A Lesson in Girl Power from The Paper Bag Princess

Submitted by: Ellen Curtis

I have such fond memories of this book from when I was a little girl. Although I think it is now available in full size, I distinctly remember my well-worn version was a very small mini-book. But, it taught me a BIG lesson in girl power, independence, and forging your own path.

It starts like any other fairytale … Princess Elizabeth plans on marrying Prince Ronald, a devastatingly handsome, rich, boy-band type. Their impending nuptials get put on hold, however, when a fire-breathing dragon destroys Princess Elizabeth’s kingdom and kidnaps Ronald. Then to add insult to injury, the dragon burns all her princess clothes and she’s left wearing only a paper bag.

Elizabeth manages to outsmart the dragon by making him fly all around the world—twice. And the dragon is so tired he falls asleep outside the castle. This gives Elizabeth just the opening she needs to enter the castle and rescue her fiance! But Ronald doesn’t greet Elizabeth with open arms. In fact, he insists she clean herself up and get dressed like a “real princess.”

The last line of the book is priceless: “Ronald,” said Elizabeth, “Your clothes are really pretty and your hair is very neat. You look like a real prince, but you are a bum.” They didn’t get married after all.

Now, I’m not going to go so far as to say what I learned from The Paper Bag Princess led to me not getting married until I was well into my 30s — probably not — but the messages I took away have stayed with me and are powerful for any girl out there:

1. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Just because you’re wearing a paper bag doesn’t mean you can’t be intimidating and outsmart a fire-breathing dragon.

2. BUT, you can judge this book by its cover. The illustrations in this book are beautiful and the story also delivers.

3. Don’t marry a bum. And that’s just good, solid advice.

 

 

Name: Ellen Curtis
Position/Company: Executive Director of Marketing and Communications for Keller Williams Realty, Inc.
Hometown: Big Sandy, Tennessee

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