Sometimes your kids get a present for Christmas that you would have drooled over as a kid.
Check out her awesome cape!
My four-year-old and I were talking about princesses the other day. She says things like "All girls are princesses" and then when acting princessy will cover her mouth with her hands and do a very slow walk. I tried to bring up other qualites a princess might have and used the word "strong."
"Princesses aren't strong," she said.
"Hey, Wonder Woman is a princess. Princess Diana. And she's very strong."
Maggie pointed to a picture of Disney Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, etc., and said, "But these princesses aren't strong."
Dear DC Comics, I really think you're missing out on this princess craze in young girls. Where is our Wonder Woman movie? Where is our Wonder Woman tv show? Wonder Woman comics and books for kids? She's a princess! And she's awesome! Girls would go crazy for her, if they only knew who she was...and I'm finding, amazingly, that most lower elementary school kids don't. Come on, DC. You have Batman animated shows, Batman kids comics, as well as Batman movies and comics for adults. You can do both. Hey, I'll nobly offer myself as a writer for a Wonder Woman comic for young readers! Why, that's an offer you can't possibly refuse! Right? I mean, right? (Um...hello? Am I talking to myself again? How embarrassing...)
Amen! When I turned 5, I got to stand up in front of my school and say what I wanted to be when I grew up: Wonder Woman! It's still my dream...
Posted by: Becky | January 31, 2011 at 10:42 AM
Absolutely!! I watched some trivia(l) show the other night and the players didn't even know who Wonder Woman is!!! Sick and very wrong!
Posted by: Shannon Morris | January 31, 2011 at 10:43 AM
There's a new I Can Read from HarperCollins: I Am Wonder Woman, published August, 2010. My library has it and my little girls love it.
http://www.amazon.com/Wonder-Woman-Classic-Read-Book/dp/0061885177
Posted by: Kelly Andrews | January 31, 2011 at 10:48 AM
Wonder Woman is exactly who we need, my girls would be all over watching and reading wonder woman!
Especially if Shannon Hale was a writer for it!
Posted by: Jena | January 31, 2011 at 10:48 AM
Funny, I just saw something about NBC picking up Wonder Woman.
http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/01/21/wonder-woman-project-finds-a-home-at-nbc/
Posted by: Connie Onnie | January 31, 2011 at 11:00 AM
It's Wonder Woman's time! Zeitgeist!
Posted by: Kelly Andrews | January 31, 2011 at 11:10 AM
Don't forget Marvel! Ororo Munro "Storm" was a princess too!
Posted by: Elenatintil | January 31, 2011 at 11:16 AM
I always thought of Disney's Ariel and Belle as relatively strong princesses. Not exactly Wonder Woman, but they stand up for themselves, try new things, etc.
Plus, Princess Academy anyone?
Posted by: Annie | January 31, 2011 at 11:23 AM
This reminds me of one of the many themes in the new book, "Cinderella Ate my Daughter." I have yet to read the book but in the several interviews with the author that I have heard, the premise seems to be that the over indulgence in all things princess creates weak role models and contributes to the teaching of young girls that their most important attribute is their physical appearance.
I have it on hold at the library now. Go Wonder Woman!!!
Posted by: Emily G | January 31, 2011 at 11:24 AM
I remember doing the Wonder Woman spin and thinking I was amazing.
Posted by: Amanda Norr | January 31, 2011 at 11:29 AM
I'm disappointed that your daughter doesn't think Cinderella is strong! Walt Disney said of her, "She believed in dreams, all right, but she also believed in doing something about them. When Prince Charming didn't come along, she went over to the palace and got him." Cinderella totally has strength!
(I could probably argue a case for Sleeping Beauty, too, though I wouldn't win with a four-year-old. :p)
Wonder Woman seems to be making a slow comeback. Like Connie Onnie pointed out, a pilot for a "Wonder Woman" TV series was ordered by NBC. There's also been rumblings of a live-action movie for several years. And there was a direct-to-DVD "Wonder Woman" animated movie from 2009:
http://warnervideo.com/wonderwomanmovie/
(However, it is rated PG-13!)
By the way, I have that doll too and I love it. :)
Posted by: Mermaidpants | January 31, 2011 at 11:30 AM
I spent a lot of time when I was about your daughter's age (4-6) watching "She-Ra: Princess of Power." This is no longer on (sadly), but there are lovely boxed sets of all the episodes. And She-Ra is nothing if not a strong princess! My friends and I were all obsessed with her.
Posted by: Katie | January 31, 2011 at 11:30 AM
I used to pretend I was Wonder Woman when I was little. I'd spin around and around, fling open my jacket and yell, "Wonder Woman!!" I had a special shirt that I had to wear in order to play. It was sparkly.
...Now I have a sudden urge to spin in my cubicle...must be adultish.... :)
Posted by: Julie | January 31, 2011 at 11:46 AM
Girls needs as many models of strong women as possible. That's one of the reasons I do so love your books Mrs.Hale. :-)
Posted by: Miastar | January 31, 2011 at 11:56 AM
Wonder Woman is AWESOME! Thanks to my husband (and myself) our kids know her, but you are right about kids in general. Have you seen Meg Cabot's blog on "the Princess Thing"? Very good. http://www.megcabot.com/2010/12/the-princess-thing/
Posted by: Jen D.F. | January 31, 2011 at 12:08 PM
i second this! especially if you're writing it!
Posted by: Anna P | January 31, 2011 at 12:09 PM
My daughter LOVES Wonder Woman, but she found out about her through Batman (major wha wha wha moment on my part). Her name is Diana Prince, but when she reads aloud she calls her Diana Princess. Its so cute. But you are right- we need more Wonder Woman! We have a READ poster in my office of Wonder Woman reading. I did hear they might be doing a movie soon.
Posted by: Abby Minard | January 31, 2011 at 12:49 PM
I was a She-Ra and a Wonder Woman fan, both awesome, strong, confident princesses. However, my daughter loves the more delicate breed of princesses. I don't worry about it too much, I think most daughters will follow the lead of their mothers. So I try to be like Wonder Woman and She-Ra. Besides it takes some serious muscle to carry a kid in a car seat and two gallons of milk. Now I just have to find my lasso of truth so I can figure out who colored the wall.
Posted by: Michelle | January 31, 2011 at 01:22 PM
Rapunzel in Tangled was very strong. lol. Especially when armed with her frying pan.
BTW She-Ra is streaming on netflix now lol
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 31, 2011 at 02:24 PM
I missed out on Wonder Woman and am really sad. :"( I've heard my mom talk about her and wish I could have seen it.
All the cartoons I watched had male lead characters. They better come out with some new shows or movies with strong women characters. I vote they movie-ify the Goose Girl! Yay!
Posted by: Helene | January 31, 2011 at 02:28 PM
Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude and its sequel by Kevin O'Malley. Danged awesome with a powerful princess. Also, Janet Steven's version of the Princess and the Pea (as an on-and-off insomniac, I thought the original was unfair). In it, Princess Opal is an auto mechanic - tell me that doesn't exude expertise and strength!
There's Vasilissa the Wise and a million other book examples. What we need is more doll-examples, perhaps. With cute accessories.
Posted by: Guin | January 31, 2011 at 02:37 PM
I agree sososososososososo much. Princesses are strong! They have to be, don't they?
Posted by: Alexandra Wood | January 31, 2011 at 02:52 PM
I watched the same trivia show mentioned above. I think they really should make a Wonder Woman movie!
Posted by: Meg | January 31, 2011 at 04:10 PM
I totally get what you're saying. I felt like my three-year-old got it when she was watching Star Wars and yelled to me, as Leia strangled Jaba the Hutt, "Mommy, Princess Leia's saving herself!"
Ding!
Posted by: Emily | January 31, 2011 at 07:33 PM
There is a Wonder Woman movie in the works. They are currently deciding on the screenplay. There was a merger that slowed things up, but there is hope in the near future that this awesome princess will grace the big screen again!
Posted by: skw | January 31, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Wonder Woman is straight up awesome, no doubt about it! :)
Posted by: Christen | January 31, 2011 at 09:37 PM
I was SO excited when Jodi Picoult announced she was writing some of the "Wonder Woman" comics because the creators wanted more female readers. Sadly, it didn't make a huge splash with her fanbase. I got to see her last year at the National Book Festival in DC (as well as your lovely self...and then again in a Fairless Hills, PA B&N if you recall...) and she was so surprised that I brought the comic for her to sign...but very happy, too!
Did you see the costume re-design recently? Also, I don't know if it's still true, but at one point, there were rumors that Joss Whedon (who made AWESOME female characters who kick butt such as Buffy) would helm a live-action WW movie...
Posted by: Bonnie Lynn Wagner | January 31, 2011 at 09:54 PM
Back in 2008 or maybe sooner, Joss Whedon, who is the writer/creator of the Buffy, the Vampire Slayer TV series and of the Serenity movie (both of which have kick-butt women leads), was offered to do a Wonder Woman movie. It was actually in post production, but it was eventually halted b/c the producer/head-ups/whateveryoucallthem didn't like what Whedon was writing, so....yeah. It was going to happen (I'm a Whedon fan and I'm positive he would've made W.W. awesome), but didn't b/c they couldn't compromise. Now Whedon is doing the Avengers movie....which has no females except for Black Widow. Darn.
Posted by: amie | January 31, 2011 at 11:20 PM
Ben Caldwell, one of my drawering (sic) heroes, recently pitched a WW comic that was more aimed at teen girls than forty year old men:
http://purgetheory.blogspot.com/2010/07/ww-manga-blah-blah.html
(A caution- the link here is not at all risque, as well as the majority of his blog. However, his site contains a few pieces that might not be considered *exactly* work safe, so browse at your own risk. Honestly, though? I think you'll be fine. Just don't want to get Mrs. Hale in any trouble.)
I don't know if anybody saw his weirdly wonderful Wonder Woman in DC's Wednesday Weekly Comic series (anyone? Dean?) but it was pretty darned beautiful and strange.
So...
Um.
I forget my point.
Wonder Woman.
Posted by: Marcus Aurelius | February 01, 2011 at 08:39 AM
I'm with Katie a few posts up--go She-Ra!!!!!!!
Posted by: Emilie | February 01, 2011 at 08:45 AM
have you read the paperbag princess to her? there is a princess that fights a dragon and rescues the prince with a twist!
Posted by: reader | February 01, 2011 at 08:47 AM
Mulan is is one of my favorite Disney movies/princesses because of her strength. It is my kids' least favorite to watch and I think it's highly underrated. The girl was amazing in her time!
Posted by: MelissaPete | February 01, 2011 at 08:58 AM
My kids think that Buffy is a princess. Or at least she's as popular as one around here. :) Also we are fond of Nausicaa (of the Valley of the Wind, the Miyazaki movie) and other such characters. I am personally fond of Miri and Dashti - not to be a flatterer or anything - but I cannot deny the truth. :)
Posted by: SJ | February 01, 2011 at 10:17 AM
I so agree. Princesses are tough,man. They go through horrible things that Princes would never experience! And they have lots and lots of inner strength. And I think disney Princesses are strong. Especially Cinderella. I would personally would start beating the step mother for treating me so badly with the broom. But she stays strong. Inner Strength,people,Inner Strength.
Posted by: Princess Luna | February 01, 2011 at 11:59 AM
Try the book, "Don't Kiss the Frog: Princess stories with attitude". I love it.
Posted by: Je Reve | February 01, 2011 at 02:25 PM
I admire princesses (and queens) and think they are strong! (Hello, people: Isi!) And Wonder Woman is pretty awesome too! In fact most princesses are amazing!! Boys who won't see movies about princesses are missing out on a lot of INSPIRING stories!
Posted by: Madeleine | February 01, 2011 at 04:14 PM
Hey, what about Ani (or does she go by Isi)? She's queen of Bayern, and I'd say she's very strong!
And to whoever mentioned Rapunzel in Tangled, you are 100% right! (I loved that movie!)
Posted by: Dassie | February 01, 2011 at 06:05 PM
Oh, and I forgot about Britta (and Miri) from Princess Academy!
Posted by: Dassie | February 01, 2011 at 06:06 PM
This is unrelated to this actual post (though I do agree that we need more strong women as models for girls; toys, movies what have you...)
Anyway, a while ago you posted about the financial benefits or lack thereof, of being a published writer. My hubby and I have been debating the Kindle/Nook vs book-in-hand and it made me wonder, how does the sale of e-books vs paper books affect your profit? I posed this to author Frank L. Cole, as well, on his blog.
Thanks!
Posted by: A.J. Dub | February 01, 2011 at 07:08 PM
The big contention people have with Wonder Woman is that they see her as a bondage image (since her creator would have her tied up by her own lasso and such) and a gratuitous superheroine with her swimsuit costume. DC also isn't treating her well with a current storyline about her entire history being changed.
So what needs to be changed, besides this negative assocation? For starters, DC has to emphasize Wonder Woman's role as a humanitarian and diplomat as well as a butt-kicking princess; show how she fights the Nazis and the world's most offended adults.
Posted by: Jaya Lakshmi | February 02, 2011 at 05:48 AM
I agree; there is a tragic absence of wonder woman in comics and shows. But cinderella and snow white and all those other "weak" disney classic "heroines" were created quite a long time ago. Now, thanks to authors like you :) and many others, the role of princesses is being reinvented. I mean, look at Ani. Miri. And in Tangled (which is suspiciously similar to Rapunzel's Revenge :I) Rapunzel is a super kick butt, FUNNY princess. I really think the princess framework is going in the right direction. Thank gosh:)
Posted by: Libbi | February 02, 2011 at 07:21 AM
A Wonder Woman movie would be nice. I know that a while ago there was released a direct-to-video animated Wonder Woman movie. From what I know, it gained a lot of fans and I saw fan art from it. So I think that shows hope that there could be a Wonder Woman movie. If a live action film is made, I hope it would be a good one. I love superhero movies. Many of them are my favorite movies. There have been really good superhero movies coming out, but also some lame ones that weren't that good. Elektra was a female superhero film from a few years ago that was said to not be that great. So I hope the good movies keep coming!
Posted by: Callie the Strongbad Fan | February 02, 2011 at 02:48 PM
I second the She-Ra thing, but my favorite is one of her sidekicks, Princess Glimmer. I actually have a shirt that has "Princess Glimmer" embroidered on it. She was my favorite as a kid, because her power was using light to dispel darkness and fight bad guys (and she wore purple and had a winged horse). I didn't understand what I was responding to, but now I love the metaphor.
Also, as to Cinderella - she is strong to put up with her stepmother and sisters that way and still be kind and hopeful and hard working. That's real strength. And unlike superheroes, she stays covered up while doing it.
Posted by: HillaryPond | February 02, 2011 at 07:09 PM
You make a point, Shannon.
Posted by: gracie | February 03, 2011 at 06:35 AM
Good point!!! That's would I would have done or said.
Posted by: yaks | February 03, 2011 at 02:57 PM
YES for Shannon Hale Wonder Woman comics for young readers!
Posted by: Sierra | February 04, 2011 at 08:27 AM
My point exactly!!! I was so happy a month or two ago when I was looking after my 4-year-old cousin once removed at a party and my little cousin, her uncle(my cousin)'s girlfriend, and I were building with some building blocks. My cousin decided that we had built a castle and the girlfriend asked if a princess lived there. She said yes, and the girlfriend asked if a prince would rescue the princess but my cousin said no. I asked if she would rescue herself and my cousin grinned and said "YES!"
Posted by: Rebecca | February 04, 2011 at 12:57 PM
My favorite Disney princess is Mulan, hands down. She is a COOL princess.
I was a huge Wonder Woman fan as a preschooler (I watched the TV show that aired in the late 1970s) and went out trick-or-treating as Wonder Woman when I was three or four. My mom sewed my cape, and it was a fixture of my costume box for many years.
My daughters (who are 10 and 7) are mostly over the princess thing now, thank goodness. My seven-year-old, who a few years ago was ALL about Cinderella etc., now says her favorite book is "Rapunzel's Revenge." Her school just had a "dress as your favorite character" day and she went as ... Gothel.
Posted by: Naomi Kritzer | February 14, 2011 at 12:42 PM
There will always be tensions between principle and expediency!
Posted by: Coach Alexandra Collection | February 15, 2011 at 05:47 PM
It's something that bugs me no end- the lack of strong role models that we get when we're younger as girls. Though, no, it's more than that- it's the fact that somehow girls can't be seen as both feminine and strong- if they're strong, it has to be considered a masculine quality. And that's so wrong.
Which is why Wonderwoman rocks. And why Enna and Isi and Dasha rock too. They save each other and the world and everything else while still wearing skirts.
Posted by: Miriam | February 20, 2011 at 06:56 AM