Customer Reviews

Glass Slipper

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Eleanor Farjeon, now considered by some to be old-fashioned, is one of the classic retellers of fairy tales. Her reworking of the Cinderella story is charming, humorous and magical. A similar modern-day classic is Robin McKinley's first book, Beauty. One of the special things about The Glass Slipper is the enchantment that plays a vital part of Ella's daily life. The inanimate things she cares for in her stepmother's basement kitchen come alive for Ella, filling the void her mother's death has left in her heart. The illustrations are done with a wonderfully delicate hand and bring Ella and her world alive for the reader. Also written by Eleanor (and equally wonderful!) are the classic hymn, Morning Has Broken (Cat Stevens sang it), The Little Bookroom and The Silver Curlew (a retelling of the Rumplestiltskin story). Don't neglect these overlooked children's classics, and PRAY they come back into print!

I found it! Like one of the other reviewers, I read this book, and re-read it and re-read it, in Elementary school and loved it! The internet and places like Amazon.com have been a god-send for finding those treasures of childhood I thought I'd never see again. This remains to this day my very favorite version of the Cinderella story. Well worth the read no matter how old you are!

I read this book over twenty years ago, when I was in 5th or 6th grade. It made a strong impression on me, so strong that although I eventually forgot the author's name, I never forgot the book. Wanting to reread it as an adult, I tried to find it without success. Finally, a few years ago, I returned to my childhood library while on a cross country trip. The children's books were in a different part of the library, but when I described the book to the librarian, she recognized it instantly, and told me the author's name. The book is now out of print, but I am still looking for a copy. Meanwhile, if you find it in a library, and want a wonderful naturalistic fairy tale, true emotions with the magic and mystery kept in, and a lot of humour, try it out.

I got a copy of this in a second-hand store when I was a kid and I've practically read the covers off. Absolutely magical. I have never read a better imagining of the Cinderella story.

When I was in high school, I worked at the local public library. There were books I would happen upon and would then read them if they looked interesting. I remember seeing this book on the shelf while working in the children's department, but I don't remember now why it appealed to me. I remember it was light blue with a pencil drawing on the front. Funny that I remember that 25 years later. As so many other reviewers have mentioned, it was the creativity of the story that has made it one book I have not forgotten. Now as a mother, I take my children to the library with my list of "good books" and we get things from my list (I recommend the "1000 good books" list from classical homeschooling.org) and it is books like this that will feed my children's minds and not just fill their time. These are the stories that make them late to do other work, the "just let me finish the chapter?" books. The ones that will make them look up the title on the internet 25 years after reading them just so others will know of the treasure of finding a great read. And as a mother, I know their minds are safe as their imaginations troll new worlds created by Farjeon. I can't wait for my daughter to find this one. I just might read it aloud to relive the wonder of it!

I got this book as "fairy Godmother" gift for on of my little babystting friends. she's 4, and absoulutely loves the story

Maybe I just read her books in the wrong order, but after 'The Silver Curlew' and 'Martin Pippin in the Daisy Field' I really don't feel that this book deserves 5 stars. The plot is less spontaneous than her others and the characters less well rounded. The romance between the prince and Cinderella is abrupt - I know that's what it's like in the fairytale, but Farjeon rose above that in her other retellings. Compared to the vivid life that springs out of most of her other work, this just felt contrived to me.

I recommend it only to die-hard fans of Farjeon.

Like Robin Grunder's (New York, New York March 1999) review I just saw on this page, I had read this book (from my church library, no less!) when I was about 10-12 years old. I fell in love with it, and it left a marked impression upon me. Sort of "Cinderella at a whole 'nother level." But as a teenager I could not find the book anywhere. As a young adult, I would revert back to childhood books in times of stress (Madeleine L'Engle, Carolyne Keene) and looked for Eleanor's "Glass Slipper" many times to no avail. Then, in my late 30's, when Internet searching became all the rage, I one evening put the title in a search engine and VIOLA! There were several used (collectible) hardback copies available through Amazon.com! ... but I have my used 'library' copy and I'm ecstatic. I'll pass this on to my child's children, who will hopefully love reading as much as I do.

you can not give this book enough stars. this book brings cinderella to the next level very tastefully. thank you to the author for this teenage level.

The book is very good story. The author has done a very good job of telling the story. I have readed this book since 6th grade and now I'm first year in college. I have enjoy this book every time I read it. I recommend it to every one.