Cindy Ellen: A Wild Western Cinderella [Paperback]

Susan Lowell (Author), Jane Manning (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: December 18, 2001 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years

Once upon a time, there was a sweet cowgirl named Cindy Ellen, who lived with the orneriest stepmother west of the Mississippi and two stepsisters who were so nasty, they made rattlesnakes look nice! But when a fast-talkin' fairy godmother teaches Cindy Ellen a little lesson about gumption, Cindy lassos first place at the rodeo and the heart of Joe Prince....

You may think you've heard the story before-but you'll get a side-splittin' bellyache after you're through with this hilarious rendition told Wild West-style!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If there's one thing the traditional fairy-tale Cinderella is lacking, it's some rip-snortin', gravel-in-the-gizzard gumption. And until her Wild West counterpart, Cindy Ellen, meets her own fairy godmother, she too is sorely deficient in the grit and guts department, even if she is a durn good cowgirl. Cindy Ellen's meaner-than-a-rattlesnake stepmother bullies her into doing all the dirty work on the ranch and forbids her to attend the biggest event of the season, a rodeo and square dance. Enter her spur-jangling, gun-firing, no-nonsense fairy godmother: "Magic is plumb worthless without gumption.... Stop that tomfool blubbering, and let's get busy." And just like that, Cindy is outfitted in the "finest riding clothes west of the East," including a pair of diamond-studded spurs. You can guess the rest. It involves six cactus mice transformed into six dappled horses, a lost diamond spur, and a rodeo champion by the name of Joe Prince.

Simply put, Cindy Ellen is a riot. Joined with Jane Manning's over-the-top illustrations, this sidesplitting retelling of a classic will keep young buckaroos in stitches. Susan Lowell has enchanted readers with several earlier Wild West remakes, including The Bootmaker and the Elves and The Three Little Javelinas. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

"Savory slang adds punch to this tale, which stresses the fairy godmother's message that `magic is plumb worthless without gumption.' Illustrations lush with cactus-flower colors and pale maize gold enhance this rawhide-and-lace fantasy," said PW. Ages 4-8.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (December 18, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064438643
• ISBN-13: 978-0064438643
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 10.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,310 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #90 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > United States

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Cinderella meets the Wild West August 29, 2000

By Deanna

Format:Hardcover

When sweet Cindy Ellen's father marries his ornery new wife, she and her nasty daughters take to picking on Cindy. This retelling of the traditional Cinderella tale is full of "twirling swirling" fun. Cindy's fairy godmother helps her get to both the wild and woolly rodeo and the square dance where Cindy Ellen meets the rodeo champion Joe Prince. Of course, sparks fly - as does Cindy at the stroke of midnight, leaving Joe Prince to search out his lost cowgirl. In this version, Cindy Ellen must gather her gumption to receive the fairy godmother's magical gifts and the result is a cowgirl who is strong as well as pretty, making this a positive read for both children and parents.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars New take on old story July 18, 2009

By K. Lamoreaux

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book to include in a literature unit on Cinderella stories for my second grade class. They loved it. The story was especially fun for us in Oklahoma. Cindy is much more like my girls and the events are more familiar. They don't go to balls or fancy parties yet, but they sure know about rodeos and bar-b-ques.
Any teacher doing Cinderella stories must have this one.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner from Susann Lowell! June 1, 2007

By A Mom

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Susan Lowell is a genius. You can't help but read her books with a twang in your voice, and my child loves books read with funny voices. Cindy Ellen is great because it's a "cowboy book" that boys and girls alike can really love. Susan Lowell has produced another wonderful re-telling of a classic tale. Jane Manning's pictures are great, too, they really bring life and sparkle to Ms. Lowell's words.