It is never too early to teach girls to not settle, and to save the prince! Even if Ronald is a pathetic prince. ( )

Independent Reading Level: Grades 2-5
Honors/Awards: N/A

As a sociologist and mother of three young children, I'm always on the lookout for excellent children's books that both entertain and enlighten. The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch perfectly fits that bill.

From the very first page, Elizabeth's independence and resilience shine through. Instead of behaving as traditional princesses might in her situation, she forges her own path of discovery and ultimately saves the day in her paper bag gown. Munsch's messages of challenging stereotypes, embracing our true selves, and finding worth beyond material goods really resonated with me.

But it wasn't just the story that stood out. My twins, aged 5, were immediately captivated by Michael Martchenko's charming illustrations. Whether Elizabeth dragon-fighting or hiking through the woods, their attention didn't waver. We've read the book together countless times now and still find new details to laugh over.

As a sociologist, I appreciate how The Paper Bag Princess subtly introduces ideas like resilience, self-acceptance, and questioning social norms in a fun, engaging way for young audiences. Its positive messages will no doubt stay with my children as they grow. I deeply value stories that empower both girls and boys to think outside of restrictive boxes.

This has quickly become one of our family's favorite read-aloud books. The laughs and lessons it provides make rereading always delightful. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend The Paper Bag Princess to any parent or caregiver looking for a story with depth, humor and heart. It's sure to become a classic in your home too. ( )

When I was growing up, The Paper Bag Princess was one of my go to books. I'm not kidding, I knew that story inside out and could recite it without the book. As I got older, I lost that ability to recite this book without hesitation, but the memories are still there. This book holds a special place in my heart! Robert Munsch is a genius!

So, as the story suggests there is a Princess. Her name is Elizabeth! She is beautiful, lives in a big fancy castle, is engaged to Ronald, and has everything her heart could desire. And then a dragon comes along and ruins everything (like most girl's everyday life - obviously). Prince Ronald has been carried away and all of her belongings are gone! So, like most girls these days, she put on her best paper bag and went off to save the Prince! And how will she battle this wretched dragon? With her smarts!

This story gave me Shrek vibes before I even watched Shrek. It's not your average fairy tale and it's quite amusing! Elizabeth is a sassy yet relatable girl with some interesting (yet amusing) problems. I love that the Princess is the hero (and this is 40 years old, so Princesses weren't always kicking butt and taking names like they do today) and that she's wicked smart. I also love that in the end she stands up for herself and doesn't do what's expected of her. This book definitely added in to my spunky behaviour as an adult.

The art work doesn't connect with me as much as it did when I was a kid. Of course, my style and preferences has changed but I still think the pictures work with the story. As always, the cover is what really stuck with me.

I did like the forewards in this book - Chelsea Clinton and Francesca Segal share some sweet stories that I connect with. This book is a special part of childhood history for many people, so it was nice to see it wasn't just me who was obsessed with this book!

Overall, this is still one of my must read books. I'm glad this book is still circulating around and I hope many more girls pick up this butt kicking book and share it with the world!

Five out of five stars. I'd give it more if possible!

Thank you to NetGalley and Annick Press Ltd. for letting me travel back to my youth with this arc review. Seriously, I can hear my reading buddies chanting "Hey Dragon, Hey Dragon." ( )

Independent Reading Level: 1st Grade
Awards/Honors: None ( )