• Age: 4 to 7
• Grade: p to 2
• Reading age: 4 to 7

An empowerment-focused keepsake edition of one of the world’s best-loved picture books.

40 years. 7 million copies. 1 kick-ass princess who has inspired generations of readers to stand up for themselves.

How do you celebrate an occasion as special as 40 years in print for a book as beloved as The Paper Bag Princess? You track down some of the most poignant commentary about the story; you share behind-the-scenes insights from the author and his partner; and you present it all in a beautiful package that showcases the story like never before.

To mark The Paper Bag Princess’s 40th anniversary, Annick has done just this, creating a gift-worthy deluxe hardcover featuring extra thick paper, a beautiful dust jacket, and a hidden second cover that reimagines the original cover imagery, plus commentary from renowned authors Francesca Segal (The Innocents) and Chelsea Clinton (She Persisted). Publishing in time for International Women’s Day in March, this gorgeous edition celebrates an enduring story that has had a profound effect on countless readers around the world.

El reconocido narrador ROBERT MUNSCH ha escrito decenas de libros para niños, entre ellos: Paper Bag Princess y Mortimer. Él vive con su familia en Guelph, Ontario.

Robert Munsch's profile page

MICHAEL MARTCHENKO est né à Carcassonne, en France. Il s'installe au Canada avec sa famille alors qu'il a 7 ans. En 1966, il décroche son diplôme du Collège des arts de l'Ontario et devient bientôt directeur d'une agence publicitaire. C'est lors d'une exposition d'art graphique que Robert Munsch découvre le travail de Michael Martchenko. Michael a reçu le prix Libris 2006, Illustrateur de l'année.

MICHAEL MARTCHENKO has illustrated dozens of books, and is most famous for his work with Robert Munsch, including Smelly Socks (Tes chaussettes sentent la mouffette!), Makeup Mess (Maquillage à gogo) and We Share Everything! (On partage tout!). He lives in Burlington, Ontario.

Michael Martchenko's profile page

Chelsea Clinton is a teacher, advocate, and author of several award-winning books for children. She read The Paper Bag Princess to her daughter nightly for a year and a half.

Chelsea Clinton's profile page

Francesca Segal is an award-winning writer and journalist. Her first novel, The Innocents, won the Costa First Novel Award, the National Jewish Book Award for Fiction, the Sami Rohr Prize, and a Betty Trask Award, and was long-listed for the Women's Prize for Fiction (formerly the Orange Prize).

Francesca Segal's profile page

Ann Munsch and Robert Munsch have been married since 1973. Ann once asked by there weren’t any stories where the princess saves the prince, and so The Paper Bag Princess was born.

Ann Munsch's profile page

• Joint winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre

“Readers of all ages can still appreciate the charming art style, and the heartfelt message of this book. It will appeal to new readers, and those of us basking in nostalgia alike.”

Sharon the Librarian, 01/27/20

“Elizabeth, the fearless heroine, continues to inspire children all over the world to recognise their self-worth, stand up for themselves and not let anyone or anything drag them down.”

Buzz Words, 01/17/21

“One of my children’s favourites was always Robert Munsch’s The Paper Bag Princess . . . There is nothing more subversively empowering than reciting from memory those great last lines, when the enterprising Princess Elizabeth rescues the ghastly and feeble Prince Ronald from the dragon – and then dumps him: ‘“You look like a nice guy, but guess what? You are a bum.” And they didn’t get married after all.’ There’s power for you, in a nutshell.”

Mary Beard, The Guardian

“This is one of those stories that will live on forever, and that will always be relevant to all readers, regardless of age and gender. It has the power to evoke a sense of who we want to be and what we are capable of.”

The Book Muse, 12/01/20

“[Elizabeth’s] confidence has inspired girls everywhere and will continue to do so with this beautiful special edition of the classic book.”

E.J.’s Library, 01/11/2020

“All the wonderful extras are just icing on the cake because the real pleasure here is the chance to enjoy Munsch’s fantastic feminist fairy tale, as powerful today as it was when it was published in 1980, in this big beautiful new hardcover edition with new art by Martchenko (and a poster on the inside of the book jacket).”

The Globe and Mail, 02/15/20