The Paper Bag Princess facts for kids
Paperback cover
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| Author | Robert Munsch |
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| Illustrator | Michael Martchenko |
| Cover artist | Michael Martchenko |
| Language | English |
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Publication date
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1980 |
| Pages | 32 |
The Paper Bag Princess is a popular children's book. It was written by Robert Munsch and illustrated by Michael Martchenko. The book first came out in 1980. It quickly became famous and helped launch Robert Munsch's career as an author. This story is special because it flips the usual princess and dragon tale. Instead of a prince saving a princess, the princess saves the prince! Many people, especially those who support equal rights for women, love this book. It has sold over seven million copies around the world since it was first published.
Contents
What Happens in The Paper Bag Princess?
Princess Elizabeth's Big Day Turns Upside Down
Princess Elizabeth is excited to marry Prince Ronald. She thinks he is perfect. But then, a fierce dragon attacks her castle! The dragon destroys her home and kidnaps Prince Ronald. It even burns all of Elizabeth's beautiful clothes.
A Paper Bag and a Brave Plan
With no fancy dresses left, Elizabeth has to find something to wear. Her only choice is a simple paper bag. Even in a paper bag, Elizabeth is determined. She decides to follow the dragon and rescue Ronald.
Outsmarting the Dragon
Elizabeth tracks down the dragon. She challenges it to show off its power. First, she dares the dragon to burn down a whole forest with its fiery breath. The dragon does it easily. Then, she challenges it to fly around the world. The dragon flies around the world once. Elizabeth then tricks it into flying around the world a second time. After all that flying, the dragon gets super tired and falls fast asleep.
Ronald's Ungrateful Reaction
Elizabeth bravely rescues Ronald. But Ronald is not thankful at all! He looks at Elizabeth in her paper bag and tells her to come back when she looks more like a princess.
Elizabeth's Smart Choice
Elizabeth is shocked by Ronald's rude words. She tells him off for being so ungrateful. She realizes that even though he looks like a prince, he is not a good person. Elizabeth decides she doesn't need him. She calls him a "bum" and dances off into the sunset. She chooses to live happily on her own.
Who Are the Main Characters?
Princess Elizabeth: Brave and Smart
Princess Elizabeth is the main hero of the story. She is very brave, smart, and doesn't give up easily. When Ronald is kidnapped, she goes on a dangerous journey to save him. This journey helps her see that Ronald is not worthy of her loyalty or love. She learns to stand up for herself.
Prince Ronald: Selfish and Shallow
Prince Ronald is the prince Elizabeth plans to marry. But he turns out to be very selfish. He cares more about how people look than how they act. Even after Elizabeth saves him, he is rude and ungrateful. Elizabeth realizes he is not the good person she thought he was.
The Dragon: Powerful and Tricked
The dragon in the story looks like a typical European dragon. It has green scales, a belly like an alligator, small wings, and sharp talons. It can breathe very powerful fire. This makes it a very strong creature. In the story, the dragon attacks the castle and kidnaps Prince Ronald. Even though it's a villain, Elizabeth is able to outsmart it with her cleverness.
Other Versions of the Story
Changes in Different Books
Sometimes, the ending of The Paper Bag Princess is changed a little for different countries. For example, Elizabeth's insult for Ronald, "bum," has been changed to "toad" in some books.
Beyond the Book
The story has also been made into other fun things!
- It was turned into a cartoon. This cartoon was part of an animated TV series called A Bunch of Munsch.
- You can also find videos of Robert Munsch himself reading the story. These are often uploaded onto websites like YouTube.
