A Little Girl Power

Ninja Princess

Sometimes it's confusing to be a girl. On one hand we tell them they can be anything they want and the next we're watching our favorite celebrities get torn apart for wearing the wrong dress/shoe combo on the red carpet. I have a 3-year old daughter, soon to be four. Like a lot of little girls her age, she is really into princesses and anything that is pink. Now there is nothing inherently wrong with that, but I just want to make sure that she is getting a message that goes beyond the importance of her appearance and how to walk in sparkly shoes. And let's face it, I'm not royalty and she is not going to grow up to be a princess. Unless she grows up to marry Prince George or succeeds in her current career aspirations of becoming a ninja princess. For this reason, I have picked out some of my favorite girl empowering books.

1) Part-Time Princess by Deborah Underwood-This story turns the tables on the tradition princess story. The princess in this story wears pretty dresses and goes to balls but also finds time to rescue the kingdom from a fire, tames dragons, and befriends trolls.

2) My Name is not Isabella by Jennifer Fosberry-Isabella uses her imagination to become some of the most  remarkable women throughout history. In the process, she learns a little bit about her own strength and courage.

3) Ladybug Girl by David Soman and Jacky Davis-Lulu's older brother tells her that she is too little for him to play with her.  Lulu uses her imagination and goes on a morning of adventures. She realizes that she is definitely not too little after all.

4) I am Rosa Parks and I am Amelia Earhart by Brad Meltzer-Both of these books are part of a series of biographies about ordinary people that changed the world, but they are told in a fun way that is perfect for young children.

5) Red Knit Cap Girl to the Rescue by Naoko Stoop-Red Knit Cap Girl and her forest friends rescue a lost polar bear cub and help him return home.

6) Ninja Red Riding Hood by Corey Rosen Schwartz-This is a modern twist on the story that you know. Red Riding Hood and Granny use their strength and cunning to defeat the big bad wolf. My kids think this one is hilarious and I will admit that I probably laughed a little to hard. Did I mention that Granny does tai chi?

Some resources that I have found for finding a plethora or confidence building books for girls are A Mightly Girl and PBS.

Let me hear from you. What are your favorite girl empowering books?