The Princess and the Dragon

This is a heartwarming tale of a strong and brave princess who breaks the mould of the stereotypical princesses we normally read about in fairy tales.

The story in told through rhyme which adds pace and makes it fun to read. It is a mixture of George and the Dragon verses Cinderella, which I loved. The illustrations are bright and colourful adding depth to the story.

It begins with an almighty dragon terrorising the villagers, when the soldiers and Prince cannot defeat the beast they admit defeat. However, shortly after the dragon slinks away, the warrior responsible leaves behind their shoe. The Prince is desperate to find the owner of the shoe and in true Cinderella style holds a party. When he meets the warrior she is a girl and is wearing the matching brace. They fall in love and marry. The story doesn't stop there it continues by discussing the prejudices others have about the Prince marrying someone with a disability and in their quest to rid the dragon forever.

This book is both humbling and empowering. I love how the lead role is a strong, brave female and how the way disability and sexism are explored. What a powerful and thought-provoking message you are left with at the end. We definitely need more books that champion and are inclusive to different disabilities not only to bring about awareness but to normalise disability.