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Children's books

Join in for children's book recommendations.

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:
ValiaH · 19/11/2015 19:03

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

mrsmortis · 20/11/2015 10:20

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?

CMOTDibbler · 20/11/2015 10:25

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

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

tinkerbellvspredator · 20/11/2015 10:28

Take a look at A Mighty Girl site

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.

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.

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.

NoSquirrels · 20/11/2015 10:42

Oh YY chilly, ZOG is fabulous.

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'!

Zippyette · 22/11/2015 19:54

Thanks for suggestions. Will look them up Smile

OP posts:
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!

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.

BikeRunSki · 22/11/2015 21:03

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

BikeRunSki · 22/11/2015 21:07

YYY to Katie Morag

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.

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.

Pico2 · 22/11/2015 21:29

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

firefly78 · 22/11/2015 21:31

just came on to say Emily Brown!

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.

TheWanderingUterus · 22/11/2015 21:48

Pirate Girl
princess Knight

Both by Cornelia Funke

RhinestoneCowgirl · 22/11/2015 21:53

Milly Molly Mandy

There are some Pippi Longstocking picture books by Lauren Child.

TheWanderingUterus · 22/11/2015 21:56

Rosie Revere Engineer

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.

SpikeWithoutASoul · 22/11/2015 22:28

Definitely Emily Brown books!

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