Children’s book puts new twist on fairy tales

A new children’s book that puts a twist on traditional fairy tales to challenge gender stereotypes has been released.

Fairer Tales: Princesses Doing it for Themselves looks to tackle the financial gender gap by showing that women can achieve their goals independently.

Award-winning author Emma Dodd reimagines the tales of three beloved fairy tale heroines, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel, in the illustrated book.

Rather than waiting on Prince Charming to save the day, the young women use their own acumen and skills to realise their happily-everafters.

In the book, published by HSBC UK, rather than attending the ball in her uncomfortable glass slippers with the hope of meeting Prince Charming, Cinderella makes and wears her own snazzy trainers, going on to launch her own shoe design business.

And instead of being rescued by a prince scaling her long hair, Rapunzel cuts it off to use as a rope and escape the castle herself, which she then rents out to Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Finally, while the traditional Sleeping Beauty waits to be woken up and saved with a kiss by a prince, the book sees her save her money so when she wakes, her savings have grown.