“My volunteer work with children inspired me to write this book,” says Katie Kornfield ’98 of her new children’s book, One Sweet Princess (2005, Berryville Press), which was illustrated by Howard Anderson ’71.
For the last three years, Kornfield, a communication major at SCU, has volunteered at Loyola High School in Los Angeles, where 2004 Ignatian Award Winner Kathy (Habing) Anderson ’72 leads a literacy program for disadvantaged children that helps prepare them for the Catholic high school entrance exams. “My close relationship with Kathy led to meeting her talented husband, Howard,” says Kornfield. “ The most fun part of the whole process was seeing Howard’s artistic creation of Princess Sarah. It was exactly how I had pictured her,” she adds.
“It is my hope that when children read this book or when parents read it to their children, they learn that loyalty and reaching out to help others is what matters most in life.”
—KATIE KORNFIELD ’98
In the charming rhymed story, Princess Sarah’s father, King William, is eager for Sarah to choose a husband. She can’t decide, so her father creates a test for all the hopefuls. The book ends with an important lesson. “It is my hope that when children read this book or when parents read it to their children, they learn that loyalty and reaching out to help others is what matters most in life,” explains Kornfield. For more information, see www.onesweetprincess.com.
Storytelling is an important part of Kornfield’s life. Through the Endeavor Foundation, Kornfield works as the head mentor and talent recruiter for the Young Storytellers Program (www.youngstorytellers.com), which pairs creative professionals with elementary school children to help foster the children’s self-esteem through the art of storytelling.
Kornfield is also an accomplished singles figure skater, and she has performed in the renowned Sun Valley Ice Shows in Sun Valley, Idaho. Her next goal is a gold medal in ice dancing from the United States Figure Skating Association.