The Paper Bag Princess: The Ultimate Girl Power Picture Book

March is Women’s History Month and it is the perfect time to give a shout out to one of my favorite picture books, The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch. It’s funny and clever, but moreover, it provides the perfect example of girl power! This book was way ahead of its time, too. Books with strong, spunky female characters bucking stereotypes are much more commonplace in 2023, but that was not the case when The Paper Bag Princess was published in 1980.

According to a story on The Official Website of Robert Munsch, the idea for the book came from his wife (very fitting). They were both working in a child care center at the time, and Munsch was telling the children lots of dragon stories. His wife asked him, “How come you always have the prince save the princess? Why can’t the princess save the prince?” And so, The Paper Bag Princess was born!

The book begins, “Elizabeth was a beautiful princess. She lived in a castle and had expensive clothes. She was going to marry a prince named Ronald. Unfortunately, a dragon smashed her castle, burned all her clothes with his fiery breath and carried off Prince Ronald.” After this turn of events, Elizabeth decides to chase the dragon and get Ronald back. However, with all of her clothes burned up, all she can find to wear is a paper bag. No matter, she still bravely confronts the dragon, outsmarts him with her clever tricks, and saves the prince! Very impressive - but that’s not all. Ronald is appalled by Elizabeth’s appearance and paper bag outfit so he turns her away, even though she just saved him from a dragon! Well, Elizabeth was not having that, so she tells Ronald that he is a bum and they don’t get married after all. Now that’s girl power!

I truly think this is the best book ending in the history of books. Perhaps that’s an exaggeration, but I do love it. I love it so much that I recommend this book all the time, give it as gifts, and I have a copy at home for my own daughter. I urge you to read or listen to The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch with the children in your life. I hope they enjoy it as much as I do! Mercer County Library System (mcl.org) has the physical book at several of the branches as well as the eBook, audiobook and movie storybook on hoopla. For more girl power picture books, see my list below. Happy Women’s History Month!

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty

A young aspiring engineer must first conquer her fear of failure.

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty

Ada Twist is a very curious girl who shows perseverance by asking questions and performing experiments to find things out and understand the world.

Sofia Valdez, Future Prez by Andrea Beaty

When her abuelo is injured at the local landfill, second-grader Sofia is determined to transform the dangerous Mount Trashmore into a park, taking on City Hall in the process.

I Will Be Fierce by Bea Birdsong

It's a brand-new day, and a young girl decides to take on the world like a brave explorer heading off on an epic fairytale quest.

Violet the Pilot by Steve Breen

Young Violet's only friend is her dog, Orville, until one of her homemade flying machines takes her to the rescue of a Boy Scout troop in trouble.

Cece Loves Science by Kimberly Derting

Cece, a budding and inquisitive scientist, and her equally curious best friend Isaac conduct experiments to see whether Cece's dog Einstein will eat his vegetables.

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman

Although a classmate says that she cannot play Peter Pan in the school play because she is black, Grace discovers that she can do anything she sets her mind to do.

My Hair is Magic by M.L. Marroquin

This little girl knows her hair is great just as it is. When people ask, "Why is your hair so BIG?" she answers, "Why isn't yours?" Her hair is soft, it protects her, it's both gentle and fierce. While some might worry about how it's different and try to contain it, she gives it the freedom to be so extraordinary it almost has a life of its own.

Dear Girl by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Encourages readers to accept and love themselves as they are and advises them to be confident, curious, adaptable, and willing to speak up.

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

A little girl has a wonderful idea. With the help of her canine assistant, she is going to make the most magnificent thing! She knows just how it will look. She knows just how it will work. But making the most magnificent thing turns out to be harder than she thinks.

Dress Like a Girl by Patricia Toht

Explores the concept of dressing "like a girl," in which girls dress in space suits, police officer uniforms, and laboratory coats to prove that girls can be anything they want to be.

Three Little Vikings by Bethan Woollvin

A mysterious creature is running wild and terrorizing a village of Vikings. Can three little girls uncover the source and put an end to the mayhem?

- by Andrea C., Hickory Corner Branch