Is 'Princess' a bad word?
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?
Some worry that princesses make 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.
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A new class of princess
"Princess Smartypants" by Babette Cole
Fairy-tale wedding? No thank you. Princess Smartypants finds her own twist on happily ever after.
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, Elizabeth rules the day.
"Not All Princesses Dress in Pink" by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple
Who says tiaras and tree-climbing are mutually exclusive?
"The Princess Knight" by Cornelia Funke
Violet watches her brothers learn to fence, fight and ride horses and asks: Why not me?
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
You know the story, but not this way.
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 without tiaras.
"Grace for President" by Kelly DiPucchio
"'No girl president? Ever?' Grace asked." That historical fact gets Grace off and running.
"Me...Jane" by Patrick McDonnell
Young Jane Goodall chases her dreams of working with animals.
"Rosie Revere, Engineer" by Andrea Beaty
The great-great-grandniece of Rosie the Riveter picks up the power tools.
"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 first day of school.
"Red Knit Cap Girl" by Naoko Stoop
A little girl has a big dream: To meet the moon.