Adventurous Princesses

Think your princess-loving girl needs a more well-rounded role model in her reading? Fear not! Not all princesses laze around the castle in a tiara. The princesses in these books break the mold, seek adventure, take action, stand up for themselves, have fun, and don't need a prince to rescue them. To find more take-charge girls, check out our Books with Strong Female Characters and Stories of Extraordinary Women.

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Interstellar Cinderella Poster Image
BOOK

Interstellar Cinderella

age 3+

Cinderella is spunky, resourceful in fresh space tale.

By: Deborah Underwood (2015)
Olivia and the Fairy Princesses Poster Image
BOOK

Olivia and the Fairy Princesses

age 3+

A good-humored identity crisis makes this one a royal hoot.

By: Ian Falconer (2012)
Princesses Wear Pants Poster Image
BOOK

Princesses Wear Pants

age 3+

Spunky tale of active princess dressed to get the job done.

The Paper Princess Poster Image
BOOK

The Paper Princess

age 4+

Gorgeously illustrated adventure fosters imagination.

By: Elisa Kleven (1998)
The Paper Bag Princess Poster Image
BOOK

The Paper Bag Princess

age 4+

Spirited princess saves self in girl-power classic.

By: Robert Munsch (1980)
Part-time Princess Poster Image
BOOK

Part-time Princess

age 4+

Regular girl turns princess at night in delightful fantasy.

By: Deborah Underwood (2013)
Princess Grace Poster Image
BOOK

Princess Grace

age 4+

Princesses shine more than their tiaras in refreshing tale.

By: Mary Hoffman (2008)
Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated Poster Image
BOOK

Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated

age 4+

Warm-hearted, beautifully illustrated flight of fancy.

The Princess and the Pony Poster Image
BOOK

The Princess and the Pony

age 4+

Silly, sweet princess tale is an offbeat delight.

By: Kate Beaton (2015)
Princess Cupcake Jones and the Missing Tutu: Princess Cupcake Jones, Book 1 Poster Image
BOOK

Princess Cupcake Jones and the Missing Tutu: Princess Cupcake Jones, Book 1

age 4+

Delightful responsibility tale avoids princess stereotypes.

By: Ylleya Fields (2013)
Princess Smartypants Poster Image
BOOK

Princess Smartypants

age 4+

A high-spirited tale full of humor.

By: Babette Cole (1986)
Princess Hair Poster Image
BOOK

Princess Hair

age 5+

Jubilant celebration of girls' hairstyles, hair textures.

By: Sharee Miller (2017)
The Princess in Black Poster Image
BOOK

The Princess in Black

age 5+

Fun tale of monster-fighting princess who leads double life.

By: Shannon Hale , Dean Hale (2014)
Princess Pulverizer Series Poster Image
BOOK

Princess Pulverizer Series

age 6+

Atypical princess story is spirited, funny, full of burps.

By: Nancy Krulik (2018)
The Rescue Princesses Series Poster Image
BOOK

The Rescue Princesses Series

age 6+

Four princesses save animals using brains and bravery.

By: Paula Harrison (2012)
Giants Beware! Poster Image
BOOK

Giants Beware!

age 7+

Fabulous medieval fairy tale with mighty girl heroine.

By: Jorge Aguirre (2012)
Buckle and Squash: The Perilous Princess Plot, Book 1 Poster Image
BOOK

Buckle and Squash: The Perilous Princess Plot, Book 1

age 8+

Uproarious princess adventure is clever, sarcastic, zany.

By: Sarah Courtauld (2015)
Cinderella Liberator Poster Image
BOOK

Cinderella Liberator

age 8+

Fresh take on classic tale boosts being true, free self.

By: Rebecca Solnit (2019)
Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible Poster Image
BOOK

Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible

age 8+

Sassy, quippy graphic novel shreds princess conventions.

By: Ursula Vernon (2015)
Handbook for Dragon Slayers Poster Image
BOOK

Handbook for Dragon Slayers

age 8+

Exciting medieval adventure with brave teens and dragons.

By: Merrie Haskell (2013)