Nine-year-old author to read her children’s book at HFC

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London Howard is a 9 year old girl wearing her hair up in a floral dress and denim vest. Next to her picture is the cover of her book "The Princess Who Loves Sports" a princess wearing a gown and holding multiple sports equipment.

The HFC School of Health and Human Services and the Future Teachers Association will welcome children’s author London Howard – who is only 9 years old – on Wednesday, October 9, from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the Berry Auditorium of the Andrew A. Mazzara Administrative Services & Conference Center (ASCC) (Building L on the main campus).

London, who will be accompanied by her mother Crystal Howard, will read from her book, The Princess Who Loves Sports, illustrated by Tooba Imtiaz.

“My book encourages people to follow their dreams and not let others stop you. It encourages people to believe in themselves – even if others don't,” said London, a 4th-grader at Maurice M. Wilde Elementary School in Warren.

The storyline of The Princess Who Loves Sports is that everyone wants Princess London to be a ballerina because she is a princess and a girl. The princess loves sports, however, so she goes on a mission to prove that girls can play sports as well as boys can.

“I was always the only girl playing sports. One day, some boys told me I shouldn't play sports, that I should be a ballerina like other girls. They wouldn't pick me to be on their basketball team. One boy let me play on his team and they saw how good I was. I told my mom I should write a story about it. I asked her if I could be an author like my auntie. I won a writing competition in first grade. I thought, ‘Since I love reading, why not write stories?’” explained London.

Excited about writing

Crystal expressed how proud she is of her daughter.

“It's amazing to see the excitement that London has for writing,” said Crystal. “She was 7 when she came to me and asked if she could publish her book. I told her she could, and that she was not too young. I told her she can do anything she wants.”

HFC Pre-Education Director Dr. Carolyn Casale invited Howard to HFC. London will read her book and then take questions from the audience.

“London is an engaging and gifted young woman. I love that her book promotes strong images of girls that break stereotypes and inspire young people,” said Casale.

This event is free and open to the public. For questions or more information about this event, contact Casale at 313-317-6580 or ccasale@hfcc.edu.