In today’s America, there’s an increasing demand for Black princesses, Asian princesses, Indian, Middle Eastern, Cajun, Hawaiian, and every other background. Here’s a list of picture books to meet those needs for the home, the classroom and more. Also check out the Girl Power Fairytales Page.
Black Princesses: African-American and Classic Fairytale
The Princess and the Pea
Rapunzel
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
The Fisherman and his Wife
Hansel and Gretel
Firebird
Swan Lake
John Kurtz
Jump at the Sun: Jack and the Beanstalk …;
Jump at the Sun: Little Red Riding Hood …;
Jump at the Sun: Goldilocks and the …;
Jump at the Sun: Rapunzel …;
Jump at the Sun: Beauty and the Beast …;
Jump at the Sun: Cinderella …;
Hamilton, Viriginia. Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales, and True Tales.
Princess Briana by Mr. Yaba Baker
The Very Smart Pea and the Princess-to-be (Kindle Edition) by Mini Grey
Princess Tyler Marie Chronicles by Kimberly Jessy
The Gospel Cinderella by Joyce Carol Thomas
Black Princesses: African
Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe
Chinye: A West African Folk Tale by Obi Onyefulu
Nomi and the Magic Fish: A Story from Africa
Koi and the Kola Nuts: A Tale from Liberia by Verna Aardema
The Princess Who Lost Her Hair: An Akamba Legend by Tololwa M. Mollel
Lila and the Secret of Rain by David Conway
Pretty Salma: A Little Red Riding Hood Story from Africa by Niki Daly
Mama Panya’s Pancakes by Mary and Rich Chamberlin
Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales by Nelson Mandela
Njinga “The Warrior Queen” (The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Dastardly Dames) by Janie Havemeyer and Peter Malone (Sep 26, 2012)
Black Fairy Tales by Terry Berger
Asian Princesses
Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Young
Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China by Ai-Ling Louie
Abadeha: The Philippine Cinderella by Myrna J. De LA Paz
Angkat: The Cambodian Cinderella by Jewell R. Coburn
The Dragon Princess: A Chinese Beauty and the Beast Laurence Yep
The Korean Cinderella by Shirley Climo
The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz
Issun Boshi (One-Inch Boy): A Japanese Folktale by Nadia Higgins
The Umbrella Queen by Shirin Bridges (Thailand)
The Moon Princess / Kaguyahime (English and Japanese Edition) by Ralph F. McCarthy and Kancho Oda
The Silk Princess by Charles Santore
The Princess and the Beggar: A Korean Folktale by Anne Sibley O’Brien
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Grace Lin
The Princess and the Admiral
Stone Soup by Muth (China)
Jouanah: A Hmong Cinderella (Laotia) by Jewell R. Coburn
The Gift of the Crocodile: A Cinderella Story by Judy Sierra (Indonesia)
Sorghaghtani of Mongolia (The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Real Princesses) by Shirin Yim Bridges and Albert Nguyen (Oct 1, 2010)
Cixi “The Dragon Empress” (The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Dastardly Dames) by Natasha Yim and Peter Malone (Sep 1, 2011)
Native American, including Alaska and other American
Cut from the Same Cloth: American Women of Myth, Legend and Tall Tale. by Robert D. San Souci
Spider Woman’s Web. By Susan Hazen-Hammond
The Rough-Face Girl by Rafe Martin
The Salmon Princess: An Alaska Cinderella …; by Mindy Dwyer
The Turkey Girl: A Zuni Cinderella Story
Sootface: An Ojibwa Cinderella Story by Robert D. San Souci
The Adventures of Molly Whuppie and Other Appalachian Folktales by Anne Shelby
Alaska’s Three Pigs (PAWS IV) by Arlene Laverde
Sacajawea of the Shoshone (The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Real Princesses) by Natasha Yim and Albert Nguyen (Sep 26, 2012)
Mexico/Latin American
Fiesta Feminina: Celebrating Women in Mexican Folktale by Mary-Joan Gerson and Maya Christina Gonzalez.
The Three Little Tamales by Eric A. Kimmel
Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican …; by Jewell Reinhart Coburn
Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella by Robert D. San Souci
Adelaida: A Cuban Cinderella by Ana Monnar
Adelita by Tome de Paola
Cajun
Three Little Cajun Pigs by Mike Artell
The Cajun Cornbread Boy by Dianne De Las Casas
Cajun Night After Christmas (The Night …; by Amy Dixon
Hawaiian
‘Ula Li’i and the Magic Shark by Donivee Martin Laird
Snow White and the Seven Menehune by Donivee Martin Laird (Hawaii)
Sumorella: A Hawaiian Cinderella Story by Sandi Takayama
The Three Little Hawaiian Pigs and the Magic Shark by Donivee M. Laird
Middle Eastern
Cinderella: An Islamic Tale by Fawazia Gilani
The Golden Sandal: A Middle Eastern Cinderella Story by Rebecca Hickox
The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo
The Seven Wise Princesses: A Medieval Persian Epic by Wafa Tarnowska and Nilesh Mistry
The Persian Cinderella by Shirley Climo
Artemisia of Caria (The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Real Princesses) by Shirin Yim Bridges and Albert Nguyen (Oct 1, 2010)
Qutlugh Terkan Khatun of Kirman (The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Real Princesses) by Shirin Yim Bridges and Albert Nguyen (Oct 1, 2010)
Hatshepsut of Egypt (The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Real Princesses) by Shirin Yim Bridges and Albert Nguyen (Oct 1, 2010)
Agrippina “Atrocious and Ferocious” (The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Dastardly Dames) by Shirin Yim Bridges and Peter Malone (Sep 1, 2011)
Cleopatra “Serpent of the Nile” (The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Dastardly Dames) by Mary Fisk Pack and Peter Malone (Sep 1, 2011)
Indian and Pakistani
Anklet for a Princess: A Cinderella Story from …; by Meredith Babeaux Brucke…;
One Grain of Rice by Demi (India)
Ruler of the Courtyard by Khan (Pakistan)
Nur Jahan of India (The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Real Princesses) by Shirin Yim Bridges and Albert Nguyen (Oct 1, 2010)
Multicultural Collections
Happily Ever After Collection: Fairy Tales For Every Child (Mother Goose/Pinocchio/The Pied Piper/The Golden Goose) ~ Della Reese DVD
Barchers, Suzanne I. Wise Women: Folk and Fairy Tales from Around the World.
Carter, Angela. The Old Wives Fairy Tale Book.
Dalton, Annie. The Starlight Princess and Other Princess Stories.
Fleischman, Paul. Glass Slipper, Golden Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella
Gross, Ila Lane. Cinderella Tales From Around The World (LEAP’S Global Understanding Book Series)
Johnson, Cait. Celebrating the Great Mother: A Handbook of Earth-Honoring Activities for Parents and Children.
Lambert, Johanna, Ed. Wise Women of the Dreamtime: Aboriginal Tales of the Ancestral Powers.
Lipman, Doug. Folktales of Strong Women.
Lurie, Alison. Clever Gretchen and other Forgotten Folktales.
Muten, Burleigh. Grandmothers’ Stories: Wise Woman Tales from Many Cultures.
—. Goddesses: A World of Myth and Magic.
—. The Lady of Ten Thousand Names: Goddess Stories from Many Cultures.
Phelps, Ethel Johnston. Tatterhood and Other Tales: Stories of Magic and Adventure.
—. The Maid of the North: Feminist Folk Tales from Around the World.
Polette , Nancy. Eight Cinderellas.
Ragan, Kathleen. Fearless Girls, Wise Women, and Beloved Sisters.
Riordan, James. The Woman in the Moon and Other Tales of Forgotten Heroines.
Starhawk , Diane Baker, and Anne Hill. Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions.
Tchana, Katrin Hyman. Changing Woman and her Sisters: Stories of Goddesses from Around the World.
—. The Serpent Slayer and Other Stories of Strong Women.
Yolen, Jane. Not One Damsel in Distress: World Folktales for Strong Girls.
Valerie Estelle Frankel's Author Page 