Ransacked Goods

Books for Strong Girls: Part 2

photo by Kukubee

Awhile back I wrote a post on the lack of picture books with strong female characters to read with my own little girl. I'm still wishing there were more out there but here is a list of the ones we have found on our search for books that are about capable, inquisitive, brave, thoughtful, smart, adventurous girls. I truly appreciate books that we can read together that get my daughter asking questions and inspired about opportunities for adventure. What I like even more are the ones that don't try too hard to flip or assert particular gender rolls but just read with ease as a strong story.

Have any suggestions for us, please let me know! Pass this list on to other parents if you like!

Kiss the Cow! by Phyllis Root

The Dot by Peter Reynolds

Ladybug Girl by David Soman

The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania Al Abdullah

Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly by Alan Madison

Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen by Cari Best

Someday by Alison McGhee

The Colors of Us by Karen Katz

My Life as a Chicken by Ellen A. Kelley

Doctor Meow's Big Emergency by Sam Lloyd

Bedtime for Mommy by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Library Mouse: A World to Explore by Daniel Kirk

Shelia Rae, The Brave by Kevin Henkes

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain by Jonathan Emmett

Ladybug Girl by David Soman

Princesses Are Not Quitters by Kate Lum

Princess Smartypants by Babette Cole

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton

Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran

Kate and the Beanstalk by Mary Pope Osborne

Pirate Girl by Cornelia Funke

Earth to Stella! by Simon Puttock

Part 1 List

I Want to be a Cowgirl by Jeanne Willis

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert N. Munsch

Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle

Night Pirates by Peter Harris

The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke

Cinder Edna by Ellen Jackson

The Seven Chinese Sisters by Kathy Tucker

Someday by Eileen Spinelli

Anna Banana and Me by Lenore Blegvad

Christina Katerina and the Box by Patricia Gauch

Paper Cuts: Made by Julene

via madebyjulene.com

I came across the most beautiful paper cuts by Julene Harrison. This one is my favorite because it brings in elements from each family member which I'm always drawn to. Wouldn't they make the most wonderful gift for a wedding, baby's birth or anniversary. I can't imagine the time it must take accomplish one of these finished pieces but it must be methodical and meditative. Here limited edition laser cut pieces are more affordable than the originals, obviously. I must say I'm just as intrigued by these cool laser cuttings as the hand cutting, what an amazing tool.

Denied Skirt

I made this skirt for the Chickpea or I should say we made it together, a collaboration. I let her pick out the fabric and she chose this one because it had cupcakes on it. I did the cutting and we stitched it up after her nap, a nice project right? She wont even try it on and has left it crumpled on her floor since we made it. Why are little girls so fickle? Meanwhile she is begging to wear a ratty old fleece hoodie morning-noon-and-night despite the blueberry stain on the front and the browning cuffs. She cries when we have to wash it. I tried... I'm just going to leave this up to an A+ for effort.

Happy Valentine's Day

May your day be filled with thoughtful surprises.

Book: Cinderella Ate My Daughter

Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture

Alright, just put this one in my queue at the library after reading an interview here with this local author. We don't play up the princess thing or the pink but let our nearly 4-year-old daughter choose her own interests. She's more interested in running around outside, playing doctor/ambulance driver/pilot, or tending to her flock of baby dolls. But pink fairies and the like are part of life for little girls regardless of what end of the parenting spectrum your on. I think my daughter at least feels like she should be into it because she sees other kids, but it's truthfully not striking a chord with her. Tonight she was telling me she's a t-shirt and pant kind of girl when I asked her if she wanted to wear a skirt to school. But the other day she told me "rockets aren't for girls" and I gasped a little and tried to turn it into a teaching moment. Can I wring the neck of whoever told her that -- wait a minute, that's society as a whole.... Where do kids pick up some of these ideas, what can you do besides empower them as much as possible at home? There's no way Hannah Montana is ever going to see the light of day in this house, that's for certain. But that doesn't mean my job is done.

I'd be interested if anyone else had read any good books on the topic, particularly one that aren't too alarmist.

More Garland Love

More of our water color circles in a garland for Valentine's Day. The little Chickpea painted this wooden heart from the craft store and then dusted it with a mighty hand of sparkles. It looks pretty sweet I must say.

We're using the last of them to make Valentine's Day cards for her pre-school classmates.

An Idiot Abroad

Alright, An Idiot Abroad is THE funniest show I have seen in years! Well traveled or not you'll get a good laugh. If you've been to one of the conntries he visits you'll enjoy it even more. We were in India during the Holi Festival and the footage completely captures the chaos to an outsider.

1st Birthday Garland

A little gift for one of our littlest friends who is celebrating her 1st birthday next week (sorry to ruin the surprise -- it's going in the mail tomorrow). I can't believe how fast a year can fly by -- I understand why all parents say that now.

This is made with mostly scraps of watercolor paper that have remnants of little splashes of color made by my 3 year old. What a difference thick high quality paper makes to a project. I punched them out and sewed them to a piece of grosgrain ribbon, then placed sparkly little gilded letters on. I think it's sweet and hopefully timeless as fickle little girls go.

I still have a bunch of punched circles left so I'll make a Valentine's Day garland with a little message of love to boot!