Modern fairytale for toddlers

[surreygirl1987]

I have a 1 year old and a 3 year old. My 3 year old has recently really got into fairytale and asks for them all the time. However, despite being somewhat modernised, they're still the same stories with traditional gender stereotypes that I was fed as a child. Women's sole role is to marry a handsome prince etc. I really hate the princess and the frog, and the princess and the pea and I hate that I'm giving my two little boys these messages. Does anyone know of a fairytale collection (like the usborne fairytale books) that are the right level for a 3 year old to enjoy, but which aren't problematic in terms of gender portrayal? Many thanks, Charlotte

The illustrations in this one are gorgeous.

How about Goodnight stories for rebel girls?

Have a look at konnie huqs fearless fairytales. My son loves it.

@Palavah

“Goodnight stories for rebel girls”? For a little boy?
This is what people complaining about when they’re talking about “wokeness” etc.

All the stories about princesses which aren’t “problematic” are probably going to be directed at girls and have arse kicking empowered princess who don’t need no prince etc. - your little boys are unlikely to be interested in them.

If it bothers you so much why read fairytales at all? Surely there are other stories and books aside from grimms fairy tales and Hans Christian Andersen? Why would you think little boys are interested in Princess stories anyway? That’s a little girl thing. Boys are more likely to be interested in stories about pirates, outlaws, cars, trucks or cute animals. Basically some kind of very child friendly and safe adventure.

I’m not up to date but surely some abridged Paddington, something about animals or the like would be fine?

The main stories my little boy loved (when he was little) were about pirate teddy bears and Grandma and the Pirates and there wasn’t a princess in site in either of them.

*princess in sight

If it bothers you so much why read fairytales at all? Surely there are other stories and books aside from grimms fairy tales and Hans Christian Andersen? Why would you think little boys are interested in Princess stories anyway? That’s a little girl thing.

She very clearly says that her little boy is interested already in fairy tales and princess stories, she just wants better ones for him. My little boy is the same age and hasn't yet realised that some books and themes are 'supposed' to be for girls and I'd like to keep it that way for as long as possible.

How about the Ickabog? It’s a modern fairy tale.

My son loved fairytales when he was a little younger, including the ones about princesses. He also loved/loves stories about pirates, fighting and adventure. I didn’t know boys weren’t meant to read fairytales

I've just bought this for my 2yo for Xmas, I've had a flick through and I think it's great.

Little Red https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1447291409/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabcST1FP73C2BVJRJXRH1EK??encoding=UTF8&psc=1

@HardbackWriter

Fine, but it is unusual for little boys to care about princess stories so are these just the stories the OP wants to read or actually what he wants? And if he is genuinely enjoying the princess stories as they are why would you assume he would enjoy totally different ones?
Those old stories have been around for so long because they appeal to kids - there’s no good reason to think books written between 2015 to now will have the same appeal simply because they’re in the style of modern fairy tales.

Heck, maybe the little boy likes the princess stories because of the stereotypical feminine princess getting rescued by the prince etc. and the gender roles is actually what he enjoys?

Anyways there are loads of old fairytales without princesses, Jack and the Beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel, 3 little pigs etc.
So I don’t know why we’re assuming he’s such a big princess fan.

Why would you think little boys are interested in Princess stories anyway? That’s a little girl thing. Boys are more likely to be interested in stories about pirates, outlaws, cars, trucks or cute animals. Basically some kind of very child friendly and safe adventure. @tarasCrazyTiara

Are you serious?! That's a 'little girl thing'?! Oh dear lord. This is part of the issue isn't it. This ridiculous gender stereotyping. I've already said my son likes the princess stories. We happened to get given a big usborne book of fairy tales. We have a massive bookcase full of children's books but he has really taken to this collection of fairy tales and keeps asking for 'Princess Poppy' (a character in one of the stories). So what if he's a boy?? He also has a doll and plays with a dolls house, in addition to his toy cars and trains. Control what a child reads and plays with because of their gender is ridiculous and contributes to how gender is constructed from a very young age...much like the fairy tales which my original post was about.

Just read your other post...

Fine, but it is unusual for little boys to care about princess stories so are these just the stories the OP wants to read or actually what he wants? If it is unusual it is because society MAKES it unusual through perpetuating views such as yours!! And are you seriously suggesting my son is reading these Princess stories because I want him to?! My whole post was about finding a suitable alternative because I really DON'T like him reading them- I think the messages in them are damaging!

"So I don’t know why we’re assuming he’s such a big princess fan."
People aren't 'assuming' it... I mentioned The Princess and the Frog and The Princess and the Pea in my OP! Those seem to be two of his favourites. They make me cringe.

Thanks so much to those of you who have offered me suggestions. I'm going to go through those this evening. If I can't find anything it appears there is a gap in the market!

I like Princess Smartypants by Babette Cole. The 'problem' is that you have to know the conventional fairytale tropes before subverting them makes any sense. I sympathise op, my dc love/d fairytales and I can't some of the trad princess ones

I adore Lucy Rowland’s books, she puts an amazing twist into the classic stories. I promise you’ll love them!

I also love the Oscar the Hungry Unicorn books.

All the stories about princesses which aren’t “problematic” are probably going to be directed at girls and have arse kicking empowered princess who don’t need no prince etc. - your little boys are unlikely to be interested in them.

Sorry but I just have to say one more thing as I've gone through this theead again and these views are really bothering me. There is no reason whatsoever why a boy should be expected not to show interest in empowered females. Why on earth would you think that?! These views and really bizarre. Literary representations of empowered females are not just for females 🙄

Probably not what you are after, but my DS loved Dora Saves the Snow Princess. I read it endlessly (as well as the other 9 stories in the collection).

Many thanks! I'll have a look!

He was obsessed with Dora on TV as well and also played with dolls (and trains etc). So I completely agree with you by the way.

I completely agree with you but also even if I didn’t, with the amount of kids who don’t get stories read to them regularly or indeed all those thousands of kids who don’t own a single book why someone would feel the need to criticise the type of book a stranger reads to their child at bedtime is bizarre. Like I said above, I wasn’t aware that fairy stories were only for girls. 😕

The Daddy Goose Collection is quite good. The traditional fairytales, each of them with a twist.

Good lord this thread has made me laugh - talk about missing the point!!
@surreygirl1987 have you seen the You Choose books, they have a fairy tales one, you make up your own story from the pictures and so the princess could be the one who does the rescuing etc. They seem a bit old fashioned but my Dd loves them.

@surreygirl1987 you need gender swapped fairytales! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gender-Swapped-Fairy-Karrie-Fransman/dp/0571360181/ref=ascdff_0571360181/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=430970648532&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6817152270584497294&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046949&hvtargid=pla-920643732446&psc=1&th=1&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=97419294702&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=430970648532&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6817152270584497294&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046949&hvtargid=pla-920643732446

Not quite what you're asking but mine love the You Choose books. You can basically make up your own fairytales by choosing a picture on each page. They're based on actual fairytales so they are familiar to the child. It's great for their imagination.