Princess Smartypants (Babette Cole)

Kids are smart. After we read this book we had a discussion about whether or not people have to get married. I was careful to not interject my opinions into the discussion and just let them talk. It seems that most kids think that you do need to get married when you grow up - but some were adamant that you don't have to. We didn't get into whether they meant living together is okay or not - just that some people get married and some don't. They were okay with that. It reminded me a lot of The Paperbag Princess.

I thought the book was quite hilarious. The illustrations are great and the message I liked to glean from it is that you're okay just the way you are. So many girls seem to think they need a man to make their life complete. I tend to think it should be that you get in a relationship because it makes your life better.

Goodreads summary:

Princess Smartypants doesn't want to get married; she'd rather live with her pets. Commanded by her parents to find herself a husband, the Princess sets tasks for her horde of suitors. All of the potential husbands fail miserably as the gleeful Princess looks on — until Prince Swashbuckle appears. . . .