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Posted June 9, 2009 by Mary Dixon Lebeau

Libby was destined to be a princess from the moment my husband told his parents they were getting a granddaughter for Christmas. And, by virtue of my English-major past, the little princess was also destined to be born with a royal library. 

Around the time we found out we were having a girl, I discovered "Princess: My First Taggies Book" by Will Grace. I was as smitten as the Prince was when Cinderella descended the staircase. (It may have had something to do with three boys in a row. It was so nice to buy a book that didn't feature a dump truck or dinosaur.)

Now, my older children, being of the rough and tumble variety, were never big on Taggies, but I just knew my little girl would fall in love with the soft pastel loops of ribbon that bordered this fabric book. Inside, the book is full of sweet illustrations of some animal favorites, such as a bunny and a mouse, dressed in their regal best (all in fabric, so each page is a tactile delight for little fingers).

Another great "touchy feely" book with a imperial spin is "That's Not My Princess...Her Tiara is Too Bumpy," which became a bedtime favorite when our royal darling was tiny. In the tradition of "Pat the Bunny," this book by Fiona Watt and Rachel Wells features a patch of "please touch" material on each page. Libby used to squeal in delight as she felt the folds of the princess's fan or touched the bumps of her jeweled tiara.

Other great starter books for "le petite princess" include "Bedtime: A Little Princess Board Book" by Tony Ross and "Soft Shapes: Little Princess," a foam book by iKids and Lori Shields that's perfect for bath time reading -- it floats!

As your little princess grows, her library should grow along with her. Here are some suggestions, age-by-royal-age, of books that will enchant your little noble. For the royal read-to-me set, try:

• The Disney Princess Little Golden Book Favorites, vol. 1 and 2 -- these volumes are the best introduction to the Disney princesses your child will grow to love (and emulate). Each volume contains three tales, with volume one covering Belle, Jasmine and Ariel and volume 2 describing Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.
  
  
• The Paper Bag Princess -- This classic twisted tale by Robert Munsch chronicles the adventures of Princess Elizabeth, who is set to marry Prince Ronald when a dragon destroys her dreams -- and her wardrobe -- in one fiery breath. Donning a paper bag, our plucky heroine rescues her prince, who has the nerve to insult her appearance. This one would've been a family favorite even if the princess wasn't "Elizabeth."
  
  
• Words -- A crown-shaped book designed to build your daughter's vocabulary -- and please her inner princess. The book, written by Mary Novick, breaks the vocab down into such princess-friendly categories as garden, ballet, toys and favorite things.

Once your royal highness is ready to try reading on her own, you'll need to stock her shelves with books that will help her develop reading skills. But also hang onto the stories you'll share over and over -- after all, there's still room on your lap for a girl in a tiara:

• Cinder Edna -- Two tales in one, this book describes the classic Cinderella and her next door neighbor, Cinder Edna, who also attends the ball and wins the affections of the Prince's dorky younger brother, Rupert. When Cinder Ella loses her glamorous glass slipper, Edna leaves a penny loafer behind -- and the laughs ensue in this vividly illustrated tale by Ellen Jackson and Kevin O'Malley.
  
  
• Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? -- A mom and her little lady-in-waiting explore what makes a genuine princess in this lovely, self-affirming tale by Carmela LaVigna Coyle. A mirror on the last page allows the reader to reflect on her own regal splendor. (By the way, our princess was wearing soccer cleats and a Hannah Montana T-shirt -- and a tiara, of course!)
  
  
• The Pony-Crazed Princess series -- when your royal reader moves on to chapter books, she'll fall for Princess Ellie and her four perfect ponies. Ellie solves mysteries, finds treasure, goes camping and has girly-girl adventures all her own. No Prince Charming needed in these books by Diana Kimpton.

With series like "The Princess Diaries" and stand-alone volumes like "The Tales of Despereaux," your daughter can continue building her royal library well into her teens. With each book, she'll be celebrating the bling bling of royalty -- and gaining the richness that goes along with the love of reading.