Technically, there are only two ways to become a princess: 1. Be born the daughter of a king or queen or, 2. Marry a prince.

Obviously not every girl can be born to royalty, and while it is possible to fall in love and marry a prince, there are only so many eligible princes in the world. Still, that does not mean a girl cannot be a princess at heart.

In the words of Sara Crewe, the indomitable heroine of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic, A Little Princess:

"It's true," she said. "Sometimes I do pretend I am a princess. I pretend I am a princess, so that I can try and behave like one."

In the spirit of A Little Princess and National Princess Day, celebrated on November 18, we have gathered a list of picture book recommendations to help ensure your princess-in-training grows up to embody all of the aspects that make a true princess: kindness, individuality, courage, fierceness, and the strength to stay true to herself in the face of adversity!

For your slightly older princesses-in-training, check out our exciting chapter book recommendations! 

Princess Picture Books

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Michael Martchenko

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. 

 

Not All Princesses Dress in Pink by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple; illustrated by Anne-Sophie Lanquetin

Not all princesses dress in pink. Some play in bright red socks that stink,
blue team jerseys that don’t quite fit, accessorized with a baseball mitt, and a sparkly crown!

Princesses come in all kinds. Exuberant text from Jane Yolen and her daughter Heidi Yolen Stemple paired with charming illustrations prove that girls can jump in mud puddles and climb trees, play sports and make messes—all while wearing their tiaras! Not every girl has a passion for pink, but all young ladies will love this empowering affirmation of their importance and unlimited potential.
 

Not One Damsel in Distress: World Folktales for Strong Girls, collected and told by Jane Yolen; illustrated by Susan Guevara

A collection of 13 traditional tales from various parts of the world, with the main character of each being a fearless, strong, heroic, and resourceful woman.

 

 

Princesses Wear Pants by Savannah Guthrie and Allison Oppenheim; illustrated by Eva Byrne

Princess Penelope lives in a beautiful palace with a closet full of beautiful dresses. But being a princess is much, much more than beauty. In fact, every morning, Princess Penelope runs right past her frilly dresses to choose from her beloved collection of pants!

Unfortunately for Princess Penelope, not everyone in the Pineapple Kingdom thinks pants are always appropriate princess attire. When the grand Lady Busyboots demands that Princess Penelope must wear a gown to the annual Pineapple Ball, the young royal finds a clever way to express herself. Penelope’s courage (and style choices) result in her saving the day! 
 

Princess Hair written and illustrated by Sharee Miller

Celebrate different hair shapes, textures, and styles in this self-affirming picture book! From dreadlocks to blowouts to braids, Princess Hair shines a spotlight on the beauty and diversity of black hair, showing young readers that every kind of hair is princess hair.

 

 

The Water Princess by Susan Verde and Georgie Badiel; illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

Based on supermodel Georgie Badiel’s childhood, a young girl dreams of bringing clean drinking water to her African village.

With its wide sky and warm earth, Princess Gie Gie’s kingdom is a beautiful land. But clean drinking water is scarce in her small African village. And try as she might, Gie Gie cannot bring the water closer; she cannot make it run clearer. Every morning, she rises before the sun to make the long journey to the well. Instead of a crown, she wears a heavy pot on her head to collect the water. After the voyage home, after boiling the water to drink and clean with, Gie Gie thinks of the trip that tomorrow will bring. And she dreams. She dreams of a day when her village will have cool, crystal-clear water of its own.
 

Dangerously Ever After written by Dashka Slater; illustrated by Valeria Docampo

Not all princesses are made of sugar and spice—some are made of funnier, fiercer stuff!

Princess Amanita laughs in the face of danger. Brakeless bicycles, pet scorpions, spiky plants—that's her thing. So when quiet Prince Florian gives her roses, Amanita is unimpressed… until she sees their glorious thorns! Now she must have rose seeds of her own. But when huge, honking noses grow instead, what is a princess with a taste for danger to do?
 

Princess Tales Around the World: Once Upon a Time in Rhyme with Seek-and-Find Pictures adapted by Grace Maccarone; illustrated by Gail de Marcken

Ten of the most beloved princess stories are ingeniously retold and splendidly illustrated―with cleverly hidden pictures―by author Grace Maccarone and artist Gail de Marcken. From Cinderella to Sleeping Beauty, The Princess and the Pea to Snow White, these favorite tales will delight readers, happily ever after.
 

 

The Emperor and the Kite by Jane Yolen

Largely ignored by her own family, Princess Djeow Seow spends her days playing with a kite made from paper and sticks. But when the Emperor is imprisoned in a high tower, only the Princess can save the day, flying her kite high up into the sky to rescue her father.

 

Princess Grace by Mary Hoffman; illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu

This year, two girls will be selected as princesses in the town parade, and Grace can’t wait to be one of them. It’s the perfect opportunity to dress up but how, exactly, should a princess costume look? Grace asks her teacher for help and soon, the whole class is learning there’s more to princesses than pink dresses and frills. From Kenya to China and from warriors to spies, princesses are a multicultural and multi-talented bunch, and there are just as many kinds of happily-ever-afters, both for the royals and for Grace’s community and its princess parade.

The Secret Lives of Princesses by Philippe Lechermeier; illustrated by Rebecca Dautremer

Discover the hidden lives of such lesser-known figures as Princess Molly Coddle, Princess Miss Hap, and Princess Anne Phibian, in this book that reveals where they live, what they whisper about, and what sorts of pets they own.

 

The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke; illustrated by Kerstin Meyer

Violetta, a little princess, is determined to become as big and strong as her brothers. She secretly teaches herself to become the bravest and cleverest knight in the land until she must face the king's best knights in a jousting tournament. Will she be ready?

 

My Princess Boy: A Mom's Story about a Young Boy who Loves to Dress Up by Cheryl Kilodavis ; illustrated by Suzanne DeSimone.