A few years ago, a patron presented my co-worker and I with a unique reader’s advisory situation: her pre-school-aged daughter was obsessed with princesses- particularly the Disney Princesses. While the mom didn’t want to outright deny her daughter the type of books filled with pink lace and willowy females, she wanted to at least present some alternatives. In particular, she wanted books which on their surface would appeal to her tiara-coveting little girl, but still have a progressive and empowering message. Thus the Anti-Princess List.
We first began compiling our list based upon Mommy Trackd’s list. From then, I’ve been adding my own favorites to it. Here are just a few of the titles from my own Anti-Princess List (feel free to add your anti-princess favorites in the comments):
Not One Damsel in Distress: World Folktales for Strong Girls by Jane Yolen
Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke
Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke
Princess Pigsty by Cornelia Funke
The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
Chickerella by Mary Jane Auch
The Princess Tales by Gail Carson Levine
The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
UPDATE: Check out Fuse’s review of Shannon and Dean Hale’s latest, Rapunzel’s Revenge. Although I haven’t read it yet, I have a sneaking suspicion that it would fit in quite nicely on the Anti-Princess List. Out on August 19th.
Princess Bubble would be great for this list!
YAH I READ PRINCESS ACADEMY FIRST ITS KINDA BORING AND THEN ITS GETTING INTEEEERESTING!!!!!! LOL ANYWAYS I LIKE IT
I LOVE princess academy I forgot the girl who’s name started with a K
The main character is Miri- but there is another girl named Katar. Such an awesome book!
I LOVE the paper-bag princess. It’s one of my favorite books.
i d like to add a comment about a series of books about a girl called MOLLY MOON by georgia bying. She is an orphan, not too pretty. She isn’t talented in anything: Or So She Thinks! after arguing with her best friend she discovers a book at the back of the library about hypnotism, and soon finds that she has ‘The Gift’ in hypnotism. Using her powers she travels to New
York, but then things begin to go wrong. This book is aimed at preteens from probably around age 8.
My daughter Clo loves her and cant wait for the fifth book. I highly recommend it as it really boosted her esteem.
hope it helps!! And.
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[...] Google “anti princess” and take a look at the results. There are even Anti-Princess Reading Lists popping up around the [...]