Customer Reviews

Cinderella

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

This is the 1954 Caldecott winner, and when you pick it up, you may think, really??

Four-color illustrations don't immediately grab you the way a more modern book would. But give it a read. The impressionistic illustrations convey the story perfectly -- perhaps even better than more realistic illustrations might. After all, this is once-upon-a-time.

Excellent for read-aloud families -- the big illustrations mean that everyone can see.

French author Charles Perrault (1628-1703) is remembered today as the father of the fairy tale genre, and his Cinderella is still considered one of the best versions of the tale ever put on paper. In this wonderful book, author and illustrator Marcia Brown brings the Perrault story to life for the young English-speaking reader.

The illustration work is quite nice, and the story is excellent. I really enjoyed reading this book to my five-year-old, and she really enjoyed listening. There's a reason why the Perrault Cinderella is a classic - read this book and find out for yourself why that is!

A rags to riches story of a mistreated young girl who was as sweet as she was good. With the help of a fairy godmother she is transformed into the belle of the prince's ball. A lost glass slipper reunites Cinderella and her prince. What do you think happens to her step-sisters? Good prevails.

When a college professor for my second born was aghast that her mother had omitted fairy tales from her reading repertoire, I thought I might try a few with my youngest three. This rendition by Marcia Brown is a skillful retelling of the classic Cinderella tale. The pen sketches with watercolor paint additions are unique and add a nice facet to the book. It seems they make the story feel even more romantic. (Is that possible?) It is a nice length and the language makes it easy for little ones to follow the storyline. It is a good, solid Cinderella fairytale.

Cinderella lived with her two step-sisters. They gave her the nickname Cinderseat. They were really mean to her and made her do things for them. The king's son was to give a ball and everyone was invited. When the day came Cinderella began to cry and her godmother appeared and made her get a pumpkin, which she turned into a coach. She then turned mice into horses, and a rat into a coachman. Then dressed her in a beautiful dress and glass slippers. When she arrived she danced with the prince, but she had to leave before midnight. She left without telling anyone her name or anything. The next night they went to another ball and she left right before midnight in rags, and left one glass slipper behind. He checked around trying the slipper on everyone. When Cinderella tried it on it fit her perfectly, and the prince realized she was the mysterious girl he had danced with before and they were to be married. I think this is a good story for kids to read, because Cinderella was really nice to her step-sisters who were always so mean to her after everything.

this isnt the best versoin of cinderella i've heard!
but it is all i could find for a school project
if there was any good pictures from the book that i could have down loaded it would get 5 stars