Gone are the impossibly beautiful damsels in distress and on to rewriting
the female character. The three books below present us with healthy,
sensible female inspiration. In their own way, they reinforce the concept of
strength and resourcefulness so needed with today's youth. These delightful
tales remind us how important subtle messages can be in the positive development
of self-esteem, problem solving, self confidence.
Cinder Edna
By Ellen
Jackson, Illustrated by Devin O'Malley
Published by Morrow, William & Company
ISBN
0-688-12322-8
Available at your local Barnes & Noble Bookstores, or order
online.
Cinder Edna and Cinderella live next door to each other, both with their demanding stepfamilies.
However, the similairities stop there. Cinderella is dreamlike and helpless;
whereas, Cinder Edna is optimistic, energetic, knows how to ride the bus,
and is proud of her sixteen ways to make tuna casserole.
Each follows a path to their own prince, with one ending up
more happily ever after.
This witty, modern adaptation depicts important themes such as positive
acceptance of oneself, environmental consciousness, self-motivation, and
realistic problem solving.
Amazing Grace
By Mary Hoffman, Illustrated by Caroline Binch
Published
by Dial Books for Young Readers, New York
ISBN 0-8037-1040-2
Available at your local Barnes & Noble
Bookstores, or order
online.
Grace loves stories and constantly playacts the strong,
intelligent characters. One day it is announced that auditions will be held for
the school play, Peter Pan. Grace is so excited to get the part. However,
classmates tell her she can't-because she is black and a girl.
Downtrodden, Grace returns home and tells Nana of her troubles. Wise Nana
takes Grace to the theater to see a ballet of Romeo and Juliet, starring a
young, new ballerina from Trinidad! Grace practices hard and ends up getting the
part, learning a valuable lesson. You can do anything you set your mind too.
The Paper Bag Princess
By Robert Munsch, Illustrated
by Michael Martchenko
Published by Firefly Books, LTD.
ISBN
0-920236-16-2
Available at your local Barnes & Noble Bookstores, or order
online.
Poor Princess Elizabeth has had a bad day. A dragon
burned up her castle and kidnapped her love, Prince Ronald. The only thing she
could find to wear was a big paper bag. Being no passive pansy, Elizabeth throws
on the bag and hunts the dragon down.
Of course, Elizabeth devises an ingenious plan and outsmarts the dragon,
saving Prince Ronald. However, Prince Ronald is replused by Elizabeth's scruffy
attire and rejects her help until she cleans up. Elizabeth, with her healthy
self esteem and capacity for insight, rejects the ignorant Prince Ronald, and
happily walks off into the sunset-alone!
Little Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Prairie
Tale
Written and Illustrated by Lisa Campbell Ernst
ISBN:
0-689-80145-9
Simon and
Schuster, New York
Available at your local Barnes & Noble Bookstores, or
order
online .
The twist on this traditional tale involves a prairie, a grandma farmer,
muffins and a big red bike. Gone is the frail grandma, replaced by an active and
assertive woman of age! Of special importance is the rehabilitation of the bully
wolf in grandma's new muffin shop. This wonderfully illustrated story even
includes Grandma's yummy recipe for wheat berry muffins.
