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Children's books

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Original poster

Can you recommend books for 3 year old girl with female lead?

53 replies

Zippyette · 19/11/2015 19:01

I want to buy some books for DD for Xmas where lead character is female and a good role model/adventurous/not a princess. Any suggestions?

OP posts:
ThomasRichard · 22/11/2015 22:39

The Paper Bag Princess
Dangerously Ever After
The Most Marvellous Thing

I second The Night Pirates.

MsJuniper · 22/11/2015 22:34

I just bought this for a 4 yr old, slightly wordy for 3 but great fun and good message:

How the Library (Not the Prince) Saved Rapunzel

Knottyknitter · 22/11/2015 22:30

Meg and Mog?
The gruffalos child? Zog?

SpikeWithoutASoul · 22/11/2015 22:28

Definitely Emily Brown books!

Misty9 · 22/11/2015 22:24

I just change the gender of the lead character when I'm reading to my dc (they can't read yet). I also say "daddy" instead of mummy as most nurturing loving characters are written as being the mummy.

TheWanderingUterus · 22/11/2015 21:56

Rosie Revere Engineer

RhinestoneCowgirl · 22/11/2015 21:53

Milly Molly Mandy

There are some Pippi Longstocking picture books by Lauren Child.

TheWanderingUterus · 22/11/2015 21:48

Pirate Girl
princess Knight

Both by Cornelia Funke

vestandknickers · 22/11/2015 21:34

She's three!
Tiger came to Tea, Snail and the Whale, Gruffalo, We're going on a bear hunt. Etc etc.

Good writing and lovely cuddles with bedtime story is all a three year old needs.
You are over thinking this.

firefly78 · 22/11/2015 21:31

just came on to say Emily Brown!

Pico2 · 22/11/2015 21:29

The Emily Brown books are quite nice - she's a strong girl and a problem solver.

ThatsNotMyHouseItIsTooClean · 22/11/2015 21:16

Accidentally on Purpose by Kes Gray & Nick Sharratt is brilliant and whilst Daisy is the opposite of a role model in it, your DD will giggle & learn what not to do.
You Do & Eat Your Peas are also good although possibly better for a slightly older child.

ThatsNotMyHouseItIsTooClean · 22/11/2015 21:12

The Princess & the Peas story is enjoyable & the lead decides being a princess would be very dull.
Dogs don't do ballet & Hippos don't eat pancakes (same author) are both good stories although the lead isn't particularly adventurous.

BikeRunSki · 22/11/2015 21:07

YYY to Katie Morag

BikeRunSki · 22/11/2015 21:03

Matilda? Or is that a bit too old?
Room on the Broom
Goodnight Lulu
Alice in Wonderland

Seawig · 22/11/2015 20:07

The Paperbag Princess is awesome too. Dragon takes the prince she is due to marry and burns down her castle. She outwits him. Rescues prince. Who complains about her wearing a paper bag and being covered in ashes and not looking like a princess anymore. She tells him he looks like a prince, but he is a bum. She doesn't marry him after all.

A Mighty Girl Facebook page recommended it and both DD and DS thought it hilarious.

ThePartyArtist · 22/11/2015 19:56

You must have a look at www.amightygirl.com - great for strong female rolemodel stuff.
Also the Katie Morag books by Mairi Hedderwick!

Original poster
Zippyette · 22/11/2015 19:54

Thanks for suggestions. Will look them up Smile

OP posts:
StormyBlue · 20/11/2015 11:36

Damn, I was coming to say Rosie Revere, Engineer and Princess Smartypants!

It doesn't quite fit your criteria but one to also consider is The Night Pirates, the main character is a boy who meets and goes on an adventure with a crew of 'rough, tough, girl pirates'!

NoSquirrels · 20/11/2015 10:42

Oh YY chilly, ZOG is fabulous.

NoSquirrels · 20/11/2015 10:38

Rosie Revere, Engineer (fab illustrations!)

The Madeline series by Ludwig Bertelmanns is a classic.

Princess Smartypant - I know it's a princess, but she's a feisty kick-ass one!

The Paper Dolls (although it may make you cry) is wonderful.

Tracey Corderoy's Granny series is good ... Hubble Bubble Granny Trouble is the first one, I think.

chillycurtains · 20/11/2015 10:30

Zog - Julia Donalson. Zog is a dragon at dragon school. Female is a princess but she doesn't want to be. She wants to be a doctor and turns down a prince and becomes a doctor at the end of the book. It's a great book with fab illustrations.

mrsmortis · 20/11/2015 10:28

Oh and if you are looking for a book to read to her, have a look at the Sophie books by Dick King Smith. The first one is Sophie's Snail.

tinkerbellvspredator · 20/11/2015 10:28

Take a look at A Mighty Girl site

CMOTDibbler · 20/11/2015 10:27

Oh, and Margaret Mahys 'A busy day for a good grandmother' and 'The man whose mother was a pirate' also vvvv good