The Paper Bag Princess
By Patricia Tauzer,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Spirited princess saves self in girl-power classic.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Paper Bag Princess
Report this review
What's the Story?
When a dragon attacks, the beautiful Princess Elizabeth loses everything: her castle, her clothes, and her fiancé, the handsome Prince Ronald, whom she was to marry. But she doesn't take her losses lying down. Clad only in a paper bag, she goes in search of the dragon ... and Ronald. Using only her wits, she outsmarts the beast, finds the prince, and learns an important lesson about the importance of believing in yourself and expecting respect from those who love you.
Is It Any Good?
THE PAPER BAG PRINCESS is the stuff that fairy tales are made of -- a true classic about what being a hero, challenging dragons, and finding true love is all about. It's funny and short and makes a great point. The story's fun to read aloud but may challenge early readers, and the artwork is bright and humorously expressive and will entertain readers of all ages.
Author Robert Munch tells a simple but important and engaging story that ends with a wry twist. Popular before the current princess mania took root, it's a great girl-power fairy tale and still one of the best feminist princess stories on the shelf.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the princess uses her skills to defeat the dragon. Why do you think the dragon falls for her tricks? What are some of the other ways people, especially girls, have become heroes? What special skills of yours would you have used?
How does the princess change from beginning to end? How does the artist show her changing? How about the dragon and the prince?
How does Princess Elizabeth compare with princesses in other books you've read or movies you've seen, perhaps Cinderella, Frozen, Rapunzel, or Sleeping Beauty? What do you like or dislike about each of them, and how did they solve the problem they faced?
Book Details
- Author: Robert Munsch
- Illustrator: Michael Martchenko
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More, Fairy Tales, Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Annick Press
- Publication date: May 1, 1980
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 7
- Number of pages: 32
- Available on: Paperback, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: March 7, 2019
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate