Books with Strong Female Characters for 3 yr old

[pamelal]

I am looking for books for my 3 year old DD with strong female characters (either main or supporting). Any recommendations? I have searched the web a little and mostly found books with princess themes, which I would prefer to avoid.

Thanks!
Pam

[californiagirl]

Well, there are some princess books we are OK with (notably The Paper Bag Princess, but also The Princess and the Pizza and the Princess Knight -- these are some strong, capable, princesses, 2 of whom do not marry anybody in the story, and one of whom eventually marries the man of her choice, who isn't a prince, and anyway she goes off and adventures first.)

I have an Amazon list with some of my favorites in the strong girl genre:
http://www.amazon.com/Small-Girls-or...613846-8496113

[pamelal]

Thanks! This is very helpful. I have also heard the Lilly books (Kevin Henkes) are good. We have Chester's Way and do like the Lilly character.

[sdbc]

Olivia, Madeline

[BelleoftheBallFlagstaff]

My favorite book as a child was
Helga's Dowry

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/015...pr_product_top

spoiler alert.... At the end of the book she turns down the prince. He was going to marry a woman that had more riches, and after Helga worked for her dowry she chose another man, who loved her for her. Love this book!

[ohiomom1121]

My daughter absolutely loves the Fancy Nancy books, as well as the Olivia ones. They are definitely both strong females, as well as cute books. My daugher is 3 also.

[LexyLou]

We love Fancy Nancy and Pinkalicious and Purplicious.

Olivia is also a great suggestion. I'm blanking on others now...I'll raid Ella's books when she wakes up.

[citymama]

Girls who kick ass:

Olivia
Frances the Badger
Alice the Fairy
Blueberries for Sal (OK, doesn't kick ass, but isn't scared of bears and we love her!)

Take a look at this list on amazon.com (small girls triumph):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/lis...453685-9869466

I should point out that *every* book we read to my DD features a female protagonist - even when they are meant to be male. (Max in the "Wild Things"? - he's a she, according to DD!)

[AngelaS]

The Princess Knight
The Paper Bag Princess

[BeachBum]

There is a cute one called "Apple Farmer Annie" about a woman apple farmer who grows apples, bakes and sells her wares at the farmer's market.
There isn't a ton of "story" in the book, but it's cute and gives lots of ideas for discussion.