The Paper Bag Princess

Story by Robery Muncsh

Art by Michael Martchenko

The Paper Bag Princess Story by Robert Munsch Art By Michael Marchenko

The Paper Bag Princess is a classic children’s book that turns the traditional fairy tale upside down. Princess Elizabeth is set to marry Prince Ronald when a dragon kidnaps him and burns down her castle, destroying everything she owns, even her clothes. With nothing to wear but a paper bag, Elizabeth bravely outsmarts the dragon and rescues Ronald. Instead of thanking her, Ronald criticizes Elizabeth and tells her to come back when she looks like “a real princess.” Showing courage, confidence, and self-respect, Elizabeth decides to walk away from the relationship.

This story is a great tool for therapists, parents, and educators who want to use bibliotherapy to teach children about social skills, resilience, and self-worth. After reading, try asking your child or client to list the qualities they value in a good friend such as kindness, loyalty, humor, or shared interests. Then, connect those traits to characters in the story and explore times they’ve noticed those same qualities in themselves or others. This helps kids practice identifying healthy relationship qualities in a fun and relatable way.

The book also opens conversations about empathy and feeling misunderstood. Elizabeth is still a princess, no matter what she wears, but Ronald treats her unfairly because of her appearance. You might ask: How do you think Elizabeth felt when Ronald judged her? Have you ever felt like your best qualities were overlooked? Why is it important not to judge people by how they look? These questions encourage children to reflect on their own experiences, build empathy, and strengthen self-confidence.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or therapist, The Paper Bag Princess is a fun and meaningful way to help children learn about friendship, respect, and courage; important lessons that go far beyond fairy tales.