The Princess Elizabeth is slated to marry Prince Ronald when a dragon attacks the castle and kidnaps Ronald. In resourceful and humorous fashion, Elizabeth finds the dragon, outsmarts him, and rescues Ronald --- who is less than pleased at her un-princess-like appearance. Full color throughout.
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Elizabeth, a beautiful princess, lives in a castle and wears fancy clothes. Just when she is about to marry Prince Ronald, a dragon smashes her castle, burns her clothes with his fiery breath, and prince-naps her dear Ronald. Undaunted and presumably unclad, she dons a large paper bag and sets off to find the dragon and her cherished prince. Once she's tracked down the rascally reptile, she flatters him into performing all sorts of dragonly stunts that eventually exhaust him, allowing her to rescue Prince Ronald. But what does Prince Not-So-Charming say when he sees her? "You smell like ashes, your hair is all tangled and you are wearing a dirty old paper bag. Come back when you are dressed like a real princess." (At least he has the courtesy not to mention that the princess's crown resembles a dying sea anemone.) In any case, let's just say that Princess Elizabeth and Prince Ronald do not, under any circumstances, live happily ever after. Canadian author Robert Munsch celebrates feisty females everywhere with this popular favorite, and Michael Martchenko's scratchy, comical, pen-and-ink drawings capture the tongue-in-cheek quality of this read-aloud crowd pleaser. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson
--This text refers to the
Library Binding
edition.
Review
A charmingly-illustrated tale of strength for princesses of all ages. (Mari Farthing MetroFamily Magazine 201004)
Some of the best children's books ever written have been about girls -- like The Paper Bag Princess. (New York Times 200502)
A great girl-power story. (Carol Sjostrom Miller Familyfun )
One of the best princess stories ever told, Elizabeth turns the princess stereotype on its head. (Elizabeth Shaffer BC Parent )
Some of the best children's books ever written have been about girls -- like The Paper Bag Princess. (New York Times 200502)
A great girl-power story. (Carol Sjostrom Miller Familyfun )
One of the best princess stories ever told, Elizabeth turns the princess stereotype on its head. (Elizabeth Shaffer BC Parent )
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More About the Author
Robert Munsch is the author of more than 25 books for children including The Paper Bag Princes and Stephanie's Ponytail. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and studied to be a Jesuit priest before deciding to work with children instead. He taught in a variety of nursery schools and daycare centers while he earned an MA in Early Childhood Education. In 1975, Munsch and his wife, Ann, moved to Guelph, Ontario. The Munschs have three children: Julie, Andrew, and Tyya (see them all in Something Good!).
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
69 of 70 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This was the first Munsch book that I bought and I quickly went out and bought a whole load more. He's an excellent writer with a wonderful range of stories and a beautifully simple and fluid style of writing that is both accessible to children and able to roll off the tongue of most adults.
As you'll see from the other reviews here, this tale is about a young girl who, filled with nothing but courage, charity and a fair bit of brains, goes off to rescue a young prince from a ferocious dragon. After using all of her cunning to defeat the dragon she discovers that the prince is a bit of a monster himself, and so she decides not to marry him after all.
Although I agree that the story has a wealth of small lessons for children to learn about boys and girls and expectations and disappointments, I think that one of its strongest points is that the book serves as a wonderful introduction to the fact that not all stories end the way we expect them to (it's still a happy ending, just a different one) and that sometimes a twist can be more satisfying anyway.
Highly recommended for children from 3 to 103.
47 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Format:Library Binding|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am so happy I got this book for my four year old daughter. It's the perfect antidote to those unrealistic Disney stories (i.e., Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty). And don't get me wrong, I think that those Disney stories can be fabulous, but the subliminal messages are somewhat 18th century. The Paper Bag Princess, on the other hand is decidely modern. Its message is: if a guy isn't nice to you, he's not worth it, leave him. Really, is there a more important message about relationships that we ought to be sending to our daughters? There are other wonderful messages in here for girls: you are resourceful, be strong. And, as an added benefit, this is a great and funny book, both of my daughters love it. This would make a great gift to all of the young girls in your life (and I think the age range should start at 2, not 4).
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This charming story reverses the usual roles: a prince is kidnapped by a dangerous dragon, and the dragon's breath burns up all the clothes in the palace. The princess who loves the prince can only find a paper bag to wear when she goes to rescue her love. Cleverly tricking the dragon, she enters the cave where the prince, still beautifully dressed, is held captive. Is true love rewarded? No! He at once complains she's "a disaster" badly dressed, dirty and all messed up. She replies that he is a fine and handsome prince--but completely useless. "And, in the end, they didn't marry."
This book is funny and not at all didactic, quick and easy to read. It's understandable for children from five up, but appeals to adults, too. I've read it to my Guatemalan maid, who was being forced to marry against her will and had just managed to escape the marriage. She loved the book and took it home to read it to her little brother and sister. This is an ideal work to help girls and boys see themelves as equals, to help them realize that marriage isn't the solution to all life's problems, and to understand that boys, just like girls, can be spoiled and foolish. It also suggests that when a boy friend or girl friend is vain and foolish, rather than pining one can look elsewhere for love and understanding. This book should be in every library worldwide!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Twist on typical princess book
This book is a fantastic twist on the typical princess getting saved by the prince story. The princess is the one who goes on a quest to save her prince. Read more
Published 2 days ago
Good book for girls
My kids like this book (ages 4,6,8) and I love the ending where the princess tells the prince he's a bum. Cute story
Published 6 days ago by Got-It-Online
Warning on $1.99/Annikins Book Version
This story is absolutely fabulous. My daughter and sons all love it. When I signed on to Amazon to buy a copy, at first I was going for the regular Paperback version (~six... Read more
Published 6 days ago by Mayflower Girl
Childhood memory- I loved this book!
I read a lot when I was a kid. I can't remember most of the books but for whatever reason I loved this book so much that I remember it and bought a copy for a friend of mine when... Read more
Published 10 days ago by Jasmine Young
Best princess book ever . . .
Great therapy for the tomboy mother of a little princess. Munsch's heroine is strong, clever and completely willing to let her prince go when he reveals himself to be not so... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Tmac
Very unprincess-like behavior -
I purchased this on good reviews for a friend's birthday. I was shocked to read this. Bad behavior, characters poorly expressing themselves, social and environmental... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ann
My all time favorite
I bought a paperback copy of this book many years ago--and used it in my private practice counseling session with women, along with women's assertiveness training groups. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Sylvia D. Smith
A must read for ALL little princeses out there!
I have loved this book since my childhood, and am so grateful to have found it hardcover for my daughter. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Simone Y. Regan
Great story for little ones
I love this story! I have a little girl and find it especially refreshing that the princess fights the dragon and they don't get married in the end. Read more
Published 4 months ago by girlygirl27
Great Lessons!
It's so wonderful to be a Princess, and it's even more wonderful to learn that you don't necessarily need a Prince to be one -- especially if that Prince amounts to nobody you... Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. Arena
Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
Elizabeth was a beautiful princess. Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Elizabeth was a beautiful princess. Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 14
books:
See all 14 books this book cites
100
books
cite this book:
See all 100 books citing this book
- Inside the Titanic (A Giant Cutaway Book) by Hugh Brewster in Back Matter
- The Boy In The Drawer (Classic Munsch) by Robert N. Munsch in Back Matter
- From Far Away (Classic Munsch) by Robert N. Munsch in Back Matter
- A Promise is a Promise (Classic Munsch) by Robert N. Munsch in Back Matter
- Murmel, Murmel, Murmel (Annikins) by Robert N. Munsch in Back Matter
See all 14 books this book cites
- The Paper Bag Princess 25th Anniversary Edition: The Story Behind the Story by Robert Munsch on 9 pages
- The Kids' Book Club: Lively Reading and Activities for Grades 13 by Desiree Webber on 5 pages
- Children Tell Stories: Teaching and Using Storytelling in the Classroom (Multimedia DVD included with the book) by Martha Hamilton on 4 pages
- E-literature for Children: Enhancing Digital Literacy Learning by Len Unsworth on page 3, page 57, and Back Matter
- Doing Foucault in Early Childhood Studies: Applying Post-Structural Ideas (Contesting Early Childhood) by Glenda Mac Naughton on page 71, page 135, and Back Matter
See all 100 books citing this book
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