These new picture books offer young princesses and fairies who take charge with lots of strength and sweet spunk.

"Princess April Morning-Glory" by Letitia Fairbanks; Sandramantos Publishing; 60 pages; $7.09.

A genuine lost treasure from the golden age of Hollywood, this refreshingly vintage tale of a brave and courageous princess was penned in 1941 by Letitia Fairbanks, the niece of silent film stars Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Mary Pickford. Inspired by the glamorous characters from the films of the day, Fairbanks' tale melds Disney-like morality with swashbuckling adventure as courageous Princess April transcends darkness and evil to realize her true potential.

Magically modern, as well, "Princess April Morning-Glory" presents a valuable truth, that we create our destinies by the choices we make — an imperative lesson for young girls. Inspired by the Great World and its adventures, Princess April abandons her home in Fairyland to voyage into the unknown and finds comfort in the company of friendly wizards, a blue butterfly and helpful birds while she accomplishes three good deeds.

Fairbanks' lovely, magical illustrations and retro penmanship add timely appeal and artistic beauty. Kids and adults will take away a very special message — that doing positive things for others and being true to oneself are of utmost importance. A lost treasure indeed!

As an added bonus, extra pages offer "10 suggestions for doing good deeds," a fascinating afterword about Fairbanks' ties to Hollywood royalty and thoughtful acknowledgements. Visit www.PrincessApril.com or www. Sandramantos.com for more information.

"Princesses on the Run" by Smiljana Coh; Running Press Kids; 40 pages; $15.95.

Another fun find for princess lovers, this quirky tale stars a princess bored with all her toys and finery who decides to embrace freedom and hit the road. As she runs, she encounters her fellow princess pals, from Rapunzel to Cinderella to Snow White. The girls romp across the forest with woodland creatures and even the Three Billy Goats Gruff joining in. Soon they tire, and Princess Antonia has a new perspective, realizing that friends make all the difference and that every now and then, a change is in order. She then decides to make more changes and donates toys to charity, while Rapunzel cuts her hair into a bob, Sleeping Beauty tries yoga and Snow White runs cross-country.

With lots of pink and woody colors, Coh's attractive book adds traditional and digital images with a variety of fabrics that creature lush landscapes. Take away from "Princesses on the Run?" The best cure for boredom is to go outside to play with friends.

"Fairy Marie's New Home" by Jean-Phillippe Rieu; illustrated by Mark Janssen; Clavis Publishing; 26 pages; $19.95.

With an accompanying DVD featuring magical music composed by the author and the books' splendid illustrations, this fairytale is a visual treat. Little Fairy Marie and her woodland friends are happy enough in their red poppy home, but as winter arrives, flowers become weaker, and Marie's poppy can't take the weight. Where will she live?

A sweet journey to find housing for herself and her friends turns into a lovely adventure and eventually a new home with Squirrel, on a sturdy tree branch, which proves to be cozy and strong. An engaging story about home and the power of friendship, "Fairy Marie's New Home" is whimsically fun.

"Part-Time Princesses" by Deborah Underwood; illustrated by Cambria Evans; Disney Hyperion Publishing; 32 pages; $16.99.

This modern-day princess is a girl by day, princess by night, who slides down fire poles to save the kingdom and plays leapfrog in the Royal Mud Puddle. Princess "Regular Girl" cleans up for the ball in a giant tub with a dolphin, dines on pink cake with a queen from a faraway land and dances at the ball with a troop of big, hairy trolls.

For those parents who don't want their little princesses ending up in cliched endings, married as teens to the requisite princes, Underwood's zesty tale will please. Our princess tells her handsome prince maybe she'll marry him when she grows up, but for now, she's too busy fighting fires and cheering up dragons.

Artist Evans, former art director for Martha Stewart, adds a preppy pink and green backdrop, perfect for the action-filled images of a strong, bolder-hued part time princess on the go.

"Isabella: Star of the Story" by Jennifer Fosberry; pictures by Mike Litwin; Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky; 32 pages; $16.99.

Isabella loves the library and searches for a book that's "juuust right." Should she host a silly tea party in Wonderland with the Mad Hatter or gallop off to greener pastures with Black Beauty? As Isabella explores all the classically wonderful tales the library has to offer, she excitedly realizes eventually she can read them all.

With big, bold fairy tale images, "Isabella: Star of the Story" celebrates the extraordinary power of reading for preschoolers everywhere.

To find out more about Lee Littlewood and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.