Koori Princess by Anita Heiss

Teish is wrapped up in being a princess. She loves everything about princesses: wears princess clothes, watches princess movies, wants to be a princess, and is even called Princess by her doting dad. The rest of her family, her siblings and cousins are over it and try to persuade her parents to curb her obsession with princesses, and this comes to a head when she invites her friends to her birthday party, yet again themed along princess lines, asking the invitees to dress as princesses, ready to watch a princess movie. Some of her friends refuse the invitation, asking questions about the validity of being a princess in this day and age where diversity and inclusivity are expected. Princess movies, they point out, are not inclusive and give a very stereotyped view of the roles girls have in their lives, apart from the fact that princesses are not part of any Koori tradition. Teish points out a number of brown princesses along with the fact that some girls who married princes were normal everyday girls. Arguments pile on each other as the family tries to help Teish out of her dilemma and stop her crying after her friends’ refusals. At the beach she learns a little more about relationships between her siblings and their friends, questioning the outdated idea of girls waiting for their prince. When the princess party is in full swing discussions again occur as the children play skipping rope using Cinderella dressed in yellow as the skipping song, and inclusive alternatives are offered. Heiss has Teish remaining true to herself. She is a princess and loves everything about princesses and being pink. She is determined and thoughtful and a wonderfully positive character. Her parents love her no matter what supporting her in her interest, and offering points of view to her siblings. Conversations included in this little book cover a range of issues from colonialism, Trump, the Holocaust, colour, flirting, gaslighting and fat shaming.

Koori Princess is a great story and offers a springboard for discussions about stereotyping and race for kids aged 8 and up. A Koori Princess Party Pack is available from the publisher.

Themes: Aboriginal themes, Flirting, Stereotypes, Princesses, Diversity, Family.

Fran Knight