"These princesses exist, and they live all around the world -- and they're doing great things for the world, and so I wanted to highlight them and shift that narrative a little bit," Pearson said.
One of the princesses in the book is Keisha Bolden, who was born in California but married Prince Adekunle Adebayo Omilana of Nigeria. Bolden still models and acts, but according to the book, is a public speaker, educator and business owner.
"Through her self-created business, A Crown of Curls, Princess Keisha teaches parents how to care for their children's hair -- especially if it is a different texture or type than their own," the book reads.
Pearson interacted with the youngsters and their families during the Saturday event.
"What does a princess look like?" she asked.
Pearson received a variety of answers, including "a golden crown" and someone who has wands.
"Those kind of princesses are pretend princesses," she told the audience. "So, they're in our storybooks and our movies sometimes. But did you know that there are real princesses around the world, that are real people just like we are?"
A little bit of imagination, she said, is OK.
"Even though it's fun to pretend and play, which I love to do too, it's also important to know about real people doing real important things around the world," Pearson said.
She also asked the youngsters what they would do if they were a real princess. One boy said he would be a prince, although he agreed that he would think of a problem he might want to solve.
Another girl wanted to be a queen.
"That'd be good," Pearson said. "You might have more ability to make more change if you were a queen."
For more information on this book and Pearson's other books, visit https://carriepearsonbooks.com/ .