It’s a new year! And I can’t think of a better way to start out 2022 than with a roundup of my favorite fairy tales. I’ve written about my all-time favorite story before, and I realized then that explaining why your favorite fairy tales are your favorites can be . . . kind of challenging. And sometimes pretty arbitrary.
At the end of the day, I think favorite fairy tales earn their place through a rare combination of nostalgia, timeless messages, and distinct elements that you remember long after you’ve left your childhood behind. Sometimes stories just stay with you.
So without further ado, here is a lineup of my top ten favorite fairy tales (in no particular order) and why I still love them so much.
Snow White Writes’ 10 Favorite Fairy Tales
1. Swan Lake
I know I just said this list wasn’t in any particular order, but my top choice still deserves to be #1. I wrote an entire post about why Swan Lake is so haunting and captivating to me, but let’s just say that this is a powerful nostalgia pick. The romance, enchanted animal transformations, and beautiful royal children of this tale have always spoken to me. And this story first came into being as a Russian ballet featuring the most amazing score ever. I’m a huge fan of Tchaikovsky’s work, and Swan Lake was one of my earliest exposures to fairy tales, magic, and music all at once. Is it any wonder I love it so much?
2. Puss in Boots
This is a favorite that I forget about all the time, but it definitely makes the list! If I’m honest, I probably latched onto this tale early in life because I’ve always been obsessed with cats and all stories about them. Here we have a clever, boot-wearing feline who starts out as a disappointing inheritance gift and becomes a treasured companion for his master. I’ve always loved underdog rags-to-riches stories, and Puss in Boots is one of the best examples out there. And far more obscure than most.
3. Beauty & the Beast
This story is also right at the top of my list, and not just because I adore the Disney movie. At its heart, Beauty and the Beast is a story about redemption and not judging people by appearances alone. It is DEFINITELY not about Stockholm syndrome either, so please don’t get me started on that. At the end of the day, this is one of my favorite fairy tales because I’ve always related to the intelligent and brave heroine. Plus who hasn’t dreamed of living in an enchanted castle filled with climbing roses and books owned by a prince in disguise? There’s a lot to love here.
4. The Twelve Dancing Princesses
This classic is surely one of my favorite fairy tales. I absolutely adore Shelley Duvall’s adaptation of this story, and the tale has always held an aura of mystery and glamor for me. I’m a huge sucker for ballroom scenes in all movies and books, so is it any wonder that I’m in love with the idea of twelve sisters dressing up every night and sneaking away to a magical ball to live out their dreams? There’s not a lot of room for female empowerment in classic fairy tales, but this is definitely one about girls blooming into women and escaping their normal lives to go on an adventure.
5. The Emperor’s New Clothes
Shockingly, I think this is my only top ten pick written by Hans Christian Andersen. And the only tale on here without magic—though perhaps only a magically stupid cast could be tricked into silence over an invisible set of clothes. I was reminded just how much I love this story after reading J K Rowling’s book The Ickabog, which has many parallels to this great classic. And really what’s not to love about this story? It’s full of tricksters, fashion, secret plots, snooty royals who get their comeuppance, and down-on-their-luck peasants who get to see their monarchy knocked down a peg. Brilliant.
6. The Princess & the Pea
Another one of my favorite fairy tales that I forget often! I fell in love with this story very young by reading this version illustrated by Janet Stevens. Then I laughed all the way through The Princess Test as a teenager (one of Gail Carson Levine’s massively underrated Princess Tales). And I absolutely adore the Broadway musical Once Upon a Mattress. Princess and the Pea is just filled with delightful absurdity, and this outlandish princess contest concludes with such an unpredictable ending. There’s a reason why this tale has inspired so many memorable adaptations, and Hans Christian Andersen’s original text has some fascinating underlying messages in it that you’ve probably never considered . . .
7. Little Red Riding Hood
Yet another perennial favorite that I’ve written about before. Yes, yes, say what you will that a fairy tale that’s all about sex is one of my all-time favorites. I’ve dressed up as Little Red for Halloween before, and this tale has such a great cast. I’m totally into the dashing, gentleman wolf who’s full of tricks and not above cross dressing. I’m a huge fan of the kindly grandmother and the innocent, plucky little girl. And even when the sly wolf eats them up, there’s a heroic woodsman in the mix to rescue the ladies and secure that happy ending. This story is bursting with dramatic plot twists, but I’m definitely a fan of the happier ending where Red survives.
8. Rapunzel
Of all my favorite fairy tales, this one just has it all. Seriously, Rapunzel has some of the best elements of any fairy tale on the planet: a cunning witch with a magical garden. A beautiful baby stolen at birth and named after a vegetable. Enchanted golden hair that’s never been cut. A solitary tower with no stairs. A handsome prince who will stop at nothing to reach his love—even if it means climbing her hair. And magical tears that can heal blindness and secure a happy ending. I’m sure I’m biased since Disney’s Tangled is my husband’s favorite movie, but Rapunzel has GOT to be one of the greatest fairy tales ever told.
9. Sleeping Beauty
Another favorite pick inspired by Tchaikovsky’s music. I can’t recall if I heard the music of the ballet or watched the Disney movie first, but both hold a place deep in my heart. Sleeping Beauty is another fairy tale flowing with nostalgia and captivating story elements. Good and bad fairies. A pair of overprotective parents with a too-short party list. A sixteenth birthday curse. A princess in hiding. Walls of thorns, a dragon, a 100-year sleep, and a handsome prince out to break a spell with his handsome kisser. It’s a really great one, even if its origins are rather shocking. In a bad way . . .
10. Cinderella
Last, but certainly not least, how could I POSSIBLY skip Cinderella? I know it’s the most basic pick ever, but it’s also the most well-known, breathtaking fairy tale on earth. And a storybook reminder that no matter how poor you are or how hopeless you feel, a little magic from a well-meaning fairy godmother can bring a happy ending to anyone. I mentioned before that I’m a sucker for ballroom scenes. This ball gown transformation, glass slipper entrance, and midnight curfew is just unforgettable. I’ve written about the little-known character of Cinderella’s dad, but rest assured that I’ll be writing about Cinderella again soon. And I probably will be for the rest of my life. ❧
