positive female models and a good read for 4 year olds

[kattyo]

i read my kids a couple of books a day from shirley hughes and andrew browne to roald dahl (we've just had charlie and the chocolate factory). i feel we've steered well through horrendously gender stereotyped books -but i'd like some more positive female (girl) role models - with girls doing things. cannot abide princess books and will not read htem to my children. like girl stories where the girlsdo not hark on about appearance in any way or wear pink. have adventures etc. chapter books useful as just got into those - and so far just going through roald dahls and that's it.
ta.

You HAVE to get Pippi Longstocking!!!! Absolutely brilliant books - Pippi is fearless, independent, eccentric and so much fun.

me and DD (who's 5) also reading pippi longstocking. She loved 'matilda' but as dd's a bookworm geek already I didn't think the choice of role model was the best

Snap, peggotty - my first thought was Pippi Longstocking too.

Pippi, of course, and Madeline.

Little House in the Big Woods - Laura is a fantastic heroine, and the first book is ideal for 4 y/os
Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf (Catherine Storr)
Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke

And what about My Naughty Little Sister - perhaps not a good role model as such, but she certainly has no truck with 'nice little girl'-ness and does lots of things

Daisy books by Kes Gray.

There's two sorts, the picture books and then some fairly simple 'Daisy and the Trouble with...' chapter books.

Daisy is a very ordinary, modern-day little girl, but there's very little emphasis put on her being a girl, IYSWIM. The sort of adventures she has could happen to an ordinary, modern-day little boy just as easily, she's quite subversive and irrepressible.

When she's a bit older:

Ramona books by Beverly Cleary

Oh I loved Ramona! I can't wait until DD is old enough for those. As well as Paula Danziger, younger Judy Blume etc... Happy days

I was thinking of Pippi Longstocking the other day, but decided as my 4 yr old is about to start school in September, I would leave it for a while. Pippi hates school, and all authority, and I don't really want to sow that seed just yet!

I'm not actually sure I feel the need for my DD to see girls as the heroines yet - she doesn't seem to have differentiated between male and female hero(ine)s in books herself so I suppose I don't want to encourage it. I'm definitely steering clear of all the princess/ fairy crap though.

I think maybe just offering loads of variety is the key. Let her pick what to read from a wide range and then she'll learn to love reading

I loved Harriet the spy, probably for when she's a bit older though.

Katie Morag is just great - the pictures have the same level of detail as Shirley Hughes. Katie lives on a Scottish island with her Mum and Dad who run the Post Office and her little brother and (eventually) a baby sister. There's a lovely subtle rivalry between her two grannies as well. There are quite a few books.

Thanks for starting this thread OP - DD1 will be 5 next week and I'm about to put an Amazon order in.

I second Katie Morag - they are brilliant, and much loved by my 2 sons (3 and 5)

taking note - thanks all

Ella's Big Chance - a lovely picture book telling the Cinderella story but with the twist that Ella jilts the prince to run away with Buttons and set up their own business.

And the Olga da Polga books.

When she's a little older, Nim's Island and Nim at Sea by Wendy Orr. Very cool heroine!

Milly Molly Mandy reinforces typical gender roles but she is not princess/girly/appearance obsessed - she gets out and about and the tales are lovely simple tales of playing with your friends. However, she does wear a pink and white striped dress!

Strangely, given its age, I wouldn't say that there is that much reinforcement of gender roles in Milly Molly Mandy. MMM, little friend Susan and Billy (who is a bit older I think) all seem to enjoy much the same activities.

Takver - I was thinking more about the older generation. I was reading DS one of the stories the other night and Father was out in the fields, Grandfather was at the market and Uncle was doing something else outdoorsy. Mother was baking, Aunty was dusting and Grandma was feeding the birds!

That's very true, hadn't thought of that!