Female hero books for toddler girl?

[MademoiselleG]

As the title indicates, we are looking for good, feminist books for our dd - I say we, but really dh thinks it's totally ok that she grows up wanting to be a sparkly fairy princess in pink waiting to be rescued by a superhero ( obviously male) who will also save the world ( spew).

I am looking for something that a 2-3 yo could engage with and something that portrays female heroes but doesn't necessarily belittle men either, like some of these books do.

Any suggestions in other European languages (French, German or Spanish) welcome too.

[WaitingForMe]

Watching this thread albeit for toddler DS.

[pebblyshit]

www.amightygirl.com/books

[drspouse]

Also watching!

[sauvignonblacks]

Second vote for //www.amightygirl.com

[sassytheFIRST]

Paper bag princess.

[drspouse]

Meant to say, we don't read or buy hero type books but Julia Donaldson's Singing Mermaid is a good one - the mermaid and her female friend rescue her, based on their own abilities. DS loves walking like a mermaid.

[Nowitscleanugobshite]

I LOVE the paper bag princess too. It's one of the first books I read to my p1 class each year and I explain exactly why Elizabeth is my type of princess!!!

[glenthebattleostrich]

Dd is obsessed with the paper bag princess. Also got her the worst princess for her birthday yesterday but not read it yet.

Zog is good, paper dolls is beautiful and there are some good Dora books. She's an annoying little sod but always off on adventures and dd speaks some Spanish because of Dora.

[LittleBearPad]

Try Zog. Princess Pearl doesn't want to be a princess she wants to be a doctor.

Paper bag princess is also good. Notably when she tells the prince to jog on (not in those words

[Nowitscleanugobshite]

Ronald. You are a toad! And they didn't get married and live happy ever after! Or words to that effect!!! Go princess Elizabeth!!

[Fideline987654321]

Clever Polly and the stupid wolf

[fruitpastille]

Emily Brown books by Cressida Cowell are good. She is adventurous and a good problem solver!

[MademoiselleG]

Some brilliant suggestions there - thank you ! Chuckling already at the thought of princesses who tell princes where to go, refuse to kiss the toad and want to become doctors. Brilliant!
(DH is less impressed...he'll live!)

Might get DD a superhero cape and laser-sabre now.

Is Dora ok then? I just dismissed it as it was pink / sparkly / has irritating theme tune / too much merchandising. Perhaps I'll give it another go...

[CatL]

Definitely Zog. Love it! The gardening pirates also good -gwen the cabin girl earns respect and becomes captain by growing delicious veg for them to eat! Actually, considering how many books I read to 4yo dd,am a bit concerned there aren't more that spring to my mind!
Btw I love Roald Dahl but just read Fantastic Mr Fox as one of dds 1st chapter books and was disappointed in how pathetic Mrs Fox is!

[onceuponatimeintheeast]

The Worst Princess - she makes friends with the dragon who sets fire to the sexist prince's pants, then she and the dragon run off and live happily ever after causing mischief and mayhem.

[Creatureofthenight]

The Daisy books by Kes Gray - think there's one called Super Daisy?

[gamescompendium]

Emily Brown books by Cressida Cowell are good. She is adventurous and a good problem solver!

Agree with this. Madeline is fab (and there's a whole series), as is Handa's Surprise, Katie Morag (another with a whole series), Millie's Marvellous Hat. If not worried about species then the Maisy books by Lucy Cousins, also, Silly Suzy Goose, Simp, Borka, Rosie's Walk. To be very old fashioned I love the Flower Fairies because there are male and female fairies, and I learnt my wild flowers using those books.

There are actually shockingly few picture books with female protagonists, I suspect it's because so many picture books have animal characters and so of course all animals are male . It does at least get better when they get older, lots of children's classics have female leads.

[Ubik1]

Pirate girl - cornelian funke

My girls love it

And when a bit older yes Clever Polly. I rather liked Milly Molly Mandy too

[Ubik1]

Our version of Tge Paper Bag Princess says: "Ronald you are a bum!"

Do we have a different version???

[Ubik1]

And of course Meg in 'Meg and Mog'

[SkiSchoolRun]

Not all Princesses wear pink

My 2.5 yo dd loves the cBeebies Peter Rabbit animation. Lily Bobtail is cool. She's so clever and spunky. (She's Hermione for toddlers!)

[SkiSchoolRun]

We have the bum version of Paperbag too

[Iamnotachewtoy]

I have a book from when I was small called The Practical Princess and Other Liberated Fairy Stories. It's lots of short stories. It's out of print now but you can get it from eBay and other sellers. It was good, but from what I remember the Princes weren't up to much!

[tumbletumble]

Winnie the Witch is fab for that age group.

Try Barbar and the Wully Wully. It's a lovely story and Barbar's daughter has a strong role.