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

[Zippyette]

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?

Ah, you said not a princess- I was going to suggest "The Worst Princess" where she makes friends with a dragon and saves herself. "The pirates next door" has a girl main character who makes friends with the pirates. Not sure of others at the moment

I'd agree with the Worst Princess, my DD(3) loves it. Another good one is The Queens Knickers.

For a strong female lead how about Katie Morag?

The Ahlbergs Happy Families series has some great strong female leads - Ms Cliff the Climber was a particular favourite.

Katie Morag has some great characters - Granny Island is ace, and Katie Morag is adventurous.

In the Harry and the Dinosaurs books, mum, gran and his sister are good role models, and Harry plays football with female friends

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

Take a look at A Mighty Girl site

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.

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.

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.

Oh YY chilly, ZOG is fabulous.

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'!

Thanks for suggestions. Will look them up

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

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.

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

YYY to Katie Morag

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.

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.

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

just came on to say Emily Brown!

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.

Pirate Girl
princess Knight

Both by Cornelia Funke

Milly Molly Mandy

There are some Pippi Longstocking picture books by Lauren Child.

Rosie Revere Engineer

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.

Definitely Emily Brown books!