By Jessica Gafkowitz

Princess Bubble, written by Susan Johnson and Kimberly Webb, is a truly unique children's book; it tells a nontraditional fairytale with a modern twist.

Princess Bubble is not only a princess. She graduated from college and is working as a flight attendant to satisfy her desire to travel and meet new people. She buys her own home and frequently spends time with her friends, who are getting married to live "happily ever after". Princess Bubble is different; she enjoys her time traveling and being with her friends. Marriage is not on her mind. Her friends and mother show concern for Princess Bubble, and her status as "prince-less". They convince her to start looking, so she visits http://www.FindYourPrince.com and reads other fairy tales for inspiration. Princess Bubble soon realizes that unlike princesses in these other fairy tales, she is already content with her life and being "prince-less."

Princess Bubble is a realistic portrayal of the struggle many women still face today; the pressure to meet the man of their dreams, get married and like fairy tales, live "happily ever after". This book is incredibly different from all the other fairy tales out there because it is specifically for young girls to teach them that finding a man and getting married should not and cannot be a woman's source of happiness. It is necessary to find your own happiness and share it with others.

Jessica Gafkowitz has been an AtMP intern for over a year, and is currently pursuing her Bachelor's Degree at Hunter College.

This article appeared in AtMP's periodic newsletter, Update #2008-1.  Download the entire newsletter here. 

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