The Worst Princess

Princess Sue waits in her tower for a prince to rescue her, as she believes that's what princesses are supposed to do. When Prince Charming finally arrives, life in his castle doesn't match Sue's expectations of adventure and excitement. Sue befriends a dragon who shows her a different way of life outside the traditional princess role. Together they challenge the rules about how princesses should behave and what they can achieve. The story presents a playful take on princess stereotypes while exploring themes of friendship, independence, and the freedom to choose one's own path. This picture book uses rhyming text and illustrations to reimagine fairy tale conventions for young readers.

Readers call this a refreshing take on princess stories that subverts traditional fairy tale tropes. Parents report their children request repeated readings and engage with the rhyming text. Likes: - Strong female protagonist who makes her own choices - Dragon befriends the princess instead of being a villain - Humor appeals to both adults and children - Colorful, expressive illustrations - Message about being true to yourself Dislikes: - Some parents object to the princess's "rude" behavior - A few reviewers felt it was too message-focused - Several mention the prince character comes across as one-dimensional Ratings: Goodreads: 4.16/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (900+ ratings) Common reader comments: "Perfect for princess-loving kids who don't fit the mold" -Goodreads reviewer "The rhyming flows naturally and makes it fun to read aloud" -Amazon reviewer "Teaches girls they don't need rescuing" -School Library Journal reader review

Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle A princess questions traditional expectations through her preference for outdoor adventures and practical clothing.

Part-Time Princess by Deborah Underwood A girl leads a double life as an ordinary child by day and a princess who solves castle problems by night.

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch A princess rescues a prince but decides she doesn't need him after his ungrateful response.

Princess in Black by Shannon Hale A proper princess maintains a secret identity as a monster-fighting superhero.

Not All Princesses Dress in Pink by Jane Yolen Princesses engage in activities from sports to construction while wearing their crowns.

🏰 Princess Sue, the main character, breaks traditional fairy tale stereotypes by preferring dragons and adventures over fancy dresses and waiting in towers. 🐉 The dragon in the story becomes Sue's friend and ally, turning the common "dragon as villain" trope upside down. 📚 Author Anna Kemp wrote this book as a fresh take on princess stories after noticing how many young girls were obsessed with traditional princess narratives. 🎨 The book's illustrator, Sara Ogilvie, has won multiple awards for her work, including the Booktrust Best New Illustrator Award. 👗 The story playfully mocks traditional princess story elements like pink dresses, prince charming, and towers, encouraging readers to question gender stereotypes in fairy tales.