Sorry I don't have any specific titles to offer but I would say that I know there are a ton of them out there, just cruise the library shelves one day and you'll be surprised, as I was, to discover the way children's stories have really changed since I was a kid. I've also come to a place where I don't want to stress things like female empowerment specifically--not because I have a boy, but because I'm trying to look at the bigger picture. I see that there is SO much out there for kids to choose from that just by reading a lot of books all the time he will be exposed to many, many different ideas and ways of seeing the world and we can discuss them all when he has interest. I do want him to see strong female role models, and strong male role models. More than anything, I want him to see men and women living harmoniously. But of course he'll see a lot of other models of being in the world as well, that's just unavoidable.

However, there are some books I want to get for him later but I don't know the titles exactly. They're about, I think, a fairy named Stella and her little brother named Sam. They're too old for him just yet but I came across them a while back and socked them away in my memory because they seemed pretty neat and balanced in that way. I'd definitely get them for a daughter as well.

Read "The Well at the End of the World" by Robert San Souci. It's very good and quite funny. The prince and princess fall in love for all the right reasons.

hmmm.... Princess Smartypants is pretty damn awesome

my daughter was given a horrid Disney-ized fairy tale book when she was little. Though I despise Disney, I couldn't exactly take away her much loved book, so instead, I retold the stories more to my liking. Cinderella was often retold as a strong young girl who moved out of her stepmom's place, got herself an apartment and a job, eventually reclaimed her father's loot, gave most of it away to the needy, met the prince (who renounces the monarchy) and together they go traveling about having fun.

1. Cornelia Funke (the lady who wrote Inkheart) has a picturebook out with a female knight. I forgot the exact title, but it's pretty good- not to mention that her chapter books are good too.

2. Cinder Edna is a really funny retelling of the Cinderella story that plays on ideas of gender roles.

3. Domitilla is also an interesting version of Cinderella.

4. There are many versions of East 'o the Sun and West 'o the Moon, but the version P.J. Lynch illustrated is beautiful. It's a nice fairy tale where the female is the hero. There is actually an anthology of feminist fairy tales with the same title.

5. Kevin Henkes has a *wonderful* series of books that have a number of powerful little girls featured. Sheila Rae the Brave, the Lilly books- basically all of his "mouse" books are great. They value individuality and creativity in children, and address common childhood fears and issues such as new siblings.

If you are looking for picture books that are balanced both culturally and genderwise check out the Barefoot books website. They have some nice offerings.

Oh, and when they are old enough for chapter books, I second the Pippi and Ramona suggestions. The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osbourne is another one with a strong female lead character. (They are an early chapter book series.) I would also add Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, the Wrinkle in Time Series, Anne of Green Gables, The Dark Materials series by Pullman, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Katherine Patterson's books... There are tons of great books for empowered girls out there.

Oh, and don't overlook the non-fiction genre. My mother (who founded 3 women's studies departments) raised me on biographies of strong women. There are tons of them out there- including picture books and early readers such as Step into Reading.

There is also a book for adults which can be found in most bookstores' education/parenting section specifically about books for girls. I don't have the exact title here, but if you did a search, I'm sure it would come up. Good luck!