Contemporary Fiction

The Paper Bag Princess, written by Robert Munsch and illustrated by Mark Martchenko, Annick Press, 1980 (original).

Summary - In this modern classic, a dragon attacks the castle, kidnapping Prince Ronald and burning everything down, including all of Princess Elizabeth's clothes. Elizabeth puts on the only thing she can find to cover herself and sets off to find her prince. She outwits the dragon, but when Ronald sees her disheveled appearance, he rejects her. Elizabeth then realizes that looks and fancy clothes cannot make up for a lack of character, and that she is fine on her own.

Review - This is a wonderful feminist alternative to traditional "damsel-in-distress" princess stories, and the strong heroine provides a lesson in independence as well as looking beyond appearances. The story is engaging and humorous, perhaps a bit sophisticated for younger readers, with illustrations in a classic pen and ink style. Recommended for ages 4-8.

Professional Reviews - "...this is no “damsel in distress” story. I fell in love with it because of the strong female lead—she’s clever, resilient, and isn’t afraid to be herself." - Annika Voss, Publishers Weekly

"This work emphasizes the significant but humorously conveyed themes of the importance of politeness, resourcefulness, and not judging others by their appearances." - Nancy Baumann, School Library Journal

The Princess and the Peas, written by Caryl Hart and illustrated by Sarah Warburton, Nosy Crow, 2012, first of a series.

Summary - Lily-Rose refuses to eat peas, and can detect them not matter how her father tries to hide them. The doctor declares she must be a princess and therefore must go live in the palace. At first Lily-Rose find the life of a princess to be grand and wonderful, but she soon learns it has its drawbacks and decides she belong back at home, peas and all.

Review - This cute story inspired by the traditional folktale encourages children to appreciate what they have, and to give peas a chance. Bright, cheery illustrations, a princess-y pink cover and slightly cloying rhyming text make this a very light, fun read. Recommended for ages 3-7.

Professional Review - " this book is so pretty, funny and satisfying that it would be an excellent addition to picture book collections and storytimes anywhere." - Annike Dase, School Librarian

Not All Princesses Dress In Pink, written by Jane Yolen & Heide E. Y. Stemple, illustrated by Anne-Sophie Lanquentin, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2010

Summary - In this story princesses may wear a crown, but they don't have to wear pink gowns and sit on a throne all day. Princesses of all skin and hair colors engage in sports, rambunctious play, fix things, and aren't afraid to get dirty. In the end they all go to the ball wearing whatever they feel most comfortable in.

Review - A nice contrast to the typical prissy, pink princess image, but it would have been nice to have shown one princess is pink to illustrate that while girls don't have to wear pink, they can if they want to. Recommended for ages 4-8.

Professional Review - "Lanquetin's digitally rendered illustrations depict girls of all shapes, sizes and colors; they are mischievous, exuberant, dirty, exhausted, serious and, most of all, authentic. A joyful and much-needed antidote to the precious pink pestilence that has infested picture books aimed at girls." - Kirkus Reviews, starred

The Princess and the Pony, by Kate Beaton, Arthur A. Levine, 2015

Summary - Princess Pinecone lives in a kingdom of warriors, so naturally she wants to be a warrior as well. Instead of typical princess-y things, for her birthday she requests a big, strong, fierce warrior horse. However, what she ends up with is a chubby miniature pony with gas. Still, she is determined to try her best in the big battle. The other warriors are so distracted by the pony's cuteness that they are unable to fight, and all enjoy having a chance to express their softer side.

Review - This is definitely not your typical princess story! The story is very silly, yet charming, with whimsical illustrations reminiscent of comics that are delightfully detailed, and young readers will find something new each time they look at it. Though silly, this story delivers an important lesson, that you don't have to fit into a stereotype and should feel free to express yourself however you like. Another plus, it features a wonderfully diverse cast of characters of all body types and skin tones. Recommended for ages 4-7.

Professional Reviews - "Beaton blurs the boundaries of traditional storytelling, marrying fantasy elements to pop culture with a free-associative swagger. This emerging genre, with its zine-like irreverence and joyful comedy, is hip, modern, and absolutely refreshing. Where else can readers find hipster warriors, anime influences, perfectly placed fart jokes, a hidden ugly-sweater contest, and a skirmish packed with delightful nonsense (llamas! knights! hot dogs! turtle costumes!)--and have it all make such wonderful sense?" - Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"[A] smart, brisk story that tosses aside conventional ideas of what princesses (and ponies) are 'supposed' to be." - Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A highly recommended, charmingly illustrated tale of teamwork and tenderness." - Ashleigh Williams, School Library Journal, starred review

Princess In Training, written by Tami Sauer, illustrated by Joe Berger, HMH Bookd for Young Readers, 2012

Summary - Viola Louise Hassenfeffer is a princess, but she is not prim and proper at all. She likes to do karate, dive into the moat, and skateboard. She decides to enroll in princess camp to learn how to be a proper princess in order to please her parents. She tries, and though she tries her best, she keeps slipping into old habits. She thinks she has failed, but when a dragon crashes the bash, an improper princess is just what is needed to save the day!

Review - This adorable book with comic-inspired illustration strikes the perfect balance between femininity and spunk. The use of the color pink, pretty gowns, and sparkly cover shows that one can be both feminine AND brave and tough. Recommended for ages 4-8.

Professional Review - "Sauer writes with brisk humor, employing action verbs to great effect. Berger, an animator and cartoonist, uses a mix of pencil, wax crayon, brush pen and Photoshop to create art with comic-book flair, complete with panels and exploding fonts. His palette of hot pink, lavender, blue and orange pulsates with energy. And, necessary for any princess outing, a generous dollop of glitter adorns the cover. Princess power saves the day in a humorous antidote to pretty in pink." - Kirkus Reviews

Princess Pigsty, written by Cornelia Funke, illustrated by Kerstin Meyer, Chicken House, 2007

Summary - Princess Isabella is tired of being a princess, with nothing else to do but sit and look pretty while servants do everything for her. She throws her crown in the fish pond and refuses to be a princess anymore. The king thinks to teach her a lesson by ordering her to work as a scullery maid, then in the pigsty, but his plan backfires.

Review - This is a charming tale that shows the downside of being a princess. Cute watercolor illustrations, a bit text-heavy. A great story for encouraging independence, self-sufficiency, and hard work. Recommended for ages 4-8.

Professional Review - "This sweet and amusing tale makes use of bold type that resembles handwriting to emphasize important words such as "boring," "pinched," "stink," and "pigsty." The comical watercolor illustrations are replete with royal reds, golds, and purples. They clearly depict the expressions of the characters in an entertaining and refreshing way. Pair this one with Robert Munsch's The Paper Bag Princess for a storytime about independent-minded royals." - Catherine Callegari, School Library Journal

The Evil Princess vs. The Brave Knight, written by Jennifer Holm, illustrated by Matthew Holm, Random House Books for Young Readers, 2019

Summary - There once was an evil princess and a brave knight who shared a castle, but not peacefully. Finally, the magic mirror has had enough and banishes them to their rooms until they can play nicely and get along.

Review - A clever tongue-in-cheek tale about sibling rivalry disguised as an amusing fairy tale. Anyone with siblings will find it funny and very relatable. Bonus points for diverse characters. The author and illustrator are siblings as well. Recommended for ages 4-8.

Professional Review - "This enjoyable tale, well-illustrated with bright pencil and watercolor cartoon-like illustrations of the siblings getting into mischief, will be a hit where parents need to make quarreling kids see the funny side of their battles.” - Henrietta Verma, School Library Journal

Who Wants To Be A Princess? , written by Bridget Heos, illustrated by Migy, Henry Holt & Company, 2017.

Summary - Fictional princess Beatrice shows the reader a little bit about what life was really like as a medieval princess, and it wasn't all glittery pink glamour and talking mice!

Review - This bright, colorful picture book with charming illustrations using pen, ink, and digital art contrasts the typical princess fantasy with the reality of being a medieval princess in an age-appropriate way. Provides a very charming and engaging dose of reality, and includes author's notes and bibliography. Recommended for ages 4-8.

Professional Review - "...serves as a gentle reminder that while it may be fun to daydream about another life, the reality may not be as enviable. VERDICT Appropriate for most picture book collections, this title adds a much-needed touch of reality to the princess genre” - Alyssa Annico, School Library Journal

Princess Cora and the Crocodile, written by Laura Amy Schlitz, illustrated by Brian Floca, Candlewick Press, 2017

Summary - This is another story of a princess who is tired of being a princess and the mundane routine it entails, and craves some time to herself, to do as she pleases. Her godmother sends her a pet crocodile, who offers to take Cora's place for a day. Hijinks ensue, and Cora learns to speak up for herself, and her parents learn to listen and compromise.

Review - This book bridges the gap between picture books and chapter books, and like several others, shows that being a princess is not all it's cracked up to be. Many find the story funny and charming, but the author's obsession with chewing on butts comes across as a bit awkward, and could be off-putting to some. Recommended for ages 5-8.

Professional Review - "Schlitz’s narrative is incredibly entertaining, with chapters that alternate between chaos at the castle and Cora’s meandering day in the woods and pastures. Featuring Floca’s hysterical full-color artwork, the book is laugh-out-loud funny...The fable is reminiscent of the finest adult-comeuppance collaborations of Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake, with the added bonus that the princess learns to speak up for herself and the grown-ups learn to listen." - Beth Wright Redford, School Library Journal, starred review)

The Princess in Black series, written by Shannon & Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham, Candlewick, 2015

Summary - Princess Magnolia is a very prim and proper princess, complete with pink gown, glass slippers, and a sparkling tiara. But, she has a secret! She is also the tough, nimble, monster-fighting Princess In Black who protects the kingdom from monsters. but will the nosy Duchess Wigtower discover her secret?

Review - This cute and slightly campy series nimbly combines the princess and superhero genres for stories full of adventure, humor, and whimsy. The bright illustrations are very eye-catching and bring the text to life. A delightful alternative to damsels in distress, and a wonderful transitional chapter book. Recommended for ages 5-8.

Professional Review - "The authors of "Rapunzel’s Revenge" and "Calamity Jack," writing here for a slightly younger audience, successfully turn the treacly princess genre on its ear, offering beginning readers a clever, adventurous, and self-reliant heroine who is equally at home in black or pink. Pham’s watercolor-and-ink illustrations, rendered in the style of the Disney classics, effectively contrast Magnolia’s identities and emphasize the text’s humor. Clever details (Duff and his goats eat popcorn on the sidelines as they watch the PIB do her thing) and short manageable sentences make for a promising, and sure to be wildly popular, new series debut." - Kay Weisman, Booklist starred review

The Rescue Princesses series, by Paula Harrison, Scholastic, 2013

Summary - This first book of the series shows how the Princesses meet and become friends, rescuing a baby deer caught in a trap. These princesses enjoy fancy dresses and formal balls, but they also enjoy adventure and are smart, kind, loyal, and compassionate.

Review - This series combines two things guaranteed to attract many young girls: animals and princesses, and provides the next step up from transitional readers with a longer, more detailed story, more text per page, and fewer illustrations, which are simply pen & ink line drawings rather than full color. Fans of the Rainbow Magic and Magic Animal Friends series are sure to love The Rescue Princesses. Recommended for ages 7-10.

Professional Review - "Simple, manga-like line drawings appear on one page per chapter and illustrate the girls in action. Harrison’s first title in a new chapter-book series is sure to charm young girls." - Suanne Rousch, Booklist

Princess Pulverizer series, written by Nancy Krulik, illustrated by Ben, Penguin, 2018

Summary - Princess Serena, who prefers to be called Princess Pulverizer, doesn't want to do princess-y things like sit quietly and have tea parties. She loves action and adventure, which frequently gets her into trouble. She tells her father she doesn't want to be a princess; she wants to be a knight! He finally agrees to let her go to Knight School, after she proves she has what it takes by completing a Quest of Kindness and performing eight good deeds, showing bravery and unselfishness. But this proves more difficult than expected.

Review - Princess Pulverizer is another great option for a beginning chapter book for young readers who love spunky, adventurous female characters and lots of action. Delightful, engaging, and humorous with monochromatic illustrations on many spreads. Recommended for ages 6-9.

Professional Review - "Krulik has introduced a spitfire new heroine with plenty of humor and outrageous shenanigans. Balistreri's illustrations display his animation background and enhance the absurdity factor admirably. VERDICT A strong series opener and a solid choice for those looking to increase their early chapter book holdings." - Amy Nolan, School Library Journal

Mega Princess, written by Kelly Thompson, illustrated by Brianne Drouhard & M. Victoria Robado, Ka-BOOM!, 2017.

Summary - In this graphic novel, Princess Maxine dreams of being a detective, and one day her fairy godmother appears and gifts her with all the powers of all other princesses, and converts her pony's pretend armor into fully-functional hi-tech battle armor. When her little brother goes missing, along with all the other princes, Mega Princess and Mega Pony will solve the case and save the day.

Review - This is a cute story with a hefty dose of girl-power, but it also delivers lessons in following through with your commitments, empathy, and finding ways to express your feelings and solve problems in ways that don't hurt others. The illustrations are vibrant and charming, and bonus points for diversity in having a multi-racial royal family. There is a fair amount of sarcasm and some mild name-calling between Max and her pony Justine, but it serves to show that some friendships take time to form and first impressions are not always right. Recommended for ages 8 and up.

Professional Review - "The settings and characters are imaginatively portrayed with a fluid, animation-influenced style and a fresh voice. This is an updated take on fairy-tale conventions with some valuable modern-day lessons." - School Library Journal, Top Ten Graphic Novels 2017

The Runaway Princess by Johan Troianowski, Random House Graphic, January 21, 2020

Summary - "Adventures await when Robin (bored of princess-ing all the time) embarks on the best adventure of her life--meeting friends along the way as she travels through the magical landscape of her country. But her parents aren't so pleased--and they're coming to find her and bring her back to the castle, no matter how she feels about it!" - Random House

Review - This book has not been released yet, so this librarian was not able to review it, but reviews from Goodreads users who received ARCs indicate this graphic novel has multiple stories and is interactive with puzzles and mazes, which makes it rather unique, so one to watch for. Recommended for ages 8-12.

Reader Reviews - "Bright illustrations that are very detailed. Simplistic text but three separate adventures with complete stories. European feel to the story. Humor and literary references" - Raven Black, Goodreads user, 4/5 star rating.

"A fun adventure story that will surely make you laugh and giggle. The interactive parts of the book were silly and clever. Johan has the beginning of a creative and entertaining series on his hands." - Jessica Hernandez, Goodreads user, 4/5 star rating.