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For parents of young girls, it's hard to escape the avalanche of princess products. Princess-themed toys, books and clothing can bury you in an overwhelming wash of hot-pink gender stereotyping.

And so arises the Great Princess Debate: Are princesses harmless fairy tale characters? Or do stories about them paint women as weak and superficial? 

poor role models for little girls just beginning to navigate the world

: They're beautiful creatures always in need of saving. Others argue that a little fantasy never hurt anyone.

But there's a third side in this debate: Princesses are what you make them. There's no end to stories starring helpless heroines, but more and more writers are fashioning princesses who value bravery over ball gowns.

Fairy-tale wedding? No thank you. Princess Smartypants 

For another spin on classic Grimm, Cole's "Prince Cinders" is similarly entertaining.

 "The Paper Bag Princess" by Robert Munsch

Clothes do not make the girl. Even if she's wearing nothing but a paper bag, 

 "Not All Princesses Dress in Pink" by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple

 learn to fence, fight and ride horses and asks: 

Funke also flips the princess story on its head in her book "Princess Pigsty," when Isabella finds herself happier with the pigs than in the castle.

 "Sleeping Bobby" by Mary Pope Osborne and Will Osborne

The Osbornes pull a similar switcheroo in "Kate and the Beanstalk."

Empowering books with no princesses in sight

Of course, there are more ways for girls to exercise their power than by royal birthright. These charming children's books feature a class of spirited heroines 

"'No girl president? Ever?' Grace asked." That historical fact gets Grace 

The great-great-grandniece of Rosie the Riveter 

"Edda: A Little Valkyrie's First Day of School" by Adam Auerbach

Edda is an ancient Norse goddess who battles dragons, but she's about to face her 

Arts and Culture

The Thread® - Books and Literary News

Tracy Mumford

Author

Are princesses harmless fairy tale characters? Or do stories about them paint women as weak and superficial?

Is 'Princess' a bad word?

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