Book Description

A riveting memoir of a girl's painful coming-of-age in a wealthy Chinese family during the 1940s.

A Chinese proverb says, "Falling leaves return to their roots." In Chinese Cinderella, Adeline Yen Mah returns to her roots to tell the story of her painful childhood and her ultimate triumph and courage in the face of despair. Adeline's affluent, powerful family considers her bad luck after her mother dies giving birth to her. Life does not get any easier when her father remarries. She and her siblings are subjected to the disdain of her stepmother, while her stepbrother and stepsister are spoiled. Although Adeline wins prizes at school, they are not enough to compensate for what she really yearns for -- the love and understanding of her family.

Following the success of the critically acclaimed adult bestseller Falling Leaves, this memoir is a moving telling of the classic Cinderella story, with Adeline Yen Mah providing her own courageous voice. ... Read more

Reviews (124)

A Dream Come True!
Adeline Yen Mah has written a fantastic book after her best-selling book Falling Leaves. In this story Adeline or Wu Mei is given little notice from her family. That is because her mother had died giving birth to Wu Mei and because of that her family considers her bad luck. Without a mother, her Aunt Baba takes care of her and raises her like she would her own daughter. Even though she skips grades and gets higher scores in school, that is not what she really wants but the love and understanding of her family. Then her father marries a European woman named Jeanne. Niang (chinese for mom) disliked Wu Mei very much. Niang spoiled her children and didn't even like her stepchildren. Niang and her father had abandoned her many times in China. Her aunt and uncle had to rescue her from the communists once. Her grandmother and then later her grandfather had also died as well. Niang also beated her for going to her friend's birthday party. Later Wu Mei entered a writing compeitition and she had won. That was when her father noticed her and granted her wish of going away to college with her brothers. This heart- warming story with make you cry as you read! In this book, you learn how Adeline goes through her sad childhood as she tries to find happiness through her life as an unloved child of her parents.

The Unwanted Child
Review:
Chinese Cinderella is about an unwanted daughter. Adeline was hated and neglected by her family, yet she still tried to remain normal. Adeline had always gotten top in the class and the best grades, but something her friends thought she lacked, style. After she was removed from her Aunt Baba, Adeline went to Hong Kong where she studied hard and won an international play writing contest. This gave her the chance, to go to England and study, 'It was like going to heaven''

Response:
Chinese Cinderella is the foremost and most heartbreaking story I have ever read. It is a true story of an unwanted daughter, Adeline Yen Mah. She was neglected by her family for they thought she was bad luck-her mother died when giving birth to her. For years, Adeline went through the torture of her stepmother, until finally, at once, she had a chance to leave and be successful. Her key was because of her grandfather Ye Ye, who had encouraged Adeline to enter a contest. She had won, making her father believe, that it was the right thing to send Adeline to England, for she had brought honor to her family name. By this, it gave her a chance to get out of her contained life, forever.

Amazing
This is one the most amazing books I've ever read and probably ever will read, and I've truly read many books. Chinese Cinderella have a lot of fact and can teach you a thing or two or twenty about Chinese and Asian culture. But also give you a story that will make you cry, you'll learn about her struggle through the first years of her life. This is an unique "based on a true-story"-book and it's a very touching story and I recommed it to everyone!

A true Cinderella account!
This is a really wonderful book,in a way,to those who don;t believe in fairy tales,especially Cinderella,here's a really great book-a real-life autobiography.
In the 1930s,a girl named Jun-ling was born into an affluent family with an elder sister and three elder brothers.Unfortunately,her mother died within two weeks after conceiving her,and she was soon considered to be a jinx.And that was when her life changes.

The poor rich girl was detested by her own sister and her brothers,and even her stepmother,a snobbish,intelligent and French-Chinese beauty.She lived in a lifestyle practically the same as Cinderella.Though she wasn't forced to do housework or anything,she has no freedom of her own,no new clothes(when the family was super wealthy).She moved from schools to schools,cities to cities,and witnessed the deaths of her beloved grandparents.What life is this for a child who was only aged 5-15 at the time?

Her sister picked on her,her brothers tricked her into drinking their urine(yep,they mixed their urine with fruit punch and told her it was a reward for her as headgirl),her closest friend,a little duckling was bitten to death by the family's dog,a German Shephard.The little girl longed to tell someone how life was for her;her friends thought she came from a loving family(when her stepmother cared for her own children than her-slapped the girl,hoped for her death and all really horrible stuff.Seriously,is this what you call a life meant for a human?

Adeline writes in a short and simple way.She tells her tale-not any fairy tale,though she did find happiness in the end.She won numerous awards as a student,has a passion for education.But nobody has ever cared for her.Each time she received an award,nobody was there with her.Her presence was almost inexistence at home.Her father hardly cared for his daughter,he did not even know his daughter's name and date of birth.Can one believe this? Reality was tough,reality was harsh,but the girl accepted it-without a word of complain.She did not give up,and promised to do well at school to live a life better than that of her family's.She became well-known for her flair of writng,went to London to study medicine,and became a doctor soon afterwards.This is a heartwarming tale of a girl.A true Cinderella.With a real stepmother.With stepsiblings(her own siblings detested her,what more stepsiblings?).And fairy-godmothers/father(her aunt Baba,grandad,friends).An amazing and truly profilic book to read.

A MUST READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have to admit when I was first introduced to this book I wanted to put it back down because it looked liked a children's book and I NEVER have liked getting involved with the melodrama of the teenage worlds. But once I started reading I could not put it down until I had read it cover to cover. It touched me so deeply I found myself crying for her sorrow and suffering. A reader doesn't necessarily have to be going through the anguish that she went through in order to relate. Its theme is universal and I can now see why some schools are listing this book as required reading: because they might have been like me pondering weather or not to read it or not and wind up missing out one of the best stories I have read in a long time. It is so riveting that at times I forget that this is a true story. Now after reading this tale I appreciate my family more than ever before!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Domitila is not only "sweeter than a cactus bloom in early spring," she is also a talented cook and an amazing leather artist. most of the classical elements of a Cinderella story can be found in Domitila. A gentle weaving of her mother's nurturing with strong family traditions is the secret ingredient for Domitila to rise above hardship to eventually become the Governor's bride. Moreover, with a firm belief in simplicity and realism, Domitila makes a lasting impression as a triumphant Cinderella in her humility, service, and unassuming modesty.

Unlike most ivory tower Cinderellas, the only transformation in this story is Timoteo's—Domitila's suitor—as we watch him mature from an arrogant politician's son to a compassionate family man. There is no glass slipper to fight over, and no fairy godmother to save the day. All Domitila has are her innate qualities and her family legacy. Finally, the readers are invited to get to know Cinderella for who she is, unlike the typical fantasy character!

With love and care in every stroke, McLennan captured on canvas the warmth of relationships, the fondness for color and texture, and the versatile patterns characteristic of the Mexican people. Readers will soon fall in love with the shimmering light of the desert landscape and this well-told story of Cinderella-with-a-twist. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good Book
This story is one of the Cinderella tales however this one is from Mexico. A young girl goes and cooks for the governor, and the governor is amazed by the taste of the meals that this girl can cook. However Domitila's mother dies and she must return home. The prince wanting to taste the wonderful food again goes out and searches for the woman who can cook a feast out of weeds. Although the governor faces some hardships and dishonest people in the end finds Domitila and marries her. This is a wonderful take off of the classic Cinderella story. I like it because it has Mexican traditions in it and the illustrations are wonderful. This book would be great to use as an introduction to different cultures. If I were to use this in my classroom I would try to get other countries versions of Cinderella so that they children could see even more differences and similarities in the stories.

Now including culture, morals, and interest for boys
The story of a Mexican Cinderella character, this book is beautifully done with warmly coloured oil on canvas paintings that poignantly draw to mind the dry Mexican landscape. Most importantly, the illustrator has resisted the urge to create perfect characters, and instead presents a pleasant looking "Cinderella" with bland features and a square jaw, perhaps because the story is based on the family legend of the Rivero family of Hidalgo, Mexico. The author's text is mostly traditional for a fairy tale, but includes Spanish words with translations on the back page. The plot holds more interest than the traditional Cinderella tale, as the Prince is a Governor's son who begins the story haughty and spoiled, but while on a quest for the girl who makes delicious nopales (edible cactus, made by the common people), changes into a person of worth who can truly love a girl of the common people. This focus and character development of the often forgotten prince may make this tale more interesting to boys, as the male character is the hero on a quest, rather than the reward at the end of a girl's suffering. Furthermore, the tale is woven of realistic elements, rather than the fairy godmother, singing mice, and glass slipper of tradition, as it is explained why the father remarries, and includes a period of grief after the mother's death. However, beyond the plot and setting, the author waxes moralistic, presenting the likeable, yet lifeless Domitila as a goody-goody with a loving heart who follows her mother's instructions to "do every task with care, and always add a generous dash of love." Additionally, the text is framed in proverbs, presented both in English and Spanish, on the subjects of love and work, which add "atmosphere," but may get too sermonic to hold the attention of a child. Includes appealing history of the tale, as well as a recipe for Domitila's nopales on the last page.

A beautiful, superbly illustrated picturebook tale.
Jewell Reinhart Coburn's Domitila provides a Mexican Cinderella story as it tells of a talented cook and artist who becomes the Governor's bride. A beautiful account. ... Read more

Book Description

5 Funny Plays with Related Writing Activities and Graphic Organizers That Motivate Kids to Explore Plot, Characters, and Setting
Humorous Twists on Fairy Tales to Get Kids Reading!
What happens when Cinderella wears shoes she¹s made from recycled materials to the ball? Tap into students¹ sense of humor with five lively plays that take the plots, characters, and settings of traditional fairy tales and turn them on their heads! Includes character parts written at a variety of reading levels, book links, and writing activities that help students build on traditional fairy tale structures and write in different genres. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Read, Write, AND Have Fun?!
I find Cinderella Outgrows the Glass Slipper a valuable resource for ideas for helping students read and write for a variety of purposes, one of which is for enjoyment! Teachers are always looking for practical and intriguing ways to teach writing and build students'motivation to write, so the creative ideas for addressing national language arts standards and teaching writing for a variety of purposes found in this book are treasures.
Students and adults appreciate the zany fairy tales J.M. Wolf includes in this book, and the many practical resource ideas for presenting fairy tale plays really do work. The fractured fairy tales hook students' interest, and the related writing activities and resources are useful supplements to the language arts curriculum. ... Read more

Book Description

The prince is hoping to fall for Rapunzel, but since she can't quite hear what he asks for, everything but her hair gets tossed out her window. Instead of her curly locks, she throws her dirty socks. Instead of silky tresses, out go lacey dresses. And you can predict the guaranteed-to-crack-kids-up clothing she sends down when the prince simply says hair. . . .

Finally Rapunzel heaves out something that makes all the prince's dreams come true, showing how misunderstandings can lead to happily-ever-after.

Hilarious text, clever page-turns, and vibrant, eclectic art make this a non-traditional Rapunzel kids will want to read about again and again. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Hooray!
The story is a cute variation of the one we all know.

The rhymes and meter are good--this is so refreshing!!

And while it ends in happily ever after, Rapunzel doesn't have to get married.

This is a lovely book.

Throw down your underwear!
This is a hilarious adaptation of the story of Rapunzel. I read this to students in an elementary special education class and they also loved it. The rhyming makes it fun for the kids to guess what Rapunzel throws down. The prince will say, "Throw down your curly locks!" The next lines would say, "So Rapunzel threw out...." and the kids would have fun guessing what Rapunzel threw down. Another teacher in the room stopped what they were doing and listened to the story as well.

WE LOVE IT!
One of the best new picture books we have read in a long time. The illustrations are adorable and the poetic story is hilarious! This is a must have for every child's library!

CLEVER, WHITTY, FUNNY
This book is a clever display of Leah's talents. The illustrations are hillarious and the text and rhyms are great. I really enjoyed this book and knowing Leah personally I think this is a great display of her talent and that everyone should own a copy. This book is great for all ages and I recomend it for anyone in need of a good laugh.

An excellent book! For all ages
This is an excellent display of color and clever, witty writing. I have known the author since I was 4 and have grown to love her poetry and writing. I recomend this book for fun for all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not appropriate for young children
I am very enthusiastic about exposing my children to different cultures and ideas, and when I saw this book and read the reviews on Amazon, I was excited to get it for my girls. When the book arrived, I read it immediately. The story and the pictures are beautiful. I liked everything until the very last sentence of the book -- I was very surprised to read that Yeh-Shen's stepmother and stepsister were "crushed to death in a shower of flying stones." Although I understand that this may be part of the original story, I am giving this book one star because it is supposed to be appropriate for children 4-8. I don't believe, with such a violent and disturbing ending, that it is appropriate for this age group.

A great book
I think this book is very,very good. It was a great book about China also a good book for childrens around the world. This book is about a girl named Yeh-Shen that was a orpahan. She had to work for her stepmother and her stepsister. Yeh-Shen had a fish that she did not know that it was magic fish. The fish's name is goldeyes. Yeh-Shen stepsister found out that Yeh-Shen had a friend that was a fish. The stepsister want and told her mother. The stepmother told Yeh-Shen to get some wood from the far side of the land. At the end of the story Yeh-Shen married the king.

One of the best versions of Cinderella
In almost every culture, parents tell children a story that resembles the European Cinderella. Scholars have collected more than 500 versions of the story. In the past couple of decades a lot of these multicultural variations on Cinderella have been turned into children's picture books. The familiar story gives kids a great introduction to people of the world. Several of these books are very good, but two are exceptional. One is John Steptoe's "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters," an African version of the story. The other is this one.

"Yeh-Shen," a Chinese version of the tale almost a thousand years older than the earliest known European version, contains many familiar details - a poor over-worked girl, a wicked stepmother and stepsister, a magical helper, a king in search of a wife, and a lost shoe. But while Cinderella is simply handed gifts from her fairy godmother, Yeh-Shen earns her wishes through kindness to a magic fish. This one change makes a big difference in the ethical tone of the book. It also makes the reader feel much more sympathetic toward Yeh-Shen, who seems to deserve every bit of good fortune she gets.

The illustrations greatly add to the book's charm. Ed Young's style is striking and unique. There's a misty, ethereal quality to his art that makes everything look as if it were taking place in a dream - which is just perfect for the book.

THE OLDEST VERSION OF CINDERELLA
This is the oldest known version of Cinderella. It dates back to 9BC China. Having taught a unit on the history of Cinderella to my class every year around Holiday time, I'm pleased to finally have a copy of the book -- the copy from the Minneapolis Public Library is missing -- because it teaches children that not every version is about pumpkin coaches and glass slippers. Beautifully illustrated by Ed Young, the theme of the fish/fairy godmother character plays throughout the book.

Enjoy this version, along with Shirley Chimo's Egyptian and Korean Cinderellas, The Turkey Girl, The Rough Face Girl, Sootface, and of course, the old classic versions.

This book is an excellent addition to your multicultural children's collection! ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Book Review
This is a beautifully told Algonquin Indian version of the Cinderella story. From reading this story we learn that not all things are seen with the eyes, but with the heart, as with the Rough-Face Girl who earns the love of and the right to marry the Invisible Being. We should all be like the Rough-Face Girl by seeing the beauty of the earth around us and not taking any thing for granted.

I highly recommend this book.

Impossible things are happening every day
I first read a version of the Algonquin Cinderella story in the collected folktale book, "World Tales", compilated by Idries Shah. The version repeated in that book and then retold in "The Rough-Face Girl" is almost perfectly identical. In a way, this proves the entrancing nature of this tale, and its capacity for retellings. With Rafe Martin's book, one of the best Cinderella stories from around the globe (if not THE best) is accompanied by David Shannon's fabulous illustrations. The combination is incredible.

In this tale, once an Algonquin girl lived with her father and cruel older sisters. These girls forced their younger sibling to feed their fires, causing her arms and face to become burnt and scarred. Her hair became charred and lifeless as well. Also in this village was an invisible man who was rumored to be rich and powerful. One day the sisters decide to wed the Invisible Being (I guess they both figured on sharing him). When confronted by his sister, the girls are asked to describe his bow and the runner of his sled. Unable to do so, they are sent away. The next day the rough faced girl goes to do the same and she too meets with the sister of the Invisible Being. You can probably guess the rest.

As Cinderella tales go, this one gives its heroine more of an active role than the European Cinderella ever had. Where Cinderella relies on a magical fairy godmother and a prince to track her down, the rough faced girl fashions her own clothing and sets out to meet the Invisible Being despite the taunts of the villagers that doubt her. True, this is a fairy tale and therefore subject to the idea that for women, fulfillment comes with a good marriage. But honestly, most tales rely on this conceit. This tale has elements of the Cupid/Psyche stories, Beauty and the Beast, and many others, while at the same time remaining a true and accomplished original.

Shannon's accompanying illustrations are very interesting. Most artists that depict Native Americans in storybook form (like, say, "A Boy Called Slow") don't draw characters that display much in the way of emotion. Call it a different kind of racism, if you will. Shannon, however, seems to have taken heart from the fact that this is a fantasy and not a piece of non-fiction. His evil sisters sneer and flounce. As they parade through the village in their new clothes their noses are held quite high. His rough faced girl is never viewed directly, so long as she remains scarred and unhappy. The closest moment we get is when she is crouched beside the fire, the shadows playing on her face and bandaged arms. When at last she bathes in a lake and is revealed to be beautiful the moment, while nice, is accompanied by an odd illustration that conjures up the word "pin-up" more than anything else. In my favorite illustration, we see the Invisible Being towering over his new betrothed, obviously a really good looking dude. Shannon has a way of playing with light and shadow in this book that conceals as much as it reveals. I was particularly taken with the clever picture that displayed the Invisible Being astride the milky way, his waist made up the three stars that represent Orion's Belt.

Truthfully, I am not well acquainted with the Algonquin way of life. I therefore cannot vouch that this book is perfectly faithful to the mode of dress and lives of its people. What I can ascertain is that the book is respectful to its subjects as well as its subject matter. It's a fabulous looking and sounding creation that every child, teen, and adult should be well-acquainted with. Worth a gander.

This is a beautiful story :)
The Rough-Face Girl is a delightful story. It is a modern story of Cinderella. I love the impact that the story gives. It shows that beauty comes form within. The girl in the story goes though many changes and with everything she goes though she keeps a beautiful body image. The illustrations were detailed wonderfully. This is a story book that everyone should own.

Rough-Face Girl
The language is beautiful; the illustrations are exquisite. A universal theme that beauty comes from within.

The Rough Face Gril
The Rough Face Girl By Ar-Day Wilson

The rough face girl was about a girl that had two

sisters and a father. The two sisters would boss her

around. They made her stand by the fire; so her face got

burned. She later married an invisible man and they lived

happily ever after.

The rough face girl was the youngest, friendly, and nicest

person. She is a very beautiful girl, but on the outside she

doesn't really know that.

Nobody thinks she should marry the invisible being.

When she came to his teepee his

sister was waiting for her and asked her three questions.

She got them all right.

The way she solves the problem is by going to marry the

invisible being. So that nobody will ever make fun of her

again. If they do they will deal with the invisible

being.

I think this is a good book because it teaches you that

it doesn't matter how you look on the outside but you look on

the inside. I would recommend this book to others because it

teaches you how it is important not to judge people from the

outside. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In older versions of the classic tale Rapunzel, it always seemed improbable that a grown man could scale a tower using only his beloved's hair.Not so in Paul O. Zelinsky's Caldecott Medal-winning version of Rapunzel. Here, Rapunzel's reddish-blonde mane is thick with waves and braids, and cascades like a waterfall down the walls of her isolation tower. In Zelinsky's able hands it's easy to believe that a prince would harbor no hesitations about scrambling up our fair heroine's hair.

Of course, this is not the work of an amateur--Zelinsky's lush versions of Hansel and Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin, and Swamp Angel all earned him Caldecott Honors. His gorgeous, Italian Renaissance-styled illustrations are characterized by warm golden tones and the mesmerizing sensation of trompe l'oeuil. Not only does he have the touch of a world-class illustrator, Zelinsky has also proven himself a master storyteller. We are frightened when the sorceress demands to take the baby Rapunzel, we are alarmed when the flowing locks are cruelly shorn, and we rejoice when the prince and his now modest-haired love are reunited. The notes at the back of Rapunzel reveal his careful scholarship regarding the long history of the story (tracing its origins and transformations from Italy to France and finally to Germany and the Grimm brothers)--work that no doubt contributed to his clean, compelling version of the age-old tale. Children will be captivated by the magical story and evocative pictures and adults will delight in the fresh feel of a well-loved legend. (Click to see asamplespread. Illustration © 1997 by Paul O. Zelinsky, published by Dutton Children's Books, a division of Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers.) (Ages 4 and older) ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A visually beautiful rendition of a timeless tale
"When I was a young girl, I had long braids, and always wanted to be Rapunzel," confided a colleague at a recent meeting. Paul Zelinsky's Caldecott award-winning retelling of this age-old tale of a mother-to-be's craving for the forbidden rapunzel, a possessive sorceress, a beautiful girl with an unending cascade of silky hair shut away in a remote tower, and a handsome prince just might reawaken those desires. In his informative "Note About Rapunzel ," Zelinsky relates how he drew on elements from the early French and Italian sources as well as from the better known Grimm version of this tale to create his own compelling version. Thus, some details of the story are less familiar. Rapunzel naively reveals that she has had a visitor in the tower when she asks the sorceress to help her with her dress for, "It is growing so tight around my waist, it doesn't want to fit me anymore." Other elements, retold in their familiar spare rhythm, such as "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" retain ther original power. Zelinsky uses the formal beauty of Renaissance art to evoke both the physical beauty of the characters and the Italian landscape. His large oil paintings overflow with softly muted colors, billowing folds of finely detailed period costumes, ornate architecture, and majestic landscapes. His masterful use of glinting and filtering light illuminates every page. Zelinsky's Rapunzel is a book to be treasured by anyone who appreciates a timeless tale and delights in an object of visual beauty.

Beautiful illustrations and a traditional retelling
Paul O. Zelinsky's "Rapunzel" is a delight of renaissance-like oil paintings depicting a delicately beautiful girl, a frightening witch, and a handsome prince. The illustrations are truly superb, and each page features a beautifully rendered painting rich with color and detail.

Zelinsky's retelling of the story is traditional yet satisfying, but the illustrations really steal the show. Children will get caught up in the fairytale landscapes and the magical locales. Readers will also appreciate the additional information provided by Zelinsky about his retelling of the story and his study of Italian Renaissance art. It's always nice to know why artists choose to illustrate stories in a certain way.

This book won the Caldecott Medal for its fantastic illustrations.

Provacative story line with beautiful illustrations.
"Rapunzel" retold and illustrated Paul O. Zelisky is a version of the fairytale more closely relating to its original form dating back to 1635 called "Petrosinella". The story of "Rapunzel" has been found all over the world and has transcended time and culture, with few minor changes in the detail of the story for instance Rapunzel's hair color. The most distinctive difference between Zelisky's version and more modern interpretations, beginning with the Brother's Grimm is whether or not Rapunzel's pregnancy is mentioned. I think the story is for a more mature audience but children are not likely to catch the fact that Rapunzel is pregnant because they will be enchanted with the illustrations. The illustrations are reminiscent of the Italian Renaissance and will transport any reader into the fantasy world. Having researched several versions of Rapunzel, I have found that Zelisky's version is the most real to life because it does raise issues of sex, the inability for some parents to take care of their children, stealing, and cruelty to others. This book is provocative and will make readers of all ages asked questions; I would recommend this book for both children and adults. I think that both age groups could learn from each other by reading this book together, just be ready to answer your child's questions honestly.

The rare non-Disneyfied fairy tale
The winner of the Caldecott Medal, "Rapunzel" is one of the most lush and beautiful stories ever created for children. Carrying many of the distinctive Zelinsky elements (staggered perspectives, reoccurring background characters, gorgeous lighting, etc.) the book is a joy to look at. Each picture evokes the spirit of the Renaissance, from the first tableau (the husband and wife feeling her pregnant stomach in contentment) to the last (the loving family poses with the cherubim-like children). The text is a little more racy than your average children's picture book. Zelinsky doesn't shy away from the fact that Rapunzel is pregnant when the witch learns of her illicit relations, though he does legitimize the girl's newfound glow with a hasty "marriage" of the prince to Rapunzel in her tower. Sans priest, no less. The book is also remarkable for the dramatic shift that occurs in the character of the witch. A scowling ghoul in one picture, she transforms into an almost nunlike character when receiving the little Rapunzel baby. One might well ask what happens to the witch after she casts Rapunzel and her prince into the desert, but Zelinsky doesn't feel this is worth discussing. A perfect book for storytelling, as the pictures are colorful and easy to see from a distance. Would pair well with his other oil painted fairy tale "Rumplestiltskin".

Gorgeous book
This book has a great story, but above all: the illustrations are AMAZING. They are like oil paintings, full of colour and detail. Very young and older child both will really enjoy this book. This book is essential to any home or school library.
Slight warning- Rapunzel gets pregnant with twins after 'letting down her hair' for the prince.....i was asked 'how did that happen?' :) Some parents might not want their kids to read that part. ... Read more

Book Description

Cinduri has a lot of work to do. Every day she walks to the lake to fetch drinking water, milks the cow, cleans the house, prepares the meals, cleans the animal pens, and sells vegetables. Her stepmother and stepsister, however, don’t do any of the work. They just order Cinduri about and give her a bowl of rice and a few leftovers to eat.

The lake, however, is full of magic. When Godfather Snake hears of Cinduri’s troubles, he vows to make her life easier. And when the Prince comes to visit the village during the annual Navaratri Festival, Godfather Snake makes it possible for her to go, dressed in the most beautiful gold-threaded sari and sparkling diamond anklets. It is there that she wins the heart of the Prince.

Adapted from the East Indian story "Nagami" (Jewel of the Snake), this version of the tale is rich with the traditions and culture of India while also conveying the universal values of the Cinderella story. Beautiful watercolor depictions of Indian life and styles accompany this introduction to Indian folklore. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A captivating picture book story
Anklet For A Princess: A Cinderella Story From India is an fabulous adaptation of the East Indian story "Nagami" (Jewel of the Snake), a legend that in many ways resembles the classic fairy tale Cinderella. The young woman Cinduri is overburdened with work from her stepmother and stepsister, and receives barely enough to eat in return. But Godfather Snake learns of her troubles and helps her attend the village's annual Navaratri Festival dressed in the most beautiful golden-threaded sari and diamond anklets, and there she wins the heart of the Prince. A captivating picture book story commendably written by Lila Mehta, deftly adapted by Meredith Brucker, and wondrously illustrated in full color by Youshan Tang, Anklet For A Princess would make a welcome and popular addition to any school or community library picture book collection. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Down Right Purdy!
I thought this was a beautiful Americanized version of Perrault's "Cendrillon". Unlike another reveiwer, I was not at all offended and thought this was a charming tale. The author's interpretation of a down-home style Cinderella story was right on target. I loved the idea of the hog replacing a fairy god mother! A fun read!

Think Twice
This book is a mockery of Southern Appalachian people. Not only is the dialect incorrectly conveyed, but the pictures are demeaning as well. Mr. Schroeder, a native Californian, obviously made little (if any) attempt to get to know the group about whom he writes.

A Truely Wonderful Story
This book has a storyline much like the traditional Cinderella. It features Appalachian dialect which is remarkable. This story is an added bonus to any fairy tale unit and an excellent reading experience. ... Read more

Book Description

The complete retelling of favorite Disney movies in a true read-aloud style. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

"Disneys Cinderella"
This is a book about a young girl, whos father marries into a family that does not like her. The stepmother and her two daughters treat her very rotten. They make her do all the chores, and they wont let her go to the ball. Well one night when she was sitting at home, by herslef, (while her stepmother, and two stepsisters are at the ball) she gets a visit from her fairy godmother, the fairy godmother tells her that she could go to the ball, as long as she was back by 12:00 midnight. When she was at the ball, she met this handsome prince, and she fell in love with him, but it was time for her to leave, and as she was running out (because she didnt want to be late) she lost her glass slipper, so the prince had to go all over the village and try this slipper on all of the womens feet. The slipper fit Cinderella and they got married and lived happily ever after. I feel that this book teaches that in the end it doesnt pay off to be mean to people. The age level i would recommend this for would be about 8. I think this was a very good book.

Wonderful Disney Classic
What a beautiful storybook version of a Disney Classic! This book tells the Disney Cinderella story, and includes all the story elements and characters from the movie. Each page has the gorgeous artwork from the film, along with a short paragraph.

Other Disney versions we've read don't include Jaq and Gus, which is NOT acceptable to my 3 year old daughter. This book is one of the longer stories we read (it takes me 15 to 20 minutes to read), but my daughter is engaged for the whole thing.

This book is wonderful by itself, or as a tie-in to the video. (I limit my daughter's video time, and this is a very acceptable alternative for her). It is definitely deserving of space on your bookshelf!

Beautify Disney illustrations but poorly written
I admit to being a Disney nut when I was a kid although Sleeping Beauty was my favorite "princess". When someone gave this to my 3 year old daughter I honestly thought she was a bit young to get into the whole "Prince Charming will sweep me away" thing. Unfortunately she is obsessed with both the book and the movie. There are the obviously dated themes of the stepmother and sisters (notice how apparently a big nose and brown eyes make someone instantly ugly?) and the getting married after a few dances. But in addition to that, which I could have overlooked, is the fact that the book is simply poorly written. The illustrations are taken directly from the movie and are beautiful. But the grammer is atrocious and the story lacks the continuity of the movie. I dread having to read this to her at bedtime.

Walt Disney's Enchanted Cinderella
Cinderella

I rate this book with 5 stars.
In Cinderella a little house cleaner gets no attention,
Until her fairy godmother comes and makes her beautiful.
Then she can go to the ball.
I would recommend this book to anyone.
This is Walt Disney's version of Cinderella.

"Cinderella"
"Cinderella" is about a girl, named Cinderella, who lives with her stepmother and her two stepsisters (who, above all, treat her with disrespect). One day she hears that there is going to be a Grand Ball held at the Palace. This Ball is being held for the Prince so that he can find the perfect maiden for his bride. Unfortunately, her evil stepmother will not allow her to go. But, she does anyway. This book teaches that nothing can stand in your way of doing anything that you want to do. This book would probably be a 2nd - 3rd grade book. This was a very good book and I recommend it to anyone that loves to read an adventure story that has a little bit of Romance in it. ... Read more

Book Description

You may think you know this story I am going to tell you, but you have not heard it for true. I was there. So I will tell you the truth of it. Here. Now. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

I like it because the pictures and the writing are great
I am giving the book Cendrillon 5 stars because there are words in French, there are excellent pictures, and San Souci has a very good way at making the story make sense.

I liked that they put in French words because it tells the reader that the people in the story speak French.

The author, Robert D. San Souci, is excellent at writing. I have read more of his books and they are all great.

The illustrater, Brian Pinkney, has a great way of making the pictures stand out. Pinkney has a nice way of drawing the outlines of things. You can almost see things jumping out of the pages. You can see he mixes in colors, so he gets the colors he wants.

The book is great.

Kudos!
This is a wonderfully rich retelling of the traditional French Cinderella story, set in the Caribbean. As a school librarian I've shared this title with students to compare it to the traditional version. They love it! The pronunciation guide in the back is most helpful. The story is unique because it is from the point of view of the spunky godmother. Pinkney's scratchboard illustrations are perfect!

We liked this story because some words were in French.
We rated it number four because we liked the drawings. We thought the drawings brought out the book. We thought the illustrations were very colorfuland very interesting because it was by the Carrabien Sea. We, also, liked it because some words were in French. There should not have been servants in the story. We thought it was like the other Cinderella stories. The author should have changed it a little bit. We suggest younger school aged pupils would enjoy this book better that upper elementary pupils. We have enjoyed reading this book a lot. By : The Four Recess Lovers*

We rated it a two because we did not understand it.
The story is about a lovely girl whose mother dies and her father remarries a evil lady. Her father worked alot and her stepmother made her do all of the work. All the girls in the town got invited to a ball that the Prince was having. There he would pick one lady to be his bride. The housekeeper of the house had a magic wand that her mother had given her. She uses the wand so that Cendrillion can go to the ball. She and the housekeeper got to go to the ball, but they had to be back at 12:00pm. They got sidetrack and the 12:00pm clock rang.Then they ran home but the Prince found that she had lost her shoe. He looks all over town. Then he goes to a house which is Cendrillion's house. Then her evil stepsisters tries to fit the shoe on their big feet,but the shoe wouldn't fit their big feet. Then her mother tried the shoe on, but it would not fit her foot either. Then Cendrillion tried it on and it fits her just fine. Then ,the Prince and her got married,and they lived happily ever after in the Prince's big catle with all their riches.

We rated it a 4 because it had good pictures and a plot.
There was once a girl and her god mother and they worked for the girls step mother. Her step mother was really mean. Her step mother was very mean. The step mother didn't want Cendrillion to go the ball. The washer woman turns into a fairy god mother, and sends Cendrillion to the ball. She looks as a princess would look when she went to the ball. She had a very nice dress. She road in very fancy carriage. She danced all night until twelve o'clock. She was leaving and lost one of her slippers. The prince goes through out the town looking all over for his bride to be. He tries to find out which foot fits the slipper. Her step sister tries the slipper on. The god mother says "It would only fit you if you cut off your toes". The god mother ran all the way upstairs to find Cendrillion. She found her in her room, and dragged her down the stairs. She went and saw her beloved the prince. The prince asked her to try on the beautiful slipper. She said yes. It was a perfect fit! Then they asked to get married. They got married at the princes kingdom. They had a party after the wedding. They lived happily ever after!We suggest this book to people who like fairy tales.

By:The Snowboarder Kids ... Read more

Book Description

In the first English retelling of this ancient Cambodian tale, our heroine goes further, survives more, and has to conquer her own mortality to ragain her rightful place. Angkat—child of ashes—endures great wrongs as she seeks to rise above the distresses caused by her own family. Angkat appeared in an 18th century French essay which was found by Dr. Coburn deep in some dusty archives while she was researching Khmer culture and folklore. The artist effectively employed dramatic expressions, gestures, and ambiance in each illustration. This ancient and truly captivating version of the Cinderella story will delight and enthrall readers of all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An attractive tale that can be savored by readers of all age
Underneath the vast differences between the customs and way of daily life in this colorful Eastern land of long ago and the settings of the traditional Cinderella story are enough similarities to enlist the interest and sympathies of the modern-day reader. More important are the universal values which permeate this charming tale-compassion, fidelity to one's family (even if it brings pain,) and justice. An attractive, multicultural tale that can be savored by readers of all ages. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (8)

Enjoyable but insubstantial fairy tale fluff
It has been well documented that a kiss is much more than the brief contact between two pairs of lips.

Indeed, as E. D. Baker points out, its transformative abilities have been well noted in stories as disparate as Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and, of course, The Frog Prince. The kiss has lost none of its potency in Baker's skewed fairy tale, as fourteen year old Princess Emeralda discovers. Succumbing to the pleas of yet another talking frog claiming to be an enchanted prince (goodness, there seem to be rather a lot of those around), she reluctantly puckers up-- and is herself changed into a frog. She and her froggy companion, Prince Eadric, embark upon a quest to regain their humanity; it is, as Eadric puts it, "a matter of life or froghood." Their everything-but-the-kitchen-sink adventures include amusing episodes with Vannabe, the would-be wicked witch, a disgruntled swamp fairy, various enchanted and/or talking creatures, several kisses (few of them between humans), and insects of varying degrees of tastiness. Fireflies, anyone? Or perhaps a nice, crunchy dragonfly?

The first person narrative has a certain sprightly charm with a number of humorous and clever garnishes (the trash can vs. the trash can't; the difference between them becomes crucial when the contents of the trash can't are freed by Emma's spell), and as a whole is seldom less than enjoyable, though I was rolling my eyes when it came to a cartoonish talking bat named--wait for it--Li'l Stinker. The dialogue can be a bit wooden and very occasionally descends into downright corniness ("I would never have met the best friend I've ever had," says Emma to Eadric in a particularly cliche instance), but the book works well when being flippant and tongue in cheek, which it mostly is.

The greatest problem with the book is not what it does wrong, but what it fails to do, i.e. to be a really clever, memorable modern fairy tale. All the stereotypes of fairy tales are present, most turned on their heads with moderate success. But while they do subvert fairy tale conventions, neither characters, story, nor world really take on a life of their own. There is nothing to make Baker's enchanted forest or generic fantasy world stand out from any other, and the characters are almost equally wanting. Even as the narrator of her own story, Emma comes across as just another member of a new generation of unconventional princesses (brave, kind hearted, but also shy and clumsy), and Eadric, amusingly self centered and imperfect, is only a little more individual. While reading The Frog Princess, I was reminded of a host of other modern fairy tale characters with more, well, character. Grassina pales beside the forceful, relentlessly no-nonsense Morwen of Patricia C. Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles, and Eadric is nothing to Diana Wynne Jones's flamboyantly egotistical and selfish but lovable Howl. The pointed wit and skilful manipulation of fairy tales seen in Patrice Kindl's Goose Chase and Vivian Vande Velde's The Rumpelstiltskin Problem make The Frog Princess seem a trifle labored in comparison.

Writing skewed, young adult fairy tales has become a very popular thing to do, with the result that a number of books have been recently published that deal with the same basic themes. Fairy tale aficionados will enjoy Baker's offering, but may find themselves returning to stronger novels in this subgenre. The Frog Princess is an amusing little book, but it covers no new ground and leaves no deep impression.

Fantastic!
This story was probably one of the best kid's books I have ever read. I absolutely adored it! It was cute, witty, charming, goodness, I could just keep going! I have already recommended this to so many people, and I will continue to sing its praises! (P.s., I was equally smitten with Dragon's Breath <#2> and lets hope there will be a third one!)

Wonderful!
This book is truly wonderful! Words cannot express how great this book is and how much I love it!
I recently stumbled upon this book in the library last year while searching for a book to use for my book report at school. I looked at the cover and read the back description and I was interested.
As soon as I took it home to read it, I couldn't put it down! I finished the entire book in 3 days!
The story is about a princess named Emeralda (aka "Emma") who is very clumsy. One day while in the swamp, she discovers a talking frog named Eadric who begs her for a kiss. She kisses him and turns into a frog!
Join Emma and Eadric down a path of hilarity, friendship, and surprises as they meet friends and foes!
I HIGHLY recommend you get this book if you like fantasy-themed books.

A Princess with a purpose
E.D. Baker's novel, "The Frog Princess" is a magical story revolving around a clumsy fourteen-year-old princess who finds herself getting talked into kissing a seemingly mischievious frog named Eadric, who "claims" he is a prince. After accidentally being turned into a frog herself, Princess Emma and Eadric are forced to go on a long, tedius although hilarious journey to retrieve their normally human forms--but they get into trouble on the way. Princess Emma has her own worries at the palace, however, and isn't sure whether she's just about ready to face those problems--that is, if she ever turns back into a princess! She also is fascinated with her aunt (who is a witch), and wishes to succeed in performing at least ONE spell without making a complete mess of it all. There is light romance, much humor, and a fantastically original plot outlined with E.D. Baker's wonderfully witty and well-written style. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in an incredible fairy-tale that is targetting teen readers.

A great reveiw for a great book
When Princess Emma finds out that her least favorite prince is coming she heads out to the swamp and she meets an obnoxious little frog that can talk. When the frog finds out that Emma is a princess he asks a favor, a kiss. When Emma heads back to the castle she finds ot that she has to marry Prince Jorge. The next day she returns to the swamp and tells the frog (Prince Eadric) that she has to marry Prince Jorge. Since she has nothing to lose she kisses Eadric. I really like this book and I hope you like it as much as I did. This book is adventurous, funny, and shocking. So what are you waiting for?! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Paul O. Zelinsky, 1998 Caldecott medalist for Rapunzel, also has three Caldecott Honor Books under his belt: Hansel and Gretel, Swamp Angel, and this fine edition of Rumpelstiltskin. Zelinsky's oil paintings are perfectly suited to the strange saga of the little man with the secret name who knows how to spin straw into gold. The golden light infusing the late medieval setting subtly reinforces the theme.

The visual characterization of Rumpelstiltskin is a triumph: an odd elfin man with bulbous eyes, a gigantic, flat black hat, impossibly skinny arms and legs, and long, pointed black shoes. This Rumpelstiltskin is not scary or horrid, but rather mischievous and weird. When the young queen finally guesses his name, and thus is able to keep her baby, he flies off on his huge cooking spoon (with a pout), true to the Grimms's 1819 version of the story. (Zelinsky provides notes on his text in the back of the book, indicating his careful research into various editions of the original Grimm tale.) Zelinsky's retelling is straightforward and smooth, with only a few lines of text on each page to complement the truly magnificent full-page illustrations. A delightful book worth its weight in gold! (Ages 3 to 7)

... Read more

Reviews (17)

Zelinsky Paints a Beautiful Picture of Rumpelstiltskin
The Grimm Brothers wrote one of their most famous tales,"Rumpelstiltskin", over a century ago and others havetranslated and retold it many times since. Paul O. Zelinsky retold"Rumpelstiltskin" based on one of the Grimms' earliest versions of the story. He was also the illustrator. The illustrations in Zelinsky's version are oil paintings. This allows him to create an exceptional antique setting for the story, as well as striking characters. There is such detail in each illustration that there is almost an individual story with in each picture. The intense use of shadowing combined with a kaleidoscopic amount of colors also makes this story's pictures peculiarly realistic. Zelinsky clearly portrays a distinct and more exciting way of seeing the classic tale, "Rumpelstiltskin". The first thing that makes these illustrations so life-like was the individual characters combined with the ornate and detailed backgrounds. The expressions on the characters' faces are drawn in such detail that the reader can easily see what they are feeling at a glance. The reader can also predict whether a character is good or bad from the detail of his/her face. The queen's (miller's daughter) large, gentle eyes and delicate, ivory skin demand the reader's compassion, even though she broke her promise to Rumpelstiltskin that saved her life. Rumpelstiltskin's tiny body accented by his pointy nose and chin gives off a sinister aura. The little details with in each picture make them all unique. An example is when the king is walking into the room where the miller's daughter is with all the spools of gold. There are rays of sunlight coming throughout the window reflecting off the spools that it hits. The colors used makes the room look warmer and more comfortable than when she had entered into it the night before. You can see some of the gold thread unraveling off various spools. The wrinkles in the miller's daughter's clothes shows that she is not in a very comfortable position as she sleeps one of the piles of gold. These are all such minor details that you might not even notice in a photograph. The title page and end papers even include detailed artistry. They show a petite village that is surrounded by a range of mountains and an ocean. The narrow, dirt road winding down to the tiny community gives out the idea that the village is relatively secluded from the rest of the world. I think that the title page and the end papers are a great way to covey the setting and atmosphere to the reader right away. The component of Zelinsky's illustrations in, "Rumpelstiltskin", that made them seem so life-like was his use of shadowing. A good example of this is when the queen sent her servant into the woods to look for Rumpelstiltskin. In this picture the only light the reader can see is from the servant's lantern and the few feet it shines on around her. The reader can also see the moon's reflection in the ocean. This use of shadowing makes these illustrations look not only life-like, but like photographs too. In Zelinsky's version of "Rumpelstiltskin", the illustrations were very realistic, because of his use of shadowing, complex use of colors, and phenomenal detail. Zelinsky's pictures are so effective that the words are practically unnecessary to tell the classic tale of "Rumpelstiltskin".

Beautiful, Complicated Tale with Magnificent Illustrations
As previous reviews have noted, the illustrations are exquisite and quite out of the ordinary; instantly captivating and magical at first glance. My daughter is 3 and 1/2 and is riveted by the book. I feel confused at how strongly some of the readers feel about the book's "message." Yes, many of the characters are "bad" and it is morally ambiguous, but the sheer flight of fancy and imagination captured by the tale has intrigued and fascinated readers and listeners since the early 1800's. It's like a child's version of a scary movie without the macabre details, and even though Rumpelstiltskin himself is ugly and frightening even though he is actually "saving" the queen, the book and story's power coem from the fact that he is such an unusual character; not whether he is good or bad. Furthermore, the additional magical ideas of straw into gold, being locked up in a castle, servants running off in the middle of the night, and a little elfen man riding around on a spoon are bizarre and fanciful and elements like these fill much of the fairy tale genre for centuries. I say, get over the p.c. messages and concetrate on the fantasy and magic of the story that is so compelling to readers, especially with Zelinsky's magnificent pictures. Life is complicated, and so is the story - it doesn't try to answer all the questions and make everybody good/bad/punished/redeemed. That is not the point of this particular story. If you only want a story with a moral, it's true that this is not the book for you. If creative ideas and concepts that you could never think of yourself are what your looking for in a book, then it is the book for you!

The most technically correct spinning wheel in kiddie lit
A rare book. Zelinsky tells the story of "Rumpelstiltskin", evoking a story most American children will know. Especially impressive is his tiny details. A good example of this is his spinning wheel. Many illustrated Rumpelstiltskin stories show the spinning wheel as something that Rumpelstiltskin throws straw towards, causing golden coins appear. In this edition the spinning wheel is technically correct. The miller's daughter is given empty bobbins, onto which Rumpelstiltskin spins golden threads. Zelinsky's accomplished paintings show the golden bobbins gleaming, one on top of another. The portrayal of Rumpelstiltskin himself was described in one review I read as "Rackhamesque". I don't know if this was the illustrator's intent, but he certain does seem culled from a classic European fairy tale book from the early twentieth (or even nineteenth) century. The oil paintings look Southern European, and though a story with an odd moral (if you can outwit your opponent by cheating, you're in the clear) it is an excellent book for children. Like its companion book, "Rapunzel", this too would be a promising book for storytelling.

Nice pictures, twisted story
This is a nearly verbatim rendition of the Grimms' story, and it's hard to understand why Zelinsky would use his talent to illustrate it for children. Even harder to figure out is how the American Library Association could award its Caldecott Medal for distinguished American picture book for children to any rendition of this dreadful tale: The king threatens to kill the miller's daughter if she can't spin gold from straw. Rumpelstiltskin saves her life by spinning gold for her, but extracts a necklace, a ring and, on the third night of spinning, a promise of her firstborn. She then marries the king, whom Zelinsky depicts as young and handsome. When it comes time for the queen to hand over her newborn, Rumpel agrees to relent if the queen can discover his name. She sends a servant to follow him into the woods and discover the name. So the king, though he looks good, is greedy and brutal. The queen is a victim who agrees to give over a future infant to save her own life, and then depends on an anonymous, unrecognized "servant girl" to save the child. And Rumpelstiltskin, shown as physically unattractive and (the message seems to be) therefore bad, is the one who saved the future queen from execution and then relents on the payment he bargained for. A weird, twisted story that offers nothing for kids, illustrated with Renaissance-style pictures that accentuate the perversity by making the bad guy look good and the guy who saved the damsel in distress look bad.

A great classic
The illustrations helped support and great tale. My daughter loves it. I know that there are many different versions but I was slightly disappointed that the ending was different from the version I remembered as a child. In this version Rumpelstiltskin flies off on a spoon. The version from my childhood is where Rumpelstiltskin is so mad that he jumps so hard he goes through the floor. Even w/the slightly updated version it's still a classic and must have for nay household. ... Read more

Book Description

Happily ever after has never been so happy! These inspired retellings of classic children's fairy-tales are simply told and beautifully illustrated.This is a series of books that parents will treasure and children will love hearing again and again.Jump at the Sun Fairy-tale Classics include: - Cinderella - Goldilocks and The Three Bears - Jack and the Beanstalk - Little Red Riding Hood ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Ed Young drops the ball
Not everyone knows this, but authors don't always have control over the artists that illustrate their books. Sometimes a well-established author will be paired with an up-and-coming illustrator, and sometimes it's the other way around. In an ideal situation, the text and the art compliment one another flawlessly, making it so that the reader finds it impossible to imagine any other pairing for that particular book. If I had been Penny Pollock, I would have been initially overjoyed to learn that Ed Young had been selected to illustrate my work. After all, Mr. Young is a winner of the prestigious Caldecott Medal. His books include the beyond beautiful "Lon Po Po" as well as the technically adept and gorgeous "Seven Blind Mice". Which makes it all the more painful that Ed essentially slept through the making of "The Turkey Girl". While the book has a rather interesting and remarkable story, Young's illustrations look slapdash and amateurish. This is a book that has been ruined by its pictures. Worse still, it's been ruined by a formerly very talent artist.

This Zuni tale is a kind of Cinderella story with a dour ending. It tells the simple tale of a girl who lived in her village and was very poor. Her only means of sustenance came from tending the turkeys of the rich, thereby earning her the moniker, Turkey Girl. One day the Turkey Girl overhears that there is to be a fabulous harvest dance that everyone may attend. The Turkey Girl understands that she hasn't the clothes or appearance for such an event, so she contents herself by telling her woes to her only friends, the turkeys. To her amazement, however, the turkeys respond by talking to her. Not the dumb birds we have taken them for, the turkeys present their mistress with a beautiful dress and jewelry for the dance. They insist, however, that she return to them that night before the sun sets. If she does not, they will fly far away and never return. The Turkey Girl promises and goes off to join the dance. She's a hit, but as the afternoon turns to evening she keeps putting off her return to the turkeys. Finally she tears herself away, only to find that they've all gone and that her dress has been returned to rags. As Pollack says in her Author's Note, this book (like some other Native American versions) ends with, "the hard truth that when we break our trust with Mother Earth, we pay a price".

Though it's a little depressing in the end, I liked what this tale had to say. The author has an excellent voice, and the scenes are beautifully presented through her narration. Then we get to the pictures. At first, I was captivated by Young's style. Using pastel and oil crayon, Young works with colors that are native to the American Southwest (where this tale takes place). Though a little fuzzy at first, I was more than willing to give Young the benefit of the doubt. The fuzzy image of the Turkey Girl leading her charges out of the pueblo village looks as if we are viewing the scene through the wavy lines of heat you get on especially bright sunny days. But as the book continued I realized that this style of drawing, while lovely, was completely misplaced here. Though the action in the text becomes interesting and intense, the illustrations are static and without any detail at all. In the section where the Turkey Girl goes to a spring and hears the other girls gossip (soon followed by the announcement of the dance), the picture shows a fuzzy white image of a girl perched on top of (why?) a pueblo as similarly fuzzy images walk away with pots of water on their heads. The scene where the Turkey Girl receives a beautifully described dress of, "white doeskin...belted with red-and-yellow cloth", is accompanied by a shot of two or three somewhat grotesque turkeys taking up 1.25 pages. Worst of all is the dance. The closest we get to seeing ANYTHING at all is a washed out watery shot of eight or so legs that are, for all intents and purposes, not moving. How hard would it have been for Young to infuse a little life into these pictures? Or even, heaven forbid, a little detail. The illustrator seems to be under the impression that to show any intricacies would be to betray the story itself. If so, allow me to assure you Mr. Young that we would have been GLAD to read a book where in the event that a character does something...you see it! Instead, a section that says that, "The Turkey Girl danced every dance, her heart beating in time with her stomping feet", is accompanied by a lazy-hazy view of slightly turkey-shaped clouds against a peach background. If I have no patience for this, then I can guarantee that a