Many parents want their daughters to find better role models in books than the usual fairy tale princesses, and these books are just the ticket!
The Paper Bag Princess (4.5/5 stars, ages 4 and up, currently priced at $5.79) – From Amazon:
Elizabeth, a beautiful princess, lives in a castle and wears fancy clothes. Just when she is about to marry Prince Ronald, a dragon smashes her castle, burns her clothes with his fiery breath, and prince-naps her dear Ronald. Undaunted and presumably unclad, she dons a large paper bag and sets off to find the dragon and her cherished prince. Once she’s tracked down the rascally reptile, she flatters him into performing all sorts of dragonly stunts that eventually exhaust him, allowing her to rescue Prince Ronald. But what does Prince Not-So-Charming say when he sees her? “You smell like ashes, your hair is all tangled and you are wearing a dirty old paper bag. Come back when you are dressed like a real princess.” (At least he has the courtesy not to mention that the princess’s crown resembles a dying sea anemone.) In any case, let’s just say that Princess Elizabeth and Prince Ronald do not, under any circumstances, live happily ever after. Canadian author Robert Munsch celebrates feisty females everywhere with this popular favorite, and Michael Martchenko’s scratchy, comical, pen-and-ink drawings capture the tongue-in-cheek quality of this read-aloud crowd pleaser. (Ages 4 to 8) —Karin Snelson
Brave Junior Novelization (4.5/5 stars, no age recommendation given by the publisher, currently priced at $3.99) – One Amazon reviewer says:
Fairly accurate rendition of the movie, and I like how they tried to write the words as they should be pronounced. This would be a good bedtime story to read a chapter to your little one each nite before bedtime.
My Name Is Not Isabella (5/5 stars, ages 4 and up, currently priced at $9.34) – From Amazon:
Isabella’s [heroes] include U.S. Astronaut Sally Ride, activist Rosa Parks, and sharpshooter Annie Oakley—but there’s no bigger hero than Isabella’s own mommy!
Join Isabella on an adventure of discovery—and find out how imagining to be these extraordinary women teaches her the importance of being her extraordinary self.
A rollicking read-aloud and terrific “read-to-myself” story, My Name Is Not Isabella is capturing hearts and awards, including:
- Silver ForeWord Book of the Year Award for Picture Books
- Gold Moonbeam Children’s Book Award
- Gold Independent Publisher Book Award
- Amelia Bloomer List
Franny K. Stein: Lunch Walks Among Us (4.5/5 stars, no age recommendation given by the publisher, currently priced at $3.91 or one Audible member credit) – One Amazon Reviewer says:
I am so happy to have found this series of books for my 3rd grade son! …I highly recommend it for your school-age kids.
Franny K. Stein is an unusual little girl. Rather than dollies and horsies and flowers, Franny loves bats and tarantulas and poison ivy. Her lunches were a bit different too! But like other little girls, Franny needs friendship. In order to make friends, Franny experiments with being someone she is not (the stereotypical little girl), but is unhappy. When she is herself, she finds that her new friends like her just as well or better! In the end, we learn that even if friends don’t always like the same things, they can still be friends.