Kids books, and so on...

Great recommendations for more feminist children's books. I did a short research paper on children's books and fairy tales for a literature class, and it's actually rather frightening how the gender stereotypes play out in these stories. Boys are almost always active, while girls are passive, etc. Kids books from an early age teach girls (and boys) that women are meant to be in a supportive role to men or invisible. This is not a message we should be sending to our kids, but at the same time, reading to them is extremely important.
I will definately check out the books. Thanks!

Ok those were picture books and BTW when I looked them up on amazon to verify authors names I saw that princess smartypants has come out with a sequeal.  I haven't read it yet so I don't know about that one.

But here is a series of young readers I read to my son and daughter:

(the Enchanted Forest chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede)

• Dealing With Dragons
• Searching For Dragons
• Calling on Dragons
• Talking to Dragons

The main girl is a princess who runs away from home because she wants to learn more than decourum and how to look pretty.

The other I must recommend is a young adult seriesand admit they will hook you adults to is the :

Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce

       • Alanna: The first adventure
       • In the Hand of the Goddess
       • Women Who Rides like a Man
       • Lioness Rampant
The main character in this series pretends to be her twin brother and goes to learn to become a knight.

Sorry I have a serious book addiction

Petronella by Jay Williams is a good one for younger kids.  It's a complete reversal of the traditional fairy tale--*she* goes out to find a prince to rescue!


Peace and Blessings,
Suzy

heehee, i was telling my mom we were already reading to amma even though she's little, and described the paper bag princess. my mom said "they make childrens books diferently nowadays" or something to that effect. not snotty, just commenting on things changing...it was cute. damn right they do, or i'll write a few myself! that book is awesome!

Yay Im so glad you like it!!!

How funny... I have "The Paperbag Princess" and "Princess Smartypants" LOL  I love them both :)

Also, we read Feminist Fairy Tales (traditional fairy tales rewritten to make the girls strong and powerful).  I have to admit that they can get female chauvinist pig-ish, so pre-read, but some of them are very good, AND you can get some good ideas about how to twist up traditional fairy tales to just tell them to your kids without the chauvinist parts :)  My favorite is Snow Night.  They are good for adults or children of various ages.

Quoting RadicalMama:

How funny... I have "The Paperbag Princess" and "Princess Smartypants" LOL  I love them both :)

Also, we read Feminist Fairy Tales (traditional fairy tales rewritten to make the girls strong and powerful).  I have to admit that they can get female chauvinist pig-ish, so pre-read, but some of them are very good, AND you can get some good ideas about how to twist up traditional fairy tales to just tell them to your kids without the chauvinist parts :)  My favorite is Snow Night.  They are good for adults or children of various ages.

That sounds great! I have to check it out! 


WWWTuffAsSnails.etsy.com

Try the ordinary princess. A friend of mine suggested it.

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman is a favorite of mine!  I bought it for all of my nieces.   This site is a great resource for children and adolescent books with a feminist bent:


www.heartless-bitches.com/culture/kidsbooks.shtml

Thanks for all these suggestions! I'm expecting my first baby in August, but I'm already starting up a little library for the little one. I'm probably going to start reading to my belly baby soon with all of these choices! :)