When we hear "Princess" we all think the same, stereotypical thing, but I wanted to find books that show them in a different way. If you are looking for books that still follow the princess archetype without all the fluffy pink dresses, then look no further.
1. Not All Princesses Dress in Pink by Jane Yolen Heidi E.Y. Stemple
Jane Yolen shows young girls that princesses don't always dress a certain way and this is a picture book that doesn't disappoint. Little girls are taught to love themselves.
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2. Princesses Wear Pants by Savannah Guthrie & Allison Oppenheim
Princess Penelope Pineapple has quite the clothing collection, which includes plenty of dresses, but she also has pants for everything. When the annual Pineapple Ball comes around, she's expected to wear a dress, yet she finds a way to wear what she finds comfortable.
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3. My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis
This is one of my favorite books on this list. We meet Dyson, who wears everything from jeans to a tiara and sparkly dresses. Kilodavis shows us that we should accept everyone without judgment.
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4. The Water Princess by Susan Verde
Set in a small African village, this princess exchanges her crown for a water pot, which helps provide clean drinking water for her people. She wishes there was a way to get the water to her village without having to make this trek every day.
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5. Part Time Princess by Deborah Underwood
Are her princess dreams true or not? By day, she's a typical girl, but at night, in her dreams, she tames fiery dragons and trolls. Then she starts thinking maybe her dreams are real!
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6. The Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch
This is one of my favorite princess books. A dragon destroys everything that Princess Elizabeth has. Instead of giving up, she fights to get back her fiance, wearing nothing but a paper bag.
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7. The Princess and the Giant by Caryl Hart
Jack's giant at the top of the beanstalk can't fall asleep, so Princess Sophia gathers comfort items and climbs up to help him. This clever princess book takes items from famous fairy tales and combines them to create a heartwarming tale.
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8. Ninja Red Riding Hood by Corey Rosen Schwartz
In this can't-look-away story, Little Red arrives at Grandma's with a care package, only to discover a wolf in her bed. After an epic ninja battle, the wolf has learned his lesson. A new twist on the classic story.
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9. This Princess Can by Jane E. Sparrow
This book makes the perfect bedtime story, showing girls that even princesses can be brave. It demonstrates how we can all be resilient and can help with self-esteem as well.
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10. The Princess and the Pig by Jonathon Emmett
Switched at birth, Pigmella and Priscilla live very different daily lives. Priscilla lives a poor, but happy life, whereas Pigmella's is the opposite. Can anything help poor Pigmella?
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11. Olivia and the Fairy Princesses by Ian Falconer
Olivia is done with everything pink and sparkly. This story shows how Olivia wants to lead a unique, independent life.
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12. The Worst Princess by Anna Kemp
Princess Sue is not your average princess. Once she evades her prince, Sue makes some unconventional friends and goes on some adventures on her own.
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13. The Princess and the Dragon by Audrey Wood
Who's the princess and who's the dragon? You'd be surprised when you meet these two lovable characters. These two show that you can't judge a book by its cover.
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14. Princess Peepers by Pam Calvert
After being bullied, Princess Peepers tries to get where she needs to be without them. This book can be used to teach kids so many lessons, from fitting in, to the impact of bullying and acceptance.
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15. The Princess and the Pizza by Mary Jane Auch
In this fractured fairy tale, Princess Paulina tries to do whatever it takes in order to get back to princess-ing, but it doesn't turn out how she expected. With some references to other timeless fairy tales, parents and children will love this one.
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16. The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale
The first book in the series, finds our princess leaving her hot chocolate to fight a blue monster. She leads a life of adventure that she must hide from the Dutchess in order to protect her secret identity.
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17. Eleanor Wyatt, Princess and Pirate by Rachel MacFarlane
Eleanor is a high-spirited young girl who knows how to be herself, and who shows kids that they can be anything. She and her friends have different adventures every day and show how you can have fun through pretend play.
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18. Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle
This little girl has a lot of questions about princesses, however, her mom teaches her that it's what's on the inside that counts. It's a sweet rhyming story, that shows how being a princess is inside your heart.
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19. The Princess and the Frozen Packet of Peas by Tony Wilson
When Prince Henrik is looking for his princess, he tests them by placing a packet of frozen peas under a camping mattress since he is looking for someone out of the ordinary. Eventually, he discovers that his friend Pippa is the perfect match for him. This is a cute spin on The Princess and the Pea.
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20. The Princess and the Pony by Kate Beaton
Princess Pinecone doesn't get the big, strong horse she wanted for her birthday. See what happens in this hilarious tale of a warrior princess.
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21. The Princess and the Warrior by Duncan Tonatiuh
Popoca must defeat Jaguar Claw in order to marry Princess Izta. Jaguar Claw has a plan that could jeopardize this arrangement. Will Popoca win?
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22. Dangerously Ever After by Dashka Slater
Princess Amanita looks for danger, so when Prince Florian gives her roses, she doesn't like them, until she sees their thorns. When she grows her own roses, they don't turn out as expected and Amanita gets mad.
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