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

Ooh thank you!! These sound great- will look into all these suggestions! Hugely appreciated!

It is unusual because most children gravitate toward stories about their own gender and most boys aren’t interested in the pretty princess stuff - society doesn’t make it unusual, it is unusual and that’s why it doesn’t happen. I’m not saying it’s wrong, just that most little boys won’t like that.

But for those that do perhaps they like the stories precisely because of the gender roles and they enjoy all that stereotype pretty princess stuff - after all, they could read stories about adventure and heroic characters and so forth yet chose princess stories - so why would they want the princess characters they like made into the more adventurous characters little boys typically like which they weren’t as interested in the first place?

For example If a boy doesn’t like Robin Hood and likes stereotypically girly Princesses and those stories, why would he like a Princess outlaw equivalent of Robin Hood? Just because she wears a tiara and a dress?
You say he likes the Princess and the frog and the Princess and the pea but your looking to push him more toward Frozen territory - but that’s not what he’s interested in.
He already chose the stories he likes apparently. It’s you who’s not open minded about that not me.

Anyway I think your making a mountain out of a mole hill as he probably just likes those stories because of the weirdness of the frog and the odd visual of the princess and pea story. That appeals to many kids. I seriously doubt he’s taking much else from him so there’s no point upsetting him by taking his sweet Princess and Frog from him just to replace it with the tale of Arse kicking Dr.Princess who marries herself then becomes President.

*taking much else from them

How about non Princess fairy tales? Puss in boots, gingerbread man, goldilocks, ugly duckling, Jack and the beanstalk. And try Roald dahl's revolting rhymes (there's a fab animation on iplayer or amazon prime) for super cool Red Riding Hood and snow White versions!

@surreygirl1987 Have you tried the Julia Donaldson books: Zog, and Zog and the Flying Doctors? The Zog series is about a dragon, princess and knight, who start out training for the stereotypical fairytale roles, but leave this behind to fly all over the world as doctors helping people.

Alternatively, if you search The BookTrust's site for "Princess", there are a lot of suggestions there (and you can filter by recommended age)?

www.booktrust.org.uk/search/#!?q=Princess&type=All&sortOption=Relevance&pageNo=1

@tarascrazytiara. Oh good grief. You clearly don't get it. Saying I'm not open minded but you are? Do you seriously not see the issues with constantly representing females as damsels in distress to be recognised by a handsome prince, and that a 'happily ever after' is only when a woman marries?! If you really can't see that this is a problem i give up. But I do suggest you read some basic feminist theory. I'm actually a teacher and have had far more mature conversations with the pupils i teach - THEY recognise the issues at least! You also said I'm trying to push my son towards Frozen territory... I have no idea what you're talking about as I never mentioned Frozen (is that the Disney film? Never seen it). So please don't put words into my mouth.

All I'm asking for is a fairy tale collection that had adapted the traditional fairy tales so that they are not deeply damaging in terms of gender portrayal. I do not want my boys growing up with such fixed and outdated views or gender roles. Whatever you think, this IS a problem. If you can't suggest such a collection, I have no idea what you're doing on this thread to be honest. I do believe that views like yours are part of societal problems in terms of gender stereotyping... it would be good for you to be more 'open-minded' about this.

The Paper Bag Princess

It might not be exactly what you are looking for but we liked Aesops fables at that age. There's a lovely usborne book of them.
Konnie Huq's fearless fairytale are brilliant but imo funnier/better if you know the original story.
I would look at Hansel & Gretel, The three little pigs etc. I understand your thinking on the messaging of fairytales but a few old stories aren't going to turn your boys into misogynists.

Exactly ... Stories where women and girls are passive and wait around to be rescued and all the malwmes are rescuers who have to be brave all the time are damaging to both sexes. I agree the zog books are good - one of the main characters is a princess but she rejects this in order to be a doctor, and the brave Knight also casts off his armour instead of killing the dragon and the Princess teaches him to be a doctor too. There's a lovely adaptation of it on bbc iplayer along with some other julia Donaldson's.

Little red and the very hungry lion

The paper bag princess - old classic where the princess rescues the prince.

Bethan woolville has different versions of fairytales. There are little red, Hansel and gretel and rapunzel
My ds loves the illustrations. They still feel like a traditional story but as the ds know the story they love when there is a change
They also like Roald Dahl revolting rhymes (although there are a couple ot words that need editing) red riding hood shooting the wolf with a gun in her knickers is certainly not passive

I was just going to say Bethan Woollvin, too. She's great.

My kids and I loved Arthur's Tractor when they were small.
www.amazon.co.uk/Arthurs-Tractor-Pippa-Goodhart/dp/0747564787?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Like I said, but a book written from 2015 onward which conforms to your ideology. I mean seriously why even bother with the old fairytales if you need them changed so much to fit within your feminist framework.

Your obviously very ideologically driven in this and I don’t care less about feminist theory but again, it may well be the stereotypical pretty princess stories you son likes shocking as that may be. In stories with more obvious hero’s children tend to gravitate toward characters of their own sex.

If you want to read him a book about a kick arse feminist princess saving the day and rescuing her prince while getting her doctorate that’s fine - but don’t be surprised if he requests the Princess and the frog and retains fonder memories of that.
There’s a reason the old stories have lasted.

I mean seriously read the post in this thread about the princess who stops being a princess to become a doctor then stops a knight from killing a dragon and teaches him to be a doctor too (and of course it’s him that needs to be taught by her).
What kind of little boy would be interested in that? Hilarious.

I mean seriously read the post in this thread about the princess who stops being a princess to become a doctor then stops a knight from killing a dragon and teaches him to be a doctor too (and of course it’s him that needs to be taught by her).
What kind of little boy would be interested in that? Hilarious.

It's one of my little boys' favourite books. So ... normal little boys who have a wide range of interests and just enjoy a good story. Seems like they've got a more mature outlook on books than you have.

@TarasCrazyTiara

I mean seriously read the post in this thread about the princess who stops being a princess to become a doctor then stops a knight from killing a dragon and teaches him to be a doctor too (and of course it’s him that needs to be taught by her). What kind of little boy would be interested in that? Hilarious.

Zog is a really popular book with little boys (I’m a primary school teacher), there’s also a stage show of it which I’ve taken my daughter to and seen loads of boys in the audience and there’s a TV adaption which I’m sure is equally popular.

My DS loves Zog. So, many boys, I expect!

Eh? Zog is hugely popular with both boys and girls What a weird post.

Fearless fairytales by Konnie Huq is amazing ! Modern take on the fairytales and the kids laugh and laugh at some of them.

I love Bethan Woolvin stories - twists on traditional tales - Little Red, Rapunzel & Hansel and Gretal. The Three little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig is great and there's lots based on Jack and the Beanstalk - Jim and the Beanstalk, Jack and the Baked Beanstalk, Jill and the Beanstalk and Jack and the Jelly Bean Stalk.

@TarasCrazyTiara

I mean seriously read the post in this thread about the princess who stops being a princess to become a doctor then stops a knight from killing a dragon and teaches him to be a doctor too (and of course it’s him that needs to be taught by her). What kind of little boy would be interested in that? Hilarious.

Many little boys and girls love zog. Not because of any forced ideology but because it has good characters, fun rhymes and lovely illustrations like most of julia donaldson books. Your arguments are getting increasingly far fetched

@TarasCrazyTiara looks like I don't need to respond to the points you have raised in your latest posts... others have already done so. I agree with them that your posts are 'bizarre' and increasingly 'far-fetched'.

The Zog books sound great and I will be looking into them this weekend. Thanks so much everyone for such helpful contributions- hugely appreciated!

@RedDeadRoach

It’s stupid and reductive. The children read for the princess the friendly dragon and the knight. Adults kid themselves that her giving up being a princess and becoming a doctor and teaching him somehow sends a positive message - but the reality is if those things were interesting to kids the story would have been about two doctors in the first place instead of a princess. That’s why it’s successful- they literally could have left out the doctor part and kids would still feel the same way, it’s just there for adults to feel superior about.

And of course it sends the bad message that boys need to be shown right from wrong by girls. Imagine the same in reverse. Yet you celebrate it here.