Self-reliant Princesses: Books For Kids
Every little girl dreams about being a princess, but what kind of princess does she want to be? These books are filled with self-reliant, independent, courageous princesses, not just the traditional princess that waits for a man to save her. So if you don’t love the damsel-in-distress type, or simply want to add in some variety to the princess world, we recommend these books with self-reliant princesses that are proud of who they are and can make things happen.
The Two Princesses of Bamarre - B is for Bookworm -
This story of some not so average princesses is full of adventure, but the main reason I like it is because of the courage, bravery, and love it entails. When one sister gets ill, the other steps out of her comfort zone and stands up to danger in order to help her sister.The Princess Knight - Envious of her brothers who are in training to become knights, young Violetta disguises herself as a boy in order to take part in the big jousting contest in the hopes of showing everyone that she is just as capable.
Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible - Never a conventional princess, Harriet becomes an adventurer after learning she’s cursed to fall into a deep sleep on her twelfth birthday, but after two years of slaying ogres, cliff-diving, and more with her riding quail Mumfrey, things go awry at home and she must seek a prince to set things right.
Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? - Every inquisitive little girl wonders what it is really like to be a genuine princess. At the heart of Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? lives an energetic, spirited, and contemporary child who has lots of important questions for her mom. Do princesses ride tricycles, climb trees, do chores, or have to eat the crusts of their bread? The mother’s voice is timelessly reassuring as she answers her daughter’s questions and advises her that being like a princess has to do with what we are on the inside.
Princess Truly and the Hungry Bunny Problem - Princess Truly, the clever princess with magical hair, is playing outside when she hears a very sad sigh. Ever the curious girl, she decides to investigate and her beloved pug, Sir Noodles, follows her. They soon discover a very sad Lola Little. Lola’s bunny friends are hungry because her garden will not grow any carrots. Princess Truly and Sir Noodles are happy to help her with her hungry bunny problem. This enchanting tale features the delightful and whimsical illustrations of Amariah Rauscher.
Sadie: the Paper Crown Princess - Sadie is a spunky princess-in-training whose big ideas keep getting in the way of her earning her tiara. Her journey takes her from the Princess Academy on an around the world adventure where Sadie learns the meaning of being a real princess. With one last chance to prove herself worthy of a crown, Sadie follows her heart and discovers the beauty of being true to yourself.
Dealing with Dragons - Meet Princess Cimorene—a princess who refustes to be proper. She is everything a princess is not supposed to be: headstrong, tomobyish smart… And bored. So bored that she runs away to live with a dragon. And not just any dragon, but Kazul—one of the most powerful and dangerous dragons arounds. Of course, Cimorene has a way of hooking up with dangerous characters, and soon she’s coping with a witch,a a jinn, a death-dealing talking bird, a stone prince, and some very oily wizards. If this princess ran away to find some excitement, it looks like she’s found plenty! With a new look and new introduction from the author.
Fearless Girls, Wise Women, and Beloved Sisters - Retells more than a hundred folktales form Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East that feature active heroines of all types.
Fanny's Dream - Fanny Agnes is a sturdy farm girl who dreams of marrying a prince, but when her fairy godmother doesn’t show up, she decides on a local farmer instead. Reprint.
Princess Smartypants - Forced by her parents into looking for a husband, Princess Smartypants sets impossible tasks for her suitors to prove their worthiness, but when Prince Swashbuckle succeeds at every task, the Princess turns him into a frog with her kiss. Reprint.
Prince Not-So Charming: Her Royal Slyness - Prince Carlos is on a terrifying mission: to rescue a princess trapped in a tower. Carlos soon discovers that rescuing a damsel in distress requires a damsel who’s actually “in” distress. This princess doesn’t need to be rescued—and she definitely doesn’t need a prince charming.
Princess Cora and the Crocodile - Princess Cora is sick of boring lessons. She’s sick of running in circles around the dungeon gym. She’s sick, sick, sick of taking three baths a day. And her parents won’t let her have a dog. But when she writes to her fairy godmother for help, she doesn’t expect that help to come in the form of a crocodile—a crocodile who does not behave properly. With perfectly paced dry comedy, children’s book luminaries Laura Amy Schlitz and Brian Floca send Princess Cora on a delightful outdoor adventure — climbing trees! getting dirty! having fun! — while her alter ego wreaks utter havoc inside the castle, obliging one pair of royal helicopter parents to reconsider their ways.
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