Princesses Who Rule: 12 Picture Books Featuring Awesome, Independent, Princesses

Plucky heroines are by no means new to picture books, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love a story featuring a princess who is independent, cunning and whip-smart! If you have a small person in your house who is requesting nothing but princesses here are some titles Better Reading loves, showing them that princesses are brave and awesome, and can fight their OWN dragons!

The Princess in Black by Shannon and Dean Hale

Who says princesses don’t wear black? When trouble raises its blue monster head, Princess Magnolia ditches her flouncy dresses and becomes the Princess in Black! This is the first in a humorous and action-packed early chapter book series for young readers who like their princesses not only prim and perfect, but also dressed in black.

Princess Smartypants by Babette Cole

An absolute classic, now nearing its 40th Anniversary – the original heroic, independent princess story! Princess Elizabeth is beautiful and rich and about to marry Prince Ronald, until a dragon destroys her castle and flies off with Ronald. But Elizabeth is a resourceful girl and, left with nothing to wear but a paper bag, she sets out to find her prince.

Zog by Julia Donaldson

Zog is the keenest dragon in school. He’s also the most accident-prone, flying into trees and even setting his own wing on fire. Luckily, a mysterious little girl always comes by and patches up his bumps and bruises. But will she be able to help Zog with his toughest test: capturing a princess?

Princess Daisy and the Dragon and the Nincompoop Knights by Steve Lenton

When a truly terrifying sound wakes the inhabitants of a fairytale kingdom, it takes clever Princess Daisy to realise that the culprit of this dreadful din is a dragon, but the three knights who answer her father’s call for a hero to capture the creature prove to be nothing but NINCOMPOOPS!

The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas by Tony Wilson

In this remix of the fairy tale, Tony Wilson and Sue DeGennaro deliver a freshly humorous take on one prince’s search for the just-right girl of his dreams.

The Worst Princess by Anna Kemp

Once upon a time, in a tower near you, Lived a sad princess; the Princess Sue. “Some day,” she sighed, “my prince will come, But I wish he’d move his royal bum.” But when Princess Sue’s prince finally does arrive, he’s not quite what she had in mind.

Fed up with waiting for a Prince, Princess Sue decides to be the mistress of her own destiny!

Olivia and the Fairy Princesses by Ian Falconer

In her newest hilarious endeavour, Olivia embarks upon a quest for identity and individuality. It seems there are far too many pink and sparkly princesses around these days and Olivia has had quite enough! She needs to stand out. And so, in typical ‘Olivia’ style, she sets about creating a whole array of fantastically dressed princesses… and shows us that everyone can be individual and special.

Princess Cora and the Crocodile by Laura Amy Schlitz

Princess Cora is sick of boring lessons. She’s sick of running in circles around the dungeon gym. She’s sick, sick, sick of taking three baths a day. And her parents won’t let her have a dog. But when she writes to her fairy godmother for help, she doesn’t expect that help to come in the form of a crocodile – a crocodile who does not behave properly at all!

Princess Grace by Mary Hoffman

This year two girls will be selected as princesses in the town parade, and Grace can’t wait to be one of them. Itas the perfect opportunity to dress up but how, exactly, should a princess costume look? Grace soon learns that there’s more to princesses than pink dresses and frills. From Kenya to China and from warriors to spies, princesses are a multicultural and multitalented bunch, and there are many kinds of happily ever after!

The Princess and the Giant by Caryl Hart

Princess Sophie is fed up. She’s EXHAUSTED and it’s all because that grumpy old giant can’t sleep – his stomps and stamps keep everyone awake ALL night. But Princess Sophie is a resourceful sort of girl and, as she reads her favourite book of fairy tales, she wonders if she might just have the answer.

The Princess and the Pony by Kate Beaton

Princess Pinecone knows exactly what she wants for her birthday this year. Not a cosy sweater like always, but a horse: a big horse, a strong horse, a horse fit for a Warrior Princess! But when the day arrives, Pinecone doesn’t quite get the horse of her dreams…