Princesses Wear Sneakers

Heartwarming tale of a princess’ passionate pursuit of her sporting dreams which sends a powerful message to girls about sport from a key early age.

Princess Ellie loves playing sports and wearing her sneakers. She dreams of playing sports in big stadiums and even competing at the Olympics. The only problem is, nobody seems to think that her sporty interests are very princess-like! When disaster strikes the kingdom, Princess Ellie sets out to prove that princesses definitely wear sneakers.

This is the debut novel from Sports Presenter and Women in Sport advocate Sam Squiers. It’s a heartwarming and uplifting tale of Princess Ellie as she sets about to challenge the stereotype of a princess, just like women in sport have challenged the stereotype of an athlete.

The book aims to send powerful messages to little girls about sport from a very early age. It encourages them to not only play sport but to break down barriers and overcome obstacles which may stand in the way as they pursue their dreams. The current boom in women’s sports across all codes is causing the biggest cultural shift ever seen in sport. The publication of the book ties in perfectly with the growing popularity of women’s sports and the desire for mums and dads to inspire their girls to play as well.

About the Author

Sam Squiers is an award-winning Sports Presenter, Journalist and the founder of Women’s Sport platform, Sportette. Sam has worked with Australia’s leading media and sports organisations including Channel 9, NRL, Surfing Australia, Channel 7, Sky News and Triple M. Most recently Sam was the weekend sports presenter and senior sports reporter at Channel Nine Queensland before moving to Sydney late in 2018. Prior to that Sam worked as a Sports Presenter for Sky News and is the current host of Surfing Australia TV. During Sam’s career she’s become a strong advocate for women in sport.

About the Illustrator

Annabel is currently studying for a Bachelor of Communications Degree at University of Technology in Sydney and has completed a certificate in Illustration and Drawing at Open Colleges with a high distinction final mark. Her fine art is stocked in galleries throughout NSW and she has participated in a few group exhibitions. Having spent much of her childhood on a property in rural New South Wales, her passion for painting and drawing animals and quirky characters flourished and continue to inspire her today. When she’s not making a mess in her studio, she loves morning swims on the beach, documentaries and eating too much food with friends.