Royal Reading

I'm definitely not a fan of the current princess trend, and I really hope my young daughter never develops an interest in it.  Fortunately, Barefoot Books offers some terrific books that satisfy both the princess-loving girl, and the princess-wary parent.  They highlight strong princess characters - both classic and unique - and minimize the emphasis damsel-in-distress stories. 

Meet seven very strong and special princesses in this collection drawn from sources from around the world. Each faces challenges and trials, and each finds a way to triumph with bravery, compassion, ingenuity and a little bit of luck. Hardcover and paperback editions include a CD with the stories read by Margaret Wolfson.

Practice your math skills while enjoying this quirky take on "The Princess and the Pea." The King and Queen and their three sons are on the search for a real princess, but it is only the Queen who knows the secret. After the story, there is an opportunity for readers to test their counting skills with fun number games. Paperback edition includes a CD with the story read by actress Juliet Stevenson.

Ride along with the beautiful princess and the majestic white bear on a voyage in the snowy north. When the young princess inadvertently betrays the mysterious white bear, she must prove her loyalty and strength through a series of trying tasks, in order to regain her lost chance at happiness. Includes a CD with the story read by actress Miranda Richardson.

Discover a multilayered, exuberant collection in the first English translation for children of Haft Paykar, the Persian poem composed in the twelfth century by the great Sufi poet Nizami. Detailed notes add a valuable commentary on the Sufi symbolism that suffuses the tales.

And for the younger crowd...

Meet a young prince who refuses to go to sleep! The entire kingdom comes out to lend a hand in this rhyming bedtime adventure. There is a hullabaloo of activity—jugglers juggling, magicians hypnotizing, dancers dancing—but it is the wonder of a good story that finally does the trick. Paperback edition includes a CD with the story read by actor Jim Broadbent.