13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Caldecott winner translated by Marcia Brown, May 13, 1999
By A Customer
Most of the reviews listed above as well as the 1998 comments made by a reader from Santa Cruz, California, are not for this version of the classic French story by Charles Perrault. The version I am referring to was translated and illustrated by Marcia Brown and the book won the 1955 Caldecott Medal for best illustration in a book for children. Hence, this version is perhaps the version most familiar to those of the "baby boomer" generation (and, thus, their children). It is the classic tale of a girl kept in the background serving her stepmother and two stepsisters, whose fairy Godmother finds a way to get Cinderella to the Ball. It is a book that should be on the shelf of any child as well as any serious student of children literature.
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cinderelly, January 5, 2005
There are parents in the world for whom nothing but the definitive edition of a book is good enough for their little ones. Fairy tales? Find them the quintessential edition of "The Three Little Pigs" or "Rapunzel" and they are pleased. Ordinarily this is a bit of a task. I mean, what truly makes one version of a story any better than another if they are vastly different in composition and interpretation? Which brings me to that 1955 Caldecott award winning little number, "Cinderella or The Little Glass Slipper". Retold and illustrated by that deity amongst children's authors, Marcia Brown, the book is a most perfect retelling of the classic Cinderella story. It's not the gory Grimm Brothers version (no eyes are pecked out nor heels chopped off) nor the hokey Disney concoction. It is instead it's own sweet little creation, perfectly preserved within itself. Written in the 1950s it simply tells a tale that it would be a good idea to know if you're going to operate fully in society.
Usually at this point in the review I summarize the book. But to be perfectly frank, I don't feel like doing that with this one. "Cinderella" is what it is. Girl, evil step-relatives, fairy godmother, pumpkin, prince, shoe, the end. There you go. That's the whole story in brief simple terms. Brown's edition isn't as dull and staid as some of the traditional retellings, which is a relief to anyone reading and rereading this book to their kidoo. Cinderella is just as lovely as ever with her blond hair and big eyelashed eyes. What struck my fancy in this book is the odd mish-mash of costume styles present throughout. When that good old fairy godmother appears she looks like a slightly moderated version of Queen Elizabeth complete with ruff and appropriate gown. However, the stepsisters are clearly seen to be tied into corsets (circa 1890s, yes no?) while applying beauty marks (ala the French Revolution). The prince also appears to be a bit of a 1700s swag, but his very presence makes it clear that whatever the time period, this book is clearly set in a rather fantastical era.
As for the pictures themselves, they're evocative and lovely. Somehow Brown's choice of palette ensures that the book is bound to be loved and remembered fondly by children and adults for years and years and years. I could go into some odd diatribe about the inherent sexism of the book and Cinderella supremely wishy-washy tendencies, but for once let's just let the book be. It's a nice story rendered in colorful cotton candy hues and presented in a lovely light-hearted package. It may not be the smartest Marcia Brown creation, but I understand why she wasn't ashamed of it. If you'd like a version of "Cinderella" that just tells the story and gives you something lovely to look at, choose this one. It's purpose is to tell the tale in it simplest childlike form. And it succeeds.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful version..., August 26, 2004
This review is from: Cinderella (Hardcover)
The typical gender stereotype issues that come with Cinderella aside, this is a simply beautiful version. It is an older version, so it is more of a story than the typical Disney version seen today. The illustrations are gorgeous, which is probably why it received the rewards it did. Every child is exposed to the story of Cinderella at some point, so I made the decision to make it this beautiful, classic, un-Disney-fied version!
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