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The Tough Princess
An unconventional, empowering story about a very unusual fairy-tale princess! Princess Rosamund is no fairy-tale princess. The King and Queen want her to marry a rich and handsome prince; she'd much rather be off bashing bad fairies, slaying dragons and sorting out hundred-headed things. So that's what she does! But will it all end happily ever after? Follow the adventures of the tough princess and see!
Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
112 people want to read
About the author
Martin Waddell
468 books97 followershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_W...
Also writes under the pen name Catherine Sefton
Martin Waddell is the author of more than one hundred books for young readers.
Awards: Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing (2004).
Also writes under the pen name Catherine Sefton
Martin Waddell is the author of more than one hundred books for young readers.
Awards: Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing (2004).
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 17, 2014
Once upon a time there lived a King and
a Queen who weren't very good at it.
They kept losing wars and kingdoms,
and ended up living in a caravan
parked beside a deep dark wood.
The King is the one with the frying pan.
The Queen is the one with the hammer,
trying to fix the roof.
Don't feel too bad for them, though; they're pretty much a couple of jerks.
Although the King and Queen are disappointed to have a daughter instead of a son, they quickly formulate a "clever" plan to offend an Evil Fairy, get the kid cursed, and have her rescued by a prince so they can go live in his palace.
Unfortunately for them, Rosamund is a girl who knows her own mind (and her own fists) and she isn't accepting any curses or marrying any ninnies. Up yours, King, she's off to slay some monsters, and she's taking your bike. See ya!
July 29, 2013
This little book has been a favourite of mine for years. It has an inept royal family, an amusing bad fairy, a plucky heroine, and delightful illustrations. It's out of print now, although you may be able to find a copy online. The story has a different ending depending on which version is read. One version ends in brief fisticuffs, and the other doesn't. Either version is fun.
October 6, 2022
Aww, didn't live up to expectations. A puglistic Princess from a down-and-out kingdom turns down several wealthy Princes that she handily rescues, only to marry the one who punches her in the face after she wakes him from an enchanted sleep:
If I was going to criticize this further, I'd say it wasn't a great model for a lasting relationship (domestic violence being the shared hobby, and all). ;) But let's be honest - the intended audience could give a toss about stable marriages and loving relationships. MY local intended audience definitely got the impression that "Biffing" someone in the face was a great idea, though. Yeay. More work for me...
See, the thing to remember is that we adults buy books for kids that we think contain a positive message for them... and we can only really think within the framework of our own generation. So a Princess that does the rescuing and is tall and resourceful and can knock out a bad fairy with a fist to the face sounds very progressive to someone born in the 60s or 70s... but my kid has almost exclusively self-rescuing princess books, and I'm not sure the "damsel in distress/gallant knight to the rescue" trope would even be familiar. I don't think the currently very young need this message now as much as we might have when we were that age. (NB - this book was first published in 1986, so this might be a moot point).
What I suspect toddlers today will retroactively wish they had read at this time is that it's okay to be male (because I worry that there are a lot of little boys who aren't feeling valued, and we all know enough history to know that disenfranchised and unloved male youth is a BAD THING for society!), and that it's equally okay to be female (we probably have that covered fairly well), and it's also equally okay to be all/none of the above, and, well - maybe instead of being stuck on labels, categories and representation, from this juncture onwards we should really centrally focus on GOOD STORIES which enrich and enliven and inspire the imagination and creativity (with good representation and all that as well, but the STORY should be most important aspect!). :) Can't go wrong there. And less likely to get stuck in generational ruts.
The beautiful prince opened his eyes and took a look at Princess Rosamund.Mildy amusing for an adult reader - my toddler just wanted to punch people in the face, too. I really didn't need the extra encouragment on that front.
'Cor! What a liberty!' he cried, and biffer her one, right on her beautiful nose.
And Rosamund biffed him one right back!
It was love at first biff.
They biffed happily ever after, too, and the Bad Fairy got even worse.
If I was going to criticize this further, I'd say it wasn't a great model for a lasting relationship (domestic violence being the shared hobby, and all). ;) But let's be honest - the intended audience could give a toss about stable marriages and loving relationships. MY local intended audience definitely got the impression that "Biffing" someone in the face was a great idea, though. Yeay. More work for me...
See, the thing to remember is that we adults buy books for kids that we think contain a positive message for them... and we can only really think within the framework of our own generation. So a Princess that does the rescuing and is tall and resourceful and can knock out a bad fairy with a fist to the face sounds very progressive to someone born in the 60s or 70s... but my kid has almost exclusively self-rescuing princess books, and I'm not sure the "damsel in distress/gallant knight to the rescue" trope would even be familiar. I don't think the currently very young need this message now as much as we might have when we were that age. (NB - this book was first published in 1986, so this might be a moot point).
What I suspect toddlers today will retroactively wish they had read at this time is that it's okay to be male (because I worry that there are a lot of little boys who aren't feeling valued, and we all know enough history to know that disenfranchised and unloved male youth is a BAD THING for society!), and that it's equally okay to be female (we probably have that covered fairly well), and it's also equally okay to be all/none of the above, and, well - maybe instead of being stuck on labels, categories and representation, from this juncture onwards we should really centrally focus on GOOD STORIES which enrich and enliven and inspire the imagination and creativity (with good representation and all that as well, but the STORY should be most important aspect!). :) Can't go wrong there. And less likely to get stuck in generational ruts.
June 16, 2014
I used to read this to one of my tiny daughters as it was one of her favourite stories but I never imagined she would grow up to resemble Princess Rosamund! An enchanting fairy tale for the modern princess.
November 7, 2020
'Never mind,' said the King. 'She will grow up to be a beautiful princess. I will annoy a bad fairy and get the Princess into bother, and then a handsome prince will rescue her, and we'll go off and live in his castle!'
The King and Queen have fallen on bad times and are living in a caravan. When the Queen declares she is having a child all hope is on a Prince to bring them back their fortune. Unfortunately, a Princess is born and the King has to come up with a new plan.
However, on coming of age, the Princess has her own ideas and not everything goes how the King and Queen would like.
A fun little children's book that seems quite forward thinking for 1986, when it was first published. A good, strong, female character who doesn't go what is expected and finds her own way in the world.
I enjoyed this one.
The King and Queen have fallen on bad times and are living in a caravan. When the Queen declares she is having a child all hope is on a Prince to bring them back their fortune. Unfortunately, a Princess is born and the King has to come up with a new plan.
However, on coming of age, the Princess has her own ideas and not everything goes how the King and Queen would like.
A fun little children's book that seems quite forward thinking for 1986, when it was first published. A good, strong, female character who doesn't go what is expected and finds her own way in the world.
I enjoyed this one.
February 23, 2017
This book is the reason I'm a feminist, my favourite book as a child and still resonates with me now. She needed a hero so she became one.
December 15, 2019
A modern fairytale by Waddell & Benson in which we meet a strong-willed, self-confident princess. Her parents, the King and Queen are not cut out for any sort of ruling and their ineptitude has led them to living life in mock-built caravan with clothes hung of broken branches and royal meals cooked upon a measly fire. When blessed with a child who could save their futures, they bemoan the fact that they have been gifted a girl only to find that she is more than capable of overcoming any adversaries *I particularly enjoyed the biffing she gives the bad fairy*.
A parodical exploration of many prince-sent-questing tropes I, for one, enjoyed the ending with both princess and prince having a friendly spar. Some may say, for a true role reversal the prince should take on those duties bound those endless princesses in fairy tales but I prefer the message behind this one. As always, Benson's watercolour and ink drawing are a delight and it cannot be without coincidence that our most excellent princess passes more than a likeness for Pippi Longstocking.
A parodical exploration of many prince-sent-questing tropes I, for one, enjoyed the ending with both princess and prince having a friendly spar. Some may say, for a true role reversal the prince should take on those duties bound those endless princesses in fairy tales but I prefer the message behind this one. As always, Benson's watercolour and ink drawing are a delight and it cannot be without coincidence that our most excellent princess passes more than a likeness for Pippi Longstocking.
September 23, 2020
An amusing fairy tale about a princess who refuses to comply with the stereotypical life of a princess, despite her parents desire for her to be saved by a prince. Instead she defends herself from bad fairies, slays dragons and knights, and rescues many helpless princes- all in the day of a heroine princess. This great book also has beautifully painted pictures throughout.
January 2, 2021
An amusing fairy tale about a princess who refuses to comply with the stereotypical life of a princess, despite her parents desire for her to be saved by a prince. She needed a hero so she became one herself.
Favourite Quote: “Once upon a time there lived a King and a Queen who weren't very good at it.”
Favourite Quote: “Once upon a time there lived a King and a Queen who weren't very good at it.”
January 27, 2020
Great aside from the ending.
March 4, 2021
Mi cuento preferido desde que era niña.
Perfecto para que los niños vean que tenemos que buscar como queremos vivir sin que nos marquen el camino.
Perfecto para que los niños vean que tenemos que buscar como queremos vivir sin que nos marquen el camino.
February 6, 2022
Decent enough story but prefer de Ridster.
September 1, 2022
a cool story in 1986. but for now, the ending is unsatisfactory. not every princess should have a prince.
June 23, 2023
Open Library.
August 10, 2014
my preschool friend had this out from her local library, it was super adorable and empowering!
February 26, 2015
This book is perfect.
November 13, 2016
Read the Spanish version of this female princess Rosamunda who goes out to slay dragons and save princes herself.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews