She Wants To Be A Dragon Slayer.
|
By Tracy Evans
Once upon a time princesses, fair maidens and damsels in distress ruled the pages of children’s books. But if you’ve been to Barnes and Noble lately mixed among the traditional classics are some kick-ass girl power books. It took a few decades but some publishing companies have finally gotten in touch with reality. Now there’s nothing wrong with a good fairy tale every now and then at bedtime but our kids deserve to know that there’s more to being a girl than sugar, spice and everything nice. Just ask my mom when I was a little girl I used to bop other kids in the head at the playground. Not so nice. Proof that for every girl who dreams of prince charming there’s another who plans to be president or at least the leader of the local playground. |
 |
Like many parents, shortly after my daughter was born I bought and received the typical kid’s books. Now, don’t get me wrong each and every book I read to my daughter no matter what the topic was well worth the read. But after countless stories about prissy little princesses I was sick and tired of reading about girls who only cared about being pretty in pink. I had a hunch I wasn’t the only mom who thought so. I knew I wasn’t alone when I stumbled across the anti-princess list on mommytrackd.com. Hmm, at first I thought, “Sounds hardcore.” But is it? Nope. It’s just honest. Not a preachy author in the bunch. Thoughtful books that celebrate our little girl tots and teens in all their glory: the good, the bad and the ugly. To my surprise there weren’t just one or two books staring spunky girls but a whole slew of clever books just waiting to be discovered by a kid with sticky fingers. So far sixty-seven books on the list and counting. While some of the books are proudly on display at your local bookstore others are best ordered on-line. Now, a word to those who take everything literally: before you jump to any conclusions and send me a letter accusing me of a princess prejudice let me save you from yourself. I have nothing against princesses, tutus, or anything else girly girl. It’s just that there is more to a girl’s life than that and I want to make sure my daughter knows it.
I plan to add each and every book on the list to my daughter’s growing library. Natalia is not even two yet and according to the nanny’s latest count she has precisely 163f books. I’m not kidding. This kid is a bookworm on steroids. I was just as book-crazy at that age but back then my book collection was limited to Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Sleeping Beauty. If it weren’t for Nancy Drew and her latest adventure I might’ve grown up thinking that Walt Disney was in charge of my destiny. Thank goodness my daughter will grow up reading about the hopes, dreams and messes of little girls just like her: Grace For President, Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa , and Princess Pigsty just to name a few. Now, I admit that my toddler doesn’t yet know the difference between a princess and a pirate but when she is old enough to decipher between the two she can read about either one. And if she shows a preference for princesses, so be it. But I confess, I am rooting for the pirate.
These books not only squash stereotypes but open up a whole new world to our kids. And let’s face it the more they know about life now they better off they’ll be when they fly the coop later on. While any book is better than none remember that no matter how much we want to believe in fairy tales: princesses don’t usually live happily every after, the glass slipper doesn’t fit like a Jimmy Choo, and prince charming rarely saves the day. So why not take a chance and introduce your kid to real-life lessons: a third-grader who spends more time in the principal’s office than the classroom (Clementine), a girl who prefers blue to pink (In a Blue Room), or a tween who tackles her parent’s divorce with the help of her dog (Fred Stays With Me)? I sure wish I knew these girls when I was a kid. Thankfully my daughter will.
Tracy Evans is a long-time television producer whose work has appeared on the Travel Channel, FOX, Court TV, Lifetime to name a few. She is currently editing a television script but wishes she were sipping a margarita out by the pool. When she isn’t producing television shows, writing for magazines, or dreaming her life away she is busy chasing 19-month-old Natalia around the house, negotiating parenting chores with her husband (okay, telling him what to do) and trying to stay cool down in steamy Miami.
09.06.08
I have a little princess in my home. Despite the fact that I have never been a girly-girl type and we never intended on introducing her to the Disney or Barbie scene, she has always had an affinity for pretty pink fluffy things and tiaras!Fortunately we have spoken to her about the lessons in the Princess stories and the reality of royal life. We've asked her to remember that being a princess is about the way you behave: kindly to others and animals, sharing the gifts that life has given you, and someday (after college and she has decided where to go to grad school...) maybe finding someone who shares those ideals and will be a good friend, and that will be her Prince. I hope she remembers as she grows up but meanwhile I must go put away a trunk full of princess costumes and tiaras, as the ball is over in her room and lunch is ready, maybe with a goblet of milk and real silver with her mac and cheese!
PS I also work at a library and the anti-princess list will be on my next book request and on display for mom's who are over the Disney princess stories and want to move on. I will try to put together a book list for boys and post it here.
09.06.08
I have a little princess in my home. Despite the fact that I have never been a girly-girl type and we never intended on introducing her to the Disney or Barbie scene, she has always had an affinity for pretty pink fluffy things and tiaras!Fortunately we have spoken to her about the lessons in the Princess stories and the reality of royal life. We've asked her to remember that being a princess is about the way you behave: kindly to others and animals, sharing the gifts that life has given you, and someday (after college and she has decided where to go to grad school...) maybe finding someone who shares those ideals and will be a good friend, and that will be her Prince. I hope she remembers as she grows up but meanwhile I must go put away a trunk full of princess costumes and tiaras, as the ball is over in her room and lunch is ready, maybe with a goblet of milk and real silver with her mac and cheese!
07.02.08
My son is much younger (three and a half), but I have found the book "Love you Forever" to be a great book for boys to teach them about the love and value associated with taking care of both your parents and your children. I would welcome reading suggestions from others as well!
07.02.08
I have a son and daughter and think that some of the anti-princess books would be good for him (but at 8 he is a little sensitive about "girl" things). Maybe we need another list for good books for boys. I'm sure there are a few out there that demonstrate the qualities doyourbest mentioned. I'm sure there are some good father-featured book. Something as simple as "Going on a Bear Hunt" features a Dad spending some silly time with his kids.
Some of my son's favorite stories are ones that I make up for him featuring him as the main character. They usually feature hard work, sacrifice, and dedication (mixed with a few dragons and knights) with ultimate success. Maybe I need to broaden the box for him.
07.02.08
Just throwing it out there...anyone else think possibly part of the reason for such a high divorce rate in this country is because the "princess" thing is stuffed down our throat at such an early age? What man can truly live up to that standard? We are doing the right thing for our daughters by showing them whatelse a girl can be other than the fairy princess.
07.02.08
Stuff like this makes me wish I had a girl. Although, I have to admit, I share stuff like this with my son in the hope that he'll grow up with a healthy respect for women. I have bookmarked the book list...for my son and for all the little girls I know!
07.01.08
This is indeed wonderful! Now if we could just see the same momentum behind books for boys. In addition to all the wonderful adventure books, it would be great to see some books teaching boys emotional intelligence: that the real superheros grow-up to be caring, nurturing fathers who feed babies, take care of them, etc. Girls' books are now representing the entire range of emotions and possibilities. Now boys' books need to do the same.