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4.38 AVERAGE
4.38 AVERAGE
A great book about a princes who defies gender stereotypes. I thought the message was very subtle and was communicated in a simple and humorous manner. Very enjoyable, it is nice to find a book with a great message that is also very readable, interesting, and understandable to children.
"Elizabeth, you are a mess! You smell like ashes, your hair is all tangled and you are wearing a dirty old paper bag. Come back when you are dressed like a real princess."
"Ronald, your clothes are really pretty and your hair is very neat. You look like a real prince, but you are a bum."
And they didn't get married after all.
"Elizabeth, you are a mess! You smell like ashes, your hair is all tangled and you are wearing a dirty old paper bag. Come back when you are dressed like a real princess."
"Ronald, your clothes are really pretty and your hair is very neat. You look like a real prince, but you are a bum."
And they didn't get married after all.
Such a cute, feminist picture that I’m sure a lot of little girls are gonna appreciate and be inspired. The main character Elizabeth goes on a journey to save her prince from a dragon and she is intelligent, and needs no guy (aka the ungrateful prince) to say how worthy she is or how she must “act” or “appear” as a princess!!!! I love this so much and highly recommend reading it to your little girls!!!!
Turned a classic idea of princess under duress on its head.
Very fun story, loved the ending! Illustrated with unique style, we loved it!
My first and still my favorite feminist book. Every little girl should have a copy of this and read it often. With all the happily ever afters ending with marriage it's great to have one book with a happily ever after with her on very her own, thank you very much.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Paper Bag Princess is a children's book written by Robert Munsch in 1980 which famously flips the gender stereotyping of traditional fairytales on its head. Our princess, Elizabeth, has to rescue the prince who has been captured by the dragon, and ultimately realizes she never needed him in the first place in order to be happy.
The character of Elizabeth is what makes the story charming. We see her in grubby clothing, or lack thereof, throughout, as her castle is burned down and she decides to sport a paper bag. When prince Ronald is taken by the dragon, "Elizabeth decided to chase the dragon and get Ronald back." She is portrayed as very independent from the beginning, and we know she isn't one to mess around. The illustrations show her being very expressive of strong emotion, implying that she isn't afraid to be herself and show what she's feeling.
Considering style and tone, I think the book holds a lot of fun and whimsy while confronting an issue that is actually quite important and could be heavy if viewed from an analytical perspective. The characters aren't drawn naturalistically, so the frumpy paper bag, Elizabeth's frizzy hair, and the dragon's plumes of fiery breath are exaggerated and dramatized enough to be very entertaining. Michael Martchenko, the illustrator, did a great job creating the setting in a way that is very clearly inspired by the fairytale landscapes, buildings, and overall visual style that most of us are accustomed to from exposure to much of it as children. However, the almost sketch-like quality of the illustrations, along with their watercolor-esque coloring, adds an almost casual tone. It feels as though Martchenko has invited us into his art studio; the warmth and friendliness welcomes us from each page.
The character of Elizabeth is what makes the story charming. We see her in grubby clothing, or lack thereof, throughout, as her castle is burned down and she decides to sport a paper bag. When prince Ronald is taken by the dragon, "Elizabeth decided to chase the dragon and get Ronald back." She is portrayed as very independent from the beginning, and we know she isn't one to mess around. The illustrations show her being very expressive of strong emotion, implying that she isn't afraid to be herself and show what she's feeling.
Considering style and tone, I think the book holds a lot of fun and whimsy while confronting an issue that is actually quite important and could be heavy if viewed from an analytical perspective. The characters aren't drawn naturalistically, so the frumpy paper bag, Elizabeth's frizzy hair, and the dragon's plumes of fiery breath are exaggerated and dramatized enough to be very entertaining. Michael Martchenko, the illustrator, did a great job creating the setting in a way that is very clearly inspired by the fairytale landscapes, buildings, and overall visual style that most of us are accustomed to from exposure to much of it as children. However, the almost sketch-like quality of the illustrations, along with their watercolor-esque coloring, adds an almost casual tone. It feels as though Martchenko has invited us into his art studio; the warmth and friendliness welcomes us from each page.
This book feels lovely for any age of young reader, from toddler through independent stages. A large part of the conversation around this book has to do with its feminist perspective. Instead of the princess being saved, she is the one doing the saving. The prince is not a multi-skilled, charismatic hero, but instead a selfish "bum" who is ungrateful when Elizabeth rescues him. It isn't that mockery or slander is the most appropriate way to change narratives (and this story really does not do that in any extreme way), but that a new kind of narrative is needed. While there is much to say about whether simply swapping the traditional gender roles is the best way to bring that new narrative about, it certainly does have its merits. Many young girls simply do not see stories where the princess is capable and doesn't just need to be plucked out of an awful situation by a shining boy. It's important that we think about the messages we are promoting, especially to the children in our communities. It may just change the way a girl views herself and her abilities if she's able to find and relate to a story where a girl can be the hero.
A lovely overview of the history of the writing and publishing process through the lens of a terrific book.
This book was such a nice surprise and everytime I read it the more it grows on me. Love the ending.
