I had the pleasure of meeting Leah Lesser from Barefoot Books today. We had fun talking about children’s books and, somehow, ended up chatting about the birth of the new baby prince.
We thought it would be fun to conjure up a book list for young princes, everywhere, both of royal birth or just beloved. Here are 10 books for a prince that we think belong on every young prince’s bookshelf.
What would you add to the list? Please share!
10 Books Every Young Prince Should Read
10. The Prince’s Bedtime by Joanne Oppenheim
Meet a young prince who refuses to go to sleep! The entire kingdom comes out to lend a hand in this rhyming bedtime adventure. There is a hullabaloo of activity—jugglers juggling, magicians hypnotizing, dancers dancing—but it is the wonder of a good story that finally does the trick. Book with CD editions includes the story read by actor Jim Broadbent. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
9. The Kite Fighters by Linda Sue Park
Set in 15th century Korea, Korea’s Golden Age, two brothers — one skilled in kite making and the other skilled in kite flying — combine their skills to compete in a kite-flying contest on behalf of Korea’s young king. A coming of age story for the brothers but it also shows what restrictions a boy king has should this latest prince take to the throne at a tender young age. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
8. The Princess and the Peanut: A Royally Allergic Tale by Sue Ganz-Schmitt
A prince needs to be able to tell a true princess from one who is not. When the palace was fresh out of peas, his mother, the queen, used a peanut instead. It turns out that real princesses can have peanut allergies so it would behoove all princes to know how to make a castle nut-free! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
7. King Arthur’s Very Great Grandson by Kenneth Kraegel
6-year-old Prince Henry is the great, great, great, great, great, great, great-grandson of King Arthur and he seeks adventure to test his might and courage. The local fire-breathing dragon, though, only blows smoke rings. The Cyclops challenges him to a battle but it’s only a staring contest. The ferocious Griffin prefers chess. Finally, young Prince Henry goes to find the Leviathan in the ocean. It turns out that the Leviathan only wants to play. Prince Henry doesn’t get a battle but he does make four new friends! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
6. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
A classic poetic tale illustrated in watercolors is about a pilot stranded in the desert who meets a young prince who fell to Earth from an asteroid. [middle grade, ages 12 and up]
5. The Real Princess: A Mathemagical Tale by Brenda Williams
Practice your math skills while enjoying this quirky take on “The Princess and the Pea.” The King and Queen and their three sons are on the search for a real princess, but it is only the Queen who knows the secret. After the story, there is an opportunity for readers to test their counting skills with fun number games. The book with CD edition includes the story read by actress Juliet Stevenson. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
4. The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Peterson
This captivating story for young adults is about the adventures of two tweens, a boy and a girl, who set out to create an elaborate kingdom called Terabithia. They rule the land as the King and Queen until a tragedy happens. One of the characters is PT, or Prince of Terabithia, the girl’s puppy. [middle grade, ages 9 and up]
3. The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy
The four princes, Prince Liam, Prince Frederic, Prince Duncan, and Prince Gustav, are back and they must save a powerful object from falling into the hands of evil in this hilarious retold fairy tale sequel to The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
2. The Prog Frince: A Mixed Up Tale by C. Drew Lamm, illustrated by Barbara McClintock
Oh, I love a retold fairy tale! When a stable girl tries to buy muffins, a talking frog jumps out of her pocket, taking her money. He wants to tell her a story but Jane doesn’t much like stories. To get her dime back, she listens to the frog tell the story of the Frog Prince in which a young prince falls in love with a stable girl but turns into a frog when his father gives him an anti-love potion. Do you think this frog is a prince too? He just might be! [picture book, ages 5 and up]
1. The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
A prince must know what it’s like to be a commoner and what better way to explore this than Twain’s classic tale? This book follows the thrilling adventures of Tom Canty, a poor beggar boy, and Edward, Prince of Wales, after they exchange identities. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
Other Great Recommendations!
Story Snug has a great review on Prince Cinders by Babette Cole.
Picture Book for Your Prince (or Princess) Giveaway
I am giving away 3 copies of The Prince’s Bedtime to three lucky winners! Please fill out the Rafflecopter below to win.
This list was compiled by Mia Wenjen and Leah Lesser. Leah is the Communications Director at Barefoot Books. When she’s not doing publicity and social media for Barefoot, she is raising her two daughters with her husband in a suburb of Boston, reading, running, baking, or doing a variety of other things that usually involve creativity and community. Storytime is one of her most favorite parts of parenting.
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p.s. Related posts:
Book Club for Kids: Chapter Book on Knights, Princesses and Castles
Top 10: Strong and Capable Princess Books for Girls (ages 2-16)
Chinese King Arthur: The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen (ages 8-14)
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We have been reading “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”.
Have you read the “Hero’s Guide” sequel yet?
Hi MaryAnne,
We have the Narnia series but none of my kids have read it yet. The two older ones never really took to fantasy. I haven’t read the second Hero’s book yet but I heard it was even better than the first!! Have to ask for a copy!
Ooh it’s better? How exciting! I definitely need to look for a copy!
Hi MaryAnne,
I heard it was even better but the first one was so good that even if it’s close to that, I’d be satisfied. I need to get a copy too!
What a fun list! I can’t think of a single good prince book, so way to go thinking up TEN of them! 🙂
Thanks Amy!
Leah from Barefoot Books did all the heavy lifting on this list for me so it was easy to pull off. Thanks Leah!
Ah, thanks! It was so much fun and I just finished reading Bridge to Terabithia to my oldest so that one was easy, then the two Barefoot ones, a few from our friends at Candlewick, Mia’s brilliant additions…and we were nearly there! Wonder what really is on little Prince George’s bookshelf : ). Hopefully they’ve begun reading to him! Leah
Hi Leah,
Oh, I hope they have some sweet board books like Goodnight Moon, Goodnight Gorilla and books by Sandra Boynton. It’s too bad they can’t accept gifts because Prince George would surely love The Prince’s Bedtime! That is such a wonderfully fun picture book!
The books A happy Prince , A Prince among frogs & Harry Potter and the Half blood Prince. 🙂 Thank – you for this awesome book giveaway . I have three boys ages 3,8 and 13 . I am encouraging them to continue reading books and learning during there summer break from school.
Have you read Frogspell by C. J. Busby? It is about a prince in that one gets kidnapped and a page in training who really wants to be a wizard and his sister who would rather be a knight, their pet dragon and rat who all attempt to use their skills to save the prince and prevent a war between Camelot and the Prince’s father. It takes place at King Arthur of Camelot’s castle and is quite funny and is the first of a four part series. I started to read it to my grade threes and they loved it, laughing out right in several places.
Great idea for a list – very timely indeed! I would add Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis to that list. I won’t enter your giveaway because I don’t have kids the right age but I’m happy tweet about it! 🙂
We love The Loudest Noise in the World by Benjamin Elkin about Prince Hulla Baloo! Another favorite is The Frog King by The Brother’s Grimm. We have done both of those stories in our repertory in the past and particularly love the wonderful revelation for Prince Hulla Baloo at the end when the city goes from being noisy to quiet and the sounds of nature can finally be heard in the calm. If we win we will be donating the book to The LA Children’s Hospital for their little ones to enjoy! Thanks for spreading the love and joy of reading!
My son loves prince books. Our last name is Queen so we always joke that we are a royal family 🙂
Hi Tanya,
It’s clear to me that you MUST win a prince book! The universe is speaking! Hopefully with three chances to win, Rafflecopter will select you. How fun to be a royal-ish family!
I think kids would be much more fun if they weren’t treated as little princes and (especially) little princesses! We need more Famous Five Georges and fewer Prince Georges
Hi Pat,
Ah, good point. Hopefully, young Prince George will grow up to be as caring and involved as his parents and grandmother. I’m impressed with the Royal Family and their dedication to their people and to worthy causes. They can do a lot of good by using their status to bring awareness to issues.
Who are the Famous Five Georges? I’m not well versed in that.
The Little Prince has to be one of my all time favorite books for both the classroom and my own children. Unfortunately, I was not introduced to it until college French class.
Hi Barbara,
That’s so funny because I didn’t really ever read it until high school French class and frankly, my French was so bad that I struggled to translate it. And that kind of ruined the story for me!
My nephew loves The Hungry Caterpillar and The Poky Little Puppy!
Hi Larissa,
Your nephew has such excellent taste in picture books! Thanks so much for coming by to enter my giveaway. I hope he liked The Prince’s Bedtime too! There will be 3 winners so you have an excellent chance of winning for him! And what a nice aunt to try!
I love reading to him “I love you forever”
Hi Alvina,
What a sweet book to read to a little boy! Yes, I hope the Duchess has this book for her son’s bookshelf. You must have a little boy too!
Have been meaning to read LIttle Prince for sometime now.. thanks for the reminder and the list 🙂
-Resh @StackingBooks.com
Hi Reshama,
You are so welcome. I would stand a re-read of The Little Prince myself. I had to read it in French for High School but my French was (and is) so bad that I really didn’t get much out of the book as I could barely translate it.
My daughter loves Thank you god for dad and I love mommy.
Hi Shirisha,
What lovely books your daughter has chosen! She must love you and your husband very much! My kids would have picked something like Goodnight Moon or a pop up book! Not something about their mom and dad!
one fish two fish red fish blue fish
Hi Shawna,
I love that book too! Tongue twisters are fun as read alouds. Thanks so much for entering!
we like to read The Narnia series.
Such magical books. Thanks for the chance at the giveaway.
Hi Lynette,
I loved the Narnia series as a kid! What a wonderful series! Thanks so much for entering. With 3 chances to win, I think you have a good shot!
We love to read! Currently reading, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory to my 6 year old, & a hodge podge of books to my 2 year old.
Hi Kristina,
What a great read aloud you are reading to your 6 year old! Thanks so much for entering!!
We read Goodnight Moon, The Hungry Caterpillar and good Night Teddy.
Hi Sharon,
Love your book picks! Thanks for entering!
My princess’s current favorite book is “I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean”.
Hi Jordan,
How wonderful that your princess likes non fiction! Thanks for entering!
We like to read GoodNight Moon
Hi JoBeth,
Goodnight Moon is one of my favorite books too! Thanks for entering!
My little prince is more into dinosaurs and sharks but this is such a lovely selection of books (particular favourite The Little Prince Antoine du Saint Exupery) that I’m sure he’ll be enchanted with them as he grows & being as I have a nut allergy and he will need to learn about that The Princess and the Peanut sounds a great place to start!
Hi Maria G,
Thank you so much! I’m glad your little prince is willing to learn about nut allergies. Hopefully that will help him when he looks for a true princess one day! Thanks for entering!
Thank you for adding my link to your post 🙂
Hi Catherine,
Thanks so much for letting me link to your great book review! So perfect for a little prince too!!