I am sick of talking about princesses. I am sick of my daughter talking about how much she loves princesses, but I’m also sick of hearing and reading about parents hating princesses. So when a review copy of The Princess Problemlanded on my desk at work, I rolled my eyes and ignored it for a while.
Princesses aren’t going anywhere however, and neither was this book. When I finally gave it a chance, I was pleasantly surprised. The Princess Problem was more than a rant about how princesses are ruining our daughters. It’s actually a guide to talking to our kids about the media they consume as it relates to princesses. There are discussion questions for movies and ideas for healthy media consumption. It’s a fantastic resource with a practical sensibility. Find out more on the author’s web site.
While I’m on the topic of princesses, I want to recommend a couple of books that will appeal to both princess-loving kids and princess-hating parents:
- The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale is an early chapter book about a princess who is secretly a superhero. My six-year-old daughter was obsessed with this book for months, which is a pretty strong endorsement right there. Definitely a fun pick for the kids who want to dress up in pretty clothes and do the rescuing.
- Princess in Training by Tammy Sauer features a disappointing princess. She’s not very princessy, but those non-princessy interests come in handy when a dragon sneaks in the castle. This picture book is cute and fun.
- Princess Sparkle Heart Gets a Makeover by Josh Schneider has enough pink sparkles on the cover to attract the princess loving kid, but the story isn’t really about princesses. It’s about a girl and her doll and what happens when that doll is attacked by the family dog.
Parents and other people who interact with kids might also be interested in this post on Princess Shaming in which a librarian advises, “Find out what it is about the princess that makes your kid want to read about her and be her; find out what your kid thinks it means to play princess.”
Right on. Instead of hating princesses, let’s think critically about them.