Cinderella Paperback – Picture Book, April 1, 1997

Got for great granddaughter’s third birthday, trust she likes it. I tend to stay away from the Disney versions if possible but did send Disney Cinderella pjs along with the book!

The colours very much evoke the era when this book was published: the mid-1950s. But, while not necessarily being my favourite decorating hues, the few chosen (blended occasionally to add shading and complexity), do a wonderful job of illustrating this tale in high yet minimalist style. Marcia Brown is an incredible artist -- *not* because she does photorealism, as is fashionable today -- but because of the immense economy of her pictures, her every stroke and line and daub of colour. She is a suggestive, impressionistic artist with finesse and dash. I *love* her pictures. Charmingly, she uses colour and ink squiggles to delineate: jagged squares of colour with a few downward lines to suggest a shiny floor; a few squiggles of ink in a white rectangular gap to evoke a door; elongated swags of colour to suggest figures seen in a mirror or through a doorway. She is quite audacious. And yet everything you want is there. I would only question the fact that, though the admirable text describes a diamond circlet, the illustration for that point in the story shows the stepsisters dressed the same, wearing the same fan headdresses with streaming ribbons. Where is the circlet?Otherwise, this is a refreshingly spontaneous and artistic interpretation, both in the writing and in the pastels, of a classic tale.

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.

Not the best story for a first grade class. Too long and the images are not clear enough for them to enjoy it as much as others.

It won a prestigious medal (the highest award medal for a children's book, actually), but it wasn't that terrific for me. The drawings are okay, but they look like draft drawings that designers do of models for clothes. The story wasn't all that great either, but it's a Cinderella story, so it has all the typical characters and themes. Meh, it's alright. In my opinion, I've read better versions of Cinderella.

Perfect

This is wonderfully illustrated! The classic story that all children should have the privilege of reading.

Great translation of the story with beautiful graphics! I enjoy this version more so than the Disney version, it was a must add for my daughter's collection!

Perfect item. Perfect transaction.