100 books like Princesses Can Fix It!

By Tracy Marchini, Julia Christians (illustrator),

Here are 100 books that Princesses Can Fix It! fans have personally recommended if you like Princesses Can Fix It!. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Tango Red Riding Hood

Ana Velez Author Of The Three Little Guinea Pigs and the Andean Fox

From my list on retellings with characters out of character.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a Latina living in the US, I encounter stereotypes about me and my culture. I am sure I have my own blind spots around other cultures and people. So, I like stories that break traditional tropes. Initially, fairytales were dark and used as moral teaching tools full of warnings and fear. I prefer retellings that spread joy and challenge assumptions. Lastly, I love to discover new—real or imaginary—places through the illustrations and the artist’s point of view, especially if it influences the twist.

Ana's book list on retellings with characters out of character

Ana Velez Why did Ana love this book?

This book shares my Andean setting and love of dance, so I am already rooting for it. I am immediately connected with the main character as she twirls down the path. I can relate to the wolf as well; I know how language barriers can cause misunderstandings. A clever twist to a beloved classic. The art is full of energy and captures the joy in the dance moves.

By Rachel Hobbs, Carolina Vázquez (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Tango Red Riding Hood as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

A 2024 Anna Dewdney Read-Together Award Honor Book

An irresistible rhythm tugs at Moni's heart as she dances down the path to la casa de Abuela. But Moni's corazón skips a beat when she spies a strange set of ears - setting her own orejas on alert. Lobo must be near!

In this modern interpretation of a classic fairytale, readers tango along with Moni as she sways to the music that follows her through the woods. In a clearing, Moni stumbles upon Lobo . . . playing a bandoneón? Moni can't help from tap-tap-tapping to the tune, but when the…


Book cover of Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu

Ana Velez Author Of The Three Little Guinea Pigs and the Andean Fox

From my list on retellings with characters out of character.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a Latina living in the US, I encounter stereotypes about me and my culture. I am sure I have my own blind spots around other cultures and people. So, I like stories that break traditional tropes. Initially, fairytales were dark and used as moral teaching tools full of warnings and fear. I prefer retellings that spread joy and challenge assumptions. Lastly, I love to discover new—real or imaginary—places through the illustrations and the artist’s point of view, especially if it influences the twist.

Ana's book list on retellings with characters out of character

Ana Velez Why did Ana love this book?

Of the many retells I have read, this version turns the classic tale on its head the most. With my own reclusive artist tendencies, I found Ra Pu Zel’s wish for alone time to pursue her interests very alluring. I am always curious about new foods and I will set out to find stinky tofu in town, do I follow the smell? The art transports us to a setting with cultural and culinary delights.

By Ying Chang Compestine, Crystal Kung (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 5, 6, 7, and 8.

What is this book about?

A playful, feminist retelling of Rapunzel with a Chinese-cuisine twist

The story of Rapunzel where she’s being locked in a tower by a witch is a good one—but it’s not totally the truth.

The real story is about a young princess in China named Ra Pu Zel who doesn’t want to talk to princes or look proper. What Pu Zel wants is to cook and eat in peace, her long hair neatly braided to keep it out of her food. And when she gets tired of everyone telling her what to do, she locks herself in a tower with her…


Book cover of Imagine a Wolf

Ana Velez Author Of The Three Little Guinea Pigs and the Andean Fox

From my list on retellings with characters out of character.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a Latina living in the US, I encounter stereotypes about me and my culture. I am sure I have my own blind spots around other cultures and people. So, I like stories that break traditional tropes. Initially, fairytales were dark and used as moral teaching tools full of warnings and fear. I prefer retellings that spread joy and challenge assumptions. Lastly, I love to discover new—real or imaginary—places through the illustrations and the artist’s point of view, especially if it influences the twist.

Ana's book list on retellings with characters out of character

Ana Velez Why did Ana love this book?

I chuckled with this book because the wolf I imagined was not at all the wolf in the story. I thought it was clever to have him use his big teeth, big claws and big eyes to be crafty, creative and to help others. The illustrator does a great job of contrasting the black lines of the wolf with the colorful yarns to get the right mood across.

By Lucky Platt,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Imagine a Wolf as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

What do you see when you imagine a wolf?
Sharp, pointy teeth?
Big, hungry eyes?
A soft sweater and a friendly smile?

Wait a minute!

The wolf in this story would rather knit than huff, puff, or blow anyone's house down. But that doesn't stop the townsfolk from crying wolf anyway. What's a kind-hearted wolf to do when everyone keeps running and screaming at "Hello?" It's time to show the world that this wolf is the furthest thing from Big and Bad.


Book cover of The Totally NOT Wicked Stepmother

Ana Velez Author Of The Three Little Guinea Pigs and the Andean Fox

From my list on retellings with characters out of character.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a Latina living in the US, I encounter stereotypes about me and my culture. I am sure I have my own blind spots around other cultures and people. So, I like stories that break traditional tropes. Initially, fairytales were dark and used as moral teaching tools full of warnings and fear. I prefer retellings that spread joy and challenge assumptions. Lastly, I love to discover new—real or imaginary—places through the illustrations and the artist’s point of view, especially if it influences the twist.

Ana's book list on retellings with characters out of character

Ana Velez Why did Ana love this book?

Even though the title hints at the storyline, I still enjoyed the main character’s discovery as she navigates her preconceived ideas about stepmoms to reach the conclusion that maybe they aren’t so evil after all. I would love to give this book to a couple of friends who are stepmoms, but it would be great for any blended family. The art matches the warm tone of the story with just enough hints of possible wickedness.

By Samantha Berger, Neha Rawat (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Totally NOT Wicked Stepmother as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

From acclaimed author and three-time Emmy-nominated writer Samantha Berger and rising star illustrator Neha Rawat comes a hilarious and heartwarming story that follows a young girl as she learns that her new stepmother might not be as evil or wicked as she originally seems. Perfect for newly blended families and a celebration of stepmothers and stepchildren everywhere!

When I first met my stepmother, I was a little suspicious. All stepmothers are supposed to be wicked! Evil! Downright B-A-D BAD! Or at least, that's what the stories say. So I thought I knew just what to expect from mine.

But my…


Book cover of They Made America: From the Steam Engine to the Search Engine: Two Centuries of Innovators

Richard Munson Author Of Tesla: Inventor of the Modern

From my list on inventors.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve long been fascinated by innovators. In my day jobs, I’ve helped launch a clean-energy startup as well as helped write legislation to promote environmental entrepreneurs. In addition to Nikola Tesla, I’ve written biographies of Jacques Cousteau (inventor of the Aqua Lung and master of undersea filming) and George Fabyan (pioneer of modern cryptography and acoustics), as well as a history of electricity (From Edison to Enron) and profiles of food and farm modernizers (Tech to Table: 25 Innovators Reimagining Food). I love reading about ingenious and industrious individuals becoming inspired and achieving their dreams. 

Richard's book list on inventors

Richard Munson Why did Richard love this book?

Fascinated by innovations, I’m drawn to these concise profiles that span two centuries, moving from the steam engine to the search engine. Continuing the theme of electricity, my favorite story is of Samuel Insull, who served for a time as Thomas Edison’s secretary. He created a business model—a utility monopoly—that brought cheap and drudgery-reducing electricity to millions, yet his corporate pyramids collapsed in the Great Depression, leaving millions of investors penniless. What a grand arc – from being the most powerful modernizer of the 1920s became the most notorious business villain of the 1930s.

By Harold Evans,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked They Made America as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The real inventor of the steam engine. The creator of the bra. The man who invented modern banking. The creator of the computer operating system. These and scores of others are the characters that populate Harold Evans's rollicking, brilliant history of the men and women who made America great. Vast and beautifully designed with hundreds of duotones and photos throughout (many never before published), the book is itself a creation as grand as those it describes. Evans reveals the surprising truths behind many of the creations that made our modern world, as well as the lessons we can learn by…


Book cover of Pedro's Yo-Yos: How a Filipino Immigrant Came to America and Changed the World of Toys

Kerry Aradhya Author Of Ernő Rubik and His Magic Cube

From my list on nonfiction picture books with inventions kids love.

Why am I passionate about this?

Not long ago, while rummaging through old storage containers in our garage, I came across a board game I had invented during elementary school. But I hadn’t made it for a school project or because anyone had asked me to make it. I had made it simply because I was passionate about creating…and I still am. As a children’s author, science editor, and dancer, I am fascinated by the creative process. I chose these books because they depict many of the ups, downs, and often unexpected outcomes of the creative process, all within the context of inventions for kids!

Kerry's book list on nonfiction picture books with inventions kids love

Kerry Aradhya Why did Kerry love this book?

I love how this book pulls readers in, showing a variety of children flipping, swinging, and spinning their yo-yos before diving into the toy’s complex history. It’s full of interesting facts about the evolution of the yo-yo, from its origins in China thousands of years ago to its worldwide rise to fame thanks to the entrepreneurial skills of a Filipino immigrant to the United States named Pedro Flores. 

The book also does a great job of highlighting possible reasons for and challenges of immigration. It is a true multi-layered story of immigration and invention! 

By Rob Peñas, Carl Angel (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Pedro's Yo-Yos as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Discover the backstory of one of America's favorite toys, the yo-yo, in this colorful biography of businessman Pedro Flores.

It can spin and roll, leap and twirl. You can stretch it between your hands or swing it between your legs. The tricks you can do with one are nearly endless. No wonder the yo-yo is one of the most successful toys ever made! And its popularity began with a Filipino immigrant.

Pedro Flores was born in the Philippines in 1896, when Spain still ruled his country. After the US took over, Pedro traveled to California, received an education, and looked…


Book cover of Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor

Mara Rockliff Author Of The Girl Who Could Fix Anything: Beatrice Shilling, World War II Engineer

From my list on kids who love to tinker.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a children’s author best known for digging up fascinating, often funny stories about famous people—and forgotten people who deserve to be famous again. I’ve written about kids who grew up to be great at everything from making movies to inventing a new language. I want readers to know there are lots of different ways to be smart, and that being “good with your hands” also means being good with your mind.

Mara's book list on kids who love to tinker

Mara Rockliff Why did Mara love this book?

Marvelous Mattie is the true story of the woman who invented a machine to make flat-bottomed paper shopping bags, the same kind we still use in supermarkets. But her story is so much more than that. I quickly warmed to this talented and determined girl whose homemade kites and sleds were the envy of all the boys. When she was only twelve, she had to leave school and go to work in the mills, where an accident led to her first major invention, a lifesaving guard to keep pieces from flying off machines. I love McCully’s illustration style—it reminds me of The Borrowers—and her account of Mattie’s patent battle against a man who stole her work had me holding my breath until the very satisfying happy ending.

By Emily Arnold McCully,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Marvelous Mattie as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 7, 8, 9, and 10.

What is this book about?

With her sketchbook labeled My Inventions and her father's toolbox, Mattie could make almost anything – toys, sleds, and a foot warmer. When she was just twelve years old, Mattie designed a metal guard to prevent shuttles from shooting off textile looms and injuring workers. As an adult, Mattie invented the machine that makes the square-bottom paper bags we still use today. However, in court, a man claimed the invention was his, stating that she "could not possibly understand the mechanical complexities." Marvelous Mattie proved him wrong, and over the course of her life earned the title of "the Lady…


Book cover of How to Become an Accidental Genius

Caroline Fernandez Author Of The Adventures of Grandmasaurus at the Aquarium Rescue Centre

From my list on for children to explore the world.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a Canadian children’s author who is curious about people, places, and history. There is always something new to discover. I am an introvert by nature but I love travelling the world through the pages of books. By exploring the world (in real life or through reading) we learn about survival, struggle, and overcoming obstacles. We might just get inspired to make a greater contribution to our world. 

Caroline's book list on for children to explore the world

Caroline Fernandez Why did Caroline love this book?

I love, love, love how MacLeod and Wishinsky create their “accidental” books. It’s the perfect blend of entertaining and educational facts about people from around the world making great discoveries. It also shows the most ordinary people can make the most extraordinary discoveries.  

By Elizabeth MacLeod, Frieda Wishinsky, Jenn Playford (illustrator)

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How to Become an Accidental Genius as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 9, 10, 11, and 12.

What is this book about?

Don't be afraid to try! Make connections! Be persistent! Ask questions and never take no for an answer! Learn the secrets and amazing stories of successful inventors!


How to Become an Accidental Genius is full of inspiring tales of famous and lesser-known inventors who have changed the world, from George Washington Carver, Mary Anderson (inventor of the windshield wiper) and inventor and actress Hedy Lamarr to Frank Epperson (of Popsicle fame) and Mary Sherman Morgan (The Woman Who Saved the U.S. Space Race). Readers will be amazed at the inventiveness of these geniuses. The book focuses on inventors from North…


Book cover of The Inventor's Secret: What Thomas Edison Told Henry Ford

Natascha Biebow Author Of The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons

From my list on inventors.

Why am I passionate about this?

I love to get kids fired up about true stories, using their imaginations and believing in themselves as future innovators, inventors, and creators. Crayola crayons inventor Edwin Binney's story is a fabulous springboard for exploring nature, color and creativity. I love to draw and make stuff just like Binney, so his story resonated with me. The more I researched, the more I admired how he listened to what people needed and looked to nature for inspiration. I am intrigued by the origins of everyday objects. Here are some books that inspired me when I was writing, and that have that fascinating a-ha moment that spurs on innovation.

Natascha's book list on inventors

Natascha Biebow Why did Natascha love this book?

We’ve all heard of these two inventors, but I hadn’t heard of the time they met. The title immediately intrigues and hooks in readers  – what did Ford and Edison learn from each other? Curiosity was a trait they shared that got them both into heaps of trouble and spurred them on to explore, innovate and create life-changing inventions. But before Henry successfully invented the Ford car, he looked longingly at Edison’s numerous successful inventions. What was the secret of his success? “Keep at it!” – such a simple, empowering tip, one that everyone can find inspiring and encouraging, especially young readers.

By Suzanne Slade, Jennifer Black Reinhardt (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Inventor's Secret as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 5, 6, 7, and 8.

What is this book about?

* 2017 NSTA Best STEM Book List K-12* * NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12 *
Thomas Edison and Henry Ford started off as insatiably curious tinkerers. That curiosity led them to become inventors--with very different results. As Edison invented hit after commercial hit, gaining fame and fortune, Henry struggled to make a single invention (an affordable car) work. Witnessing Thomas's glorious career from afar, a frustrated Henry wondered about the secret to his success.

This little-known story is a fresh, kid-friendly way to show how Thomas Edison and Henry Ford grew up to be the most famous…


Book cover of Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin

Mara Rockliff Author Of The Girl Who Could Fix Anything: Beatrice Shilling, World War II Engineer

From my list on kids who love to tinker.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a children’s author best known for digging up fascinating, often funny stories about famous people—and forgotten people who deserve to be famous again. I’ve written about kids who grew up to be great at everything from making movies to inventing a new language. I want readers to know there are lots of different ways to be smart, and that being “good with your hands” also means being good with your mind.

Mara's book list on kids who love to tinker

Mara Rockliff Why did Mara love this book?

I am a big Franklin fan, as anyone knows who has read my own book about him. This is my favorite book about Franklin as an inventor. I love Gene Barretta’s bright, cartoony illustrations and cleverly written text, which juxtaposes familiar modern-day scenes with Franklin’s astonishing array of innovations (he even invented the odometer??) in a rollicking salute to a Founding Father far ahead of his time.  

By Gene Barretta,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Now & Ben as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 6, 7, 8, and 9.

What is this book about?

The inventions and inspiration of Benjamin Franklin and how they've stood the test of time

What would you do if you lived in a community without a library, hospital, post office, or fire department? If you were Benjamin Franklin, you'd set up these organizations yourself. Franklin also designed the lightning rod, suggested the idea of daylight savings time, and invented bifocals-all inspired by his common sense and intelligence. In this informative book, Gene Barretta brings Benjamin Franklin's genius to life, deepening our appreciation for one of the most influential figures in American history.

Now & Ben is a 2007 Bank…


Book cover of Tango Red Riding Hood
Book cover of Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu
Book cover of Imagine a Wolf

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Interested in inventors, gender roles, and alligators?

Inventors 26 books
Gender Roles 122 books
Alligators 14 books