Dear Reader,

At this year’s Noble Monarch Jubilee, where leaders from fairy tales gathered to meet, it was my pleasure to debut my book Power to the Princess. It was a joy to see a wide audience of fairytale royalty and magical creatures find themselves in the pages of the book, and be inspired by one another’s stories.

After the jubilee I received notes and messages from readers. I heard from teachers and librarians, kids, and grandparents, and to my great surprise from kings and queens! There were warm words, as well as questions, curiosities, and ideas. One remarkable letter was from four amazing men: King Midas, Pied Piper, Geppetto, and Anasi. Their letter was friendly and congratulatory yet also posed an important question.

Dear Ms. Murrow,

We spotted your book right away at the jubilee and after enjoying it ourselves, we selected it for our Dads’ and Kids’ book club. The children were delighted to revisit these familiar stories and see the women in them celebrated as admirable leaders.

The children now want to read more books like this! So, we went on the hunt for stories of our favorite heroes, princes, and kings.

But sadly, our collections fell short in this area. And the representation of these well-known characters is quite narrow.

Please will you write a book that celebrates the beauty and bravery of boys and men in our fairy tales?

I saw their point. Something was missing from their stories, so I accepted the challenge! Over the next few months, I met with heroes, princes, and kings to listen and learn. Each one told me of their experiences—how they broke the mold, changed the game, or discovered their purpose. Their stories included magic and sword play, hard work, and creativity. Some took a long journey or faced a great challenge. Others told of romance, friendships, or a special passion.

Each told me of a time they felt vulnerable and how they set their feelings free. About the importance of laughter and surprises and not always being right. All of their stories featured special helpers and mentors who supported them when they stood up for themselves or others, who helped them listen to their instincts.

I learned so much from these brave and beautiful men. What struck me the most was that the story of what makes a hero, a prince, or a king, is the story of what anyone can be. A hero is courageous of heart and gentle with themselves and others. A king feels deeply, listens actively, and laughs wholly with their community. A prince is a game changer who casts off expectations to fulfil their own purpose. Now that their stories have been retold, I invite you to turn the page and discover these real heroes, princes, and kings.

Vita Murrow