Lynda Loveland: Fantasy books - fantasy for whom?

Most of the books my four-year-old daughter reads are about princesses. You know the story: The princess is in some kind of trouble, which is eventually resolved and she lives happily ever after with a handsome prince.

Last night, I read her Barbie and the Three Musketeers. I’ve read it to her several times before, but last night I noticed something about it. Who is this book REALLY written for?

The book is about Barbie wanting to be a Musketeer. She couldn’t, so instead she became a maid for the handsome Prince. Once at the castle, she’s joined by three other beautiful Barbies, who are also maids. They are the red-headed Renee; Viveca, the raven-haired maid; and Aramina the beautiful brunette.

Do you see where this is going? Four gorgeous maids, one handsome Prince. Hmmmmmmmm.

Well, Barbie aka Corinne, and her friends want to be Musketeers, so they practice secretly every day. They find out the Prince is in danger at the party that night so they team up to save him. They show up to the party dressed in very non-maid-like attire. They each have a beautiful, different color dress, glittery masks and high-heeled lace-up boots. With smiles on their faces, they beat up the bad guys. The Prince rewards them by making them Musketeers.

Take a look at the picture. It looks like every guys dream, surrounded by four beautiful maids in high-heeled lace-up boots! I get the whole girl power thing. I’m all for it. But this book HAD to be written by a dude!