Princess Books for the 21st Century Child
Many young children are dazzled by the idea of being a princess and they love dressing up in fancy clothes and reading stories about them. Princess stories have come a long way from the classic fairy tales, and Cinderella is not the only option for children who want to read about royalty. Today, the princess can be a hero, a race car driver, or a boy. Here is an inclusive list of princess books that go beyond being rescued by a handsome prince.
The Evil Princess vs. The Brave Knight
by Jennifer L. Holm; illustrated by Matthew Holm
Two young siblings, the Evil Princess and the Brave Knight, confront the truth about their respective reputations as a mischief-making princess and a chivalrous do-gooder.
My Princess Boy: A Mom’s Story About a Young Boy Who Loves to Dress Up
by Cheryl Kilodavis; illustrated by Suzanne DeSimone
Dyson loves pink, sparkly things. Sometimes he wears dresses. Sometimes he wears jeans. He likes to wear his princess tiara, even when climbing trees. He’s a Princess Boy.
A Persian Princess
by Barbara Diamond Goldin; illustrated by Steliyana Doneva
Sephardic Purim traditions take center stage in this sweet story of a girl, and her grandmother, and a Purim play.
The Princess and the Pea
by Rachel Isadora
Determined to find the perfect princess to call his own, an African prince gives all his suitors a special test to see if they are as noble as they say. Will the prince find a girl who proves that she is a real princess by feeling a pea through twenty mattresses and twenty featherbeds.
The Princess and the Pit Stop
by Tom Angleberger; illustrated by Dan Santat
When a Princess learns from her Fairy Godmother that she is in last place in a car race against such fairy tale notables as Humpty Dumpty, the Three Bears, and Rumpelstiltskin, she boldly rebuffs defeat and steps on the gas.
The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes
by Duncan Tonatiuh
A reimagining of one of Mexico's most cherished origin legends follows the experiences of a noble princess and a faithful but humble warrior whose devotion forms the volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuat.
Princess Charming
by Zibby Owens; illustrated by Holly Hatam
Unable to find her “thing,” Princess Charming, who has tried everything from cooking to hip hop, finally finds her time to shine when the castle hosts a superstar for a special event.
Princess Hair
by Sharee Miller
Princesses with curls wear pearls. Princesses with head wraps take long naps. And princesses with teeny-weeny Afros wear teeny-weeny bows. Celebrate different hair shapes, textures, and styles in this self-affirming picture book.
Princess Truly in My Magical, Sparkling Curls
by Kelly Greenawalt; illustrated by Amariah Rauscher
When Princess Truly believes in herself, her curls begin to shine and can magically transport her to the distant past, on an underwater adventure, or to Mars.
Princess Unlimited
by Jacob Sager Weinstein; illustrated by Raissa Figueroa
When a dragon attacks the kingdom and her parents are too preoccupied with sparkly things to help, the ever-resourceful Princess Susan, with the assistance of some friends, puts into motion a delightfully unexpected plan.
The Rapping Princess
by Hannah Lee; illustrated by Allen Fatimaharan
A completely original rhyming picture book that celebrates daring to be different, featuring Shiloh, the rapping princess.
The Water Princess
by Susan Verde; illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
A tale based on the supermodel Georgie Badiel's childhood. A young girl dreams of bringing clean drinking water to her African village as she rises early every morning and makes the long journey to the well, with a heavy pot that she carries on her head.
Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.