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Children's books

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Original poster

Books with strong girl characters?

65 replies

Flojo99 · 02/02/2015 21:10

I'm trying to find inspiring books for my 2yo daughter. Very few seem to have strong female lead characters - it just seems to be princesses that don't really do anything practical. My son had Bob the Builder and Fireman Sam and loved them, and as well as them being brilliant stories I liked it that he was learning about things he could be when he grew up.

My daughter isn't that interested in princesses and shows a lot more interest in her brother's books. I'm happy to read them to her, but I don't want her to think it's only boys that have strong practical jobs - and I don't want her to think girls can't be at the centre of things.

Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?

OP posts:
NeedaDiscoNap · 02/02/2015 21:12

Have you seen 'The Paper Bag Princess' and 'Rosie Revere, Engineer'? Both are brilliant.

The website 'A Mighty Girl' is good for this - link here

NeedaDiscoNap · 02/02/2015 21:13

Oops! Posted too soon. They have loads of recommendations on the link above, and you can filter according to age/theme etc.

JoanGalt · 02/02/2015 21:18

My DD likes Zog by Julia Donaldson as that has a princess who wants to be a doctor.

She also loves Fireman Sam and thinks Penny is amazing because she is a firefighter and a lifeguard.

Ahchoo · 02/02/2015 21:18

Off the top of my head my 2 yo dd likes Ben and Holly and enjoys reading the books. I'd say Holly is a good, strong, female lead. I'll have a look at dd's book shelf tomorrow and see if there's any others.

Original poster
Flojo99 · 02/02/2015 21:24

Thanks for some great suggestions - however I'm keen to avoid princesses and fairies in favour of stories that involve a real girl with real / aspirational adventures. Agree that Penny in FS is a great character - but the title of the book / show is still 'Fireman Sam'!
The Rosie Revere one sounds promising....anything else out there that might inspire a girl to want to be more than just a fairy or princess when she grows up?

OP posts:
NeedaDiscoNap · 02/02/2015 21:34

The Paper Bag Princess is all about turning stereotypes around in an accessible way - I really would recommend it.

Takver · 02/02/2015 21:57

Katie Morag when she's a bit older - she's fab, and Granny Island is fantastic (and drives a tractor).

Original poster
Flojo99 · 02/02/2015 22:00

Great stuff - please keep the suggestions coming!

OP posts:
WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 02/02/2015 22:01

Maisy Mouse, both my DCs loved her.

bettyboop1970 · 02/02/2015 22:03

Pipi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren for when she gets a bit older.

morethanpotatoprints · 02/02/2015 22:08

Betty beat me to it was going to suggest the same, a bit older though.

My dd liked a book about a girl called katie who tried lots of clothes on and painted herself blue or green.
it was a very sparkly book but Katie rocked.

Ahchoo · 02/02/2015 22:48

What about doc mcstuffin? Show on the disney channel, probably comes in book form too. She's a great character (doctor to her toys).

Ahchoo · 02/02/2015 22:49

My dd also loves the Charlie and Lola books. Lola is adorable, hilarious and very feisty!

Nyborg · 02/02/2015 22:54

If you're on Facebook, find the group "A Mighty Girl". Just what you're looking for.

fizzycolagurlie · 03/02/2015 00:49

ELOISE!!... Granted she is living the privileged life in a Park Avenue hotel - but she is hilarious and so are her adventures - adventures born from neglect and loneliness, but your daughter won't know that for a very long time.

catsofa · 03/02/2015 03:32

Try books called "Hello Aurora!" and "Aurora and the Little Blue Car", by Cath-Anne Vestly. They're lovely books, very well written, about a little girl whose mum goes out to work while her father stays home to take care of her and her brother.

catsofa · 03/02/2015 03:32

Was also goint to suggest Pippi Longstocking, those books are brilliant!

Arsenic · 03/02/2015 03:51

Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf in a year or two (my all time favourite Grin )

Takver · 03/02/2015 18:48

Agree, once she gets a bit older there's loads of choice - def. Clever Polly, and then I'd add the Sophie stories by Dick King Smith.

IIRC Maisy Mouse is pretty cool for little ones.

Original poster
Flojo99 · 03/02/2015 21:12

Thanks for all these suggestions - some great ideas though my DD will have to wait a year or two before she can enjoy some of them! I've found this book on Amazon - it looks quite new and gets good reviews.
www.amazon.co.uk/Tara-Binns-Eagle-Eyed-Pilot-1/dp/0993008208/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422997863&sr=8-1&keywords=tara+binns
It looks like there will be a series of them - has anyone read it?

OP posts:
BlueChampagne · 03/02/2015 21:47

Another one for the future I'm afraid: Sophie and the Shadow Woods

BlueChampagne · 03/02/2015 21:50

Octonauts or Chuggington stories? Fairly gender balanced.

avocadogreen · 03/02/2015 22:00

The Night Pirates is fab- about a gang of girl pirates who let a boy come on their adventure Smile Others off the top of my head...

Meg and Mog
Winnie the Witch
Madeline (gorgeous stories and pictures too!)
Tilly and friends
Pip and Posy (I think one is a boy and one is a girl?)
Ingenious Jean
Charlie and Lola
Lulu's shoes /Lulu's food (I think there might be a few more Lulu books too)

And another vote for Maisy, my DD was obsesded with her at that age!

KERALA1 · 03/02/2015 22:03

Dora the explorer not bad for littilies. Loads when's older my 8 year old adores pippi long stocking, laura ingalls wilder and goth girl

TenMinutesEarly · 03/02/2015 22:06

Emily Brown is great and takes on heads of state. I seem to remember there being a few books.

Agree with the posters who said Charlie and Lola and Pippi long stocking. Dd also loves Matilda (as does ds)