Book Description

‘Climo and Heller conflate several Korean variants of Cinderella to offer up the story of Pear Blossom, a lovely girl who is sorely mistreated by her nasty stepmother and stepsister.… At once comfortingly familiar and intriguingly exotic, the text is especially noteworthy for its instructive but unobtrusive incorporation of Korean words.’—Publishers Weekly. ‘Heller’s paintings are exotically lush and colorful as well as engaging.… An agreeable retelling of the Cinderella story.’ —BL.

Notable 1994 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC) ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A decent story with somewhat offensive illustrations
On one level I enjoyed this picture book-- the story is engaging, the illustrations are rich, vibrant, and seem to jump off the page, and it's apparent that the author did some research before writing this book. However, on another level, I was offended by the subtle racist undertones of one Westerner's portrayal of an "ethnic" Cinderella story. The feel of the story is "exotic"-- indeed, the story begins: "Long ago in Korea, when magical creatures were as common as cabbages..."

(The exotic East as seen through the eyes of the West-- and so the story continues.)
The illustrations, while they try to be faithful to the feel of traditional Korea, also exude a subtle racist undertone-- the illustrator clearly does not know how to draw Asian faces. The facial features are distorted and the eyes are too slanted. The illustrator drew from her perception of what Asian faces should look like-- yellow skin, slanted eyes-- and exaggerated these features.

I'd rather read a Korean Cinderella story written and illustrated by a Korean writer and illustrator.

As a sidenote-- Shirley Climo and Ruth Heller have also written/illustrated an Egyptian Cinderella. I have many of the same complaints with this story as well. Once again, there are racist undertones in both the story and the illustrations.

As a second sidenote-- if you're looking for an "ethnic" Cinderella story, _Yen-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China_ is excellent. It is a retelling of the first recorded Cinderella story (written some time during 618-907 AD). Thus, as the forward states: "Cinderella seems to have made her way to Europe from Asia."

A Longer Cinderella
This is one of the longest text versions of the Cinderella story I have ever come across. It is a wonderful telling of the tale, and works nicely to illustrate how this tale is part of many cultures the world over. I can't speak to the accuracy of the details of Korean culture, but the artwork is fascinating. Due to length of the story, however, I tend to wonder how well it would hold younger children's attention. It works well, though, for illustrating cultural difference to college students.

A beautifully illustrated book with authentic Korean details
A delightful retelling of a story that is found in many cultures. This book is beautifully illustrated with examples of traditional Korean architecture and clothing. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

I really liked this book
The book that I read was ok Because the story has a little bit of everthing like snow white and the gingerbread house. The frog prince is not happy living with the princess at first. she bugs him because he still acts like a frog. He jumps around and looks for witches to turn him back into a frog. At the end he realizes that he still loves the princess and they live happily ever after.

I liked this book because it has surpsises and I liked the artwork too. it had really strange pictures.

One of the most original books I've ever read!
It's 9PM. The kids are all bathed, jammied up, tucked in, and ready for their bedtime story. I've had a hard day and my powers of creative book selection are nonexistent. Do I go with critter books or Seuss? Neither - at least not since I found "The Frog Prince Continued" by Steve Johnson and Jon Scieszka. In what has to be one of the most original and entertaining books of any kind, the authors have managed to combine wacky graphics with wonderfully off-center fairy tale fragments to create a story that begs to read over and over. Ever since she kissed his "slimy frog lips", the Prince and Princess have been whining and nagging about married life and the poor Prince can see only one way out of the turmoil - to find a witch that can turn him back into a frog. His hilarious journey through all of fairy-tale witchdom in search of his amphibious ends simply begs to be supplied with your own creative voices. When he meets his match in the definitely blonde and ditzy godmother from Cinderella, his situation goes rapidly downhill. Does he live to hop another day? Will the princess take him back? The perfect happy ending will satisfy both you and your kids and will keep you reaching for this book time after time. If I had one wish, it would be for Steve and Jon to fracture another fairy tale in a so elegant and entertaining fashion

The prince kissed the princess and....
"...and they lived happily ever after." Or did they? The Frog Prince and his Princess aren't getting along too well. He can't seem to stop trying to catch flies on his tongue, or bouncing on the furniture. His Princess, well, in short the relationship just isn't working out. One day the Princess threw an awful fit, and the Frog Prince decides to get someone to turn him back into a frog. After several adventures in which only a good knowledge of fairy tales, long legs and patience keep him safe, he comes back to his castle after realizing the worth of his Princess, and the two go back to living happily ever after. This time however, things are slightly different.

The pictures in this book couldn't be called cute and cuddly, or even cheerful, unless the one doing the calling either doesn't know the meanings of the words or was being sarcastic. The story is told well, and flows nicely. This is a fun book for one who always wonders what happens next.

Loggie-log-log-log

Frog Prince
I hate it when books leave you in suspense of what it left to happen. This book is a perfect example of what should be done to books. It gives you an update of what happens from the frog becomes a prince. I found it to be very good.

A Fairy Tale with a Twist
"The Princess kissed the frog. He turned into a prince.And they lived happily ever after..." Well not really. The Princess nags; the Frog Prince has bad amphibian habits that drive her crazy and neither are living very happily. So the Frog Prince decides to go out and find a witch to turn him back into a frog. Along the way, he meets familiar characters from other stories and finds out that maybe life wasn't so bad after all, with the princess. In fact, upon returning home, the Frog Prince kisses the Princess and... This is a silly, irreverent story, told in hip language, with a wonderful twist at the end that will delight and amuse children of all ages. Steve Johnson's illustrations are marvelous and add just the right touch to compliment the story. Great fun for the entire family, The Frog Prince Continues is a story not to be missed. ... Read more

Book Description

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

Reviews (11)

Erikas Review
I thought that Walt Disney's "Snow white and the seven dwarfs" was a great book for children
everywhere. Its the classic story of Snow White coming and staying with the seven adorable dwarfs, who all have
great personalities of their own. I think that children would love to read this book over and over again. Its
definitely a book that children will remember for a very long time. The thing about this book that makes it so great
is the magnificent ending. So I recommend this book to children, and maybe even adults, because its just one of
them books that makes you smile when you read it.

Snow White
I think the person who said this book makes dwarfs look lazy, needs to re-read this book. It shows how much they loved Snow White and cared about her. Too many of you so called goody two shoes needs to really sit and think how wonderful Mr. Disney's books are. Those dwarfs cared about snow white showed that it was ok for a man to cry and be sensative. Some of the woman now a days need to realized that woman do cook and clean and men still do go out to work. As a single parent of three grown children, who worked and reared my children by myself, I read all the Disney books to my children and I am now reading to my grandchildren. Wake up America, Power Rangers are dangerous to our Children not Snow White. This generation now needs more stories like Snow White to show how sensative even Little People can be. Get your heads out of the ground. We all need to learn how to love one another and how to be sensative once again in this cruel world.

A GREAT STORY
I LOVE THIS BOOK IM NOT A LITTLE GIRL ANYMORE BUT I STILL ENJOY READING THIS STORY IF YOU HAVE LITTLE KIDS YOU SHOULD BUY THIS BOOK IM SURE THEY'LL LOVE IT

Classical!
A Classic is all I can say. It tell's the story of jealous step moms in the world. But the litte people is what catches a child's attention.

Great story
I thought that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was a great book for kids. Its one of those books that kids love and read over and over again. The story teaches kids not to take food or anything from strangers even the least expected person. The story takes place in castle but when the queen orders Snow White to be killed she runs away into the forest. But, when the queen finds out she changes her identity and goes after her. Join Snow White in this dangerous and fun filled adventure as she discovers the beauty of the forest. ... Read more

Book Description

Between the pages of these delightfully illustrated books are the classic stories of magic, imagination, and inspiration that will delight children again and again. From the hard-working Red Hen to the foolish Gingerbread Man, these tales will capture children’s interest and spark their imagination page after page, inspiring a love of reading that is vital to success in school and life. Fresh, captivating illustrations enliven each tale.

Reviews (3)

Great version of a classic
There are so many things I like about THIS version in particular of the classic Little Red Riding Hood.....I like the lessons taught (don't talk to strangers and listen to what Mom says for example) and I like the way the story begins with the Grandmother making the red cape....the detail of Red Riding Hood loving the cape so much she did everything in it - even she slept in it - is SO true for many toddler /preschoolers, my daughter included, who have slept in everything from a Tutu to a Buzz Lightyear costume cuz they couldn't bare to part with it....nice touch....
The illustrations are very nice and I like that the wolf is not drawn in a scary way.....nor is he killed or hurt badly at the end...he falls out the window accidentally, tumbles down a hill and runs away..... I also like how Grandma comes out of the closet at the end (she is not eaten by the wolf) and the story ends with them having a picnic....

My 3 year old, who HAS been scared by wolf illustrations in other books, loved this one! I found it enjoyable to read to her...

wonderful story for delayed or autistic kids to reenact
Good rendition of a classic story..perfect if you are looking for stories that your speech delayed or autistic child can learn to "reenact" during floortime. We go to the park now and ask the other kids if they want to play "red riding hood" and they usually all say YES! So the book is really just the beginning of a fun play activity.

Classic Tale Emphasizes Family Closeness and Moral Values
This is such a wonderful version of the classic story.

When I was looking for a copy of this classic tale, I wanted to know about the ending. Thankfully, this is NOT the more gruesome ending where the wolf eats Little Red and Grandma and the woodcarvers chop the wolf open. My daughter is only 2, and aside from this not making sense that the victims are still alive after the wolf eats them, it's a little inappropriate for this age group (the part about chopping the wolf open). Instead, the wolf puts grandma in the closet to "save her for later". The best part is that the cape almost seems to represent a super-hero type or magical properties ("She leaped away, light as a leaf in her cherry red cape").

This version has a more elaborate, sweeter beginning than the version I grew up with, which merely jumped right into Little Red Riding Hood leaving for the path to Grandma's house. It begins with Grandma sewing the red cape for Little Red Riding Hood because her Grandma enjoyed her visits with her granddaughter. It then goes on to explain how she wore the cape so often that this is how she got her nickname. This emphasizes the importance of special family relationships.

The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, yet simple enough for the very young child. One element that I especially enjoyed is that the nightgown the wolf wears (Grandma's nightgown) has sheep print on it. Besides adding humor, this adds the element of foreshadowing (hint, hint!).

Of course, the moral of the story remains the same. Leaving the path will always lead to trouble. ... Read more

Book Description

In this adaptation of the well-loved fairy tale, the father still has his head in the clouds and the stepmother is as mean as ever. But this story is set in the Last Frontier, and its details and imagery reflect Alaska's landscape and sensibility: the fairy godmother becomes an eagle spirit, the glass slipper a fisherwoman's boot. Evocative writing and colorful artwork distinguish this playful retelling of the classic. Here children learn about cultures and ways of life but happy endings are still the rule. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Charming Update on Cinderella
My 6 year old loved this book. It's a charming update on Cinderella, with a spunky heroine that can help herself and really beautiful pictures. A great for any kid in the Northwest who is around salmon alot. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

An engaging and recommended picturebook story
Mike Gordon's large and appealing drawings adeptly illustrate an engaging and recommended picturebook story of a princess and her father who wander through the woods observing wonders. Scary woods encounters such as bees and dragons are revealed as a father tells his daughter what might be encountered in a woods walk - or not.

Princess is a star!
I love the book Do Princesses Really Kiss Frogs? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle for several reasons. I love that the princess is on a walk with her involved, interested and caring father. Now that's a role model I want to see more of. I love the simple sentences done in rhyme. Kids will eat that up! And giggle all the while! I love that the princess is encouraged and cherished. And I love the colorful and inviting drawings that show us the wonders of life as the princess discovers each of them.

This book is a follow-up to Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? by the same author.

As charming as the title implies!
When I read this book I was almost sure the author and illustrator must have been spying on my husband and daughter.This book is sure to delight any princess.I bought it for my husband to read to our 5yo, but our 9yo daughter liked it as well.Todays girls, who go from collecting rock to sniffing flowers to prancing around in princess costumes all in a matter of minutes, will definitely relate to this book.Eight thumbs up from my family!

FOR THE VERY YOUNG PRINCESSES
Those who fondly remember the precocious pony-tailed little princess in "Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?' will be delighted with the return of the questioning young miss as she and her Dad prepare for a hike.

As usual, she's full of questions, asking what she should wear, wondering how she'll carry her water.Then, when theyare finally on their way, she busies herselfexploring every creek, boulder, and field.

The story of their trek is told in lilting rhyme, "Will princesses get to see rabbits and deer?You never know what they might see and hear."Short on narrative, the book abounds with colorful double page paintings by award winning artist Mike Gordon as he follows the pair throughout their day.

I'd recommend this for the very young who are more interested in pictures than words.

- Gail Cooke

Too bad this book didn't exist when I was a little girl
Do Princesses Really Kiss Frogs is an adorable story with catchy rhymes and cute pictures. The author does a great job asking silly questions that curious little girls might ask. The pictures are detailed enough to keep any young reader busy. I also love the cover. Of course, I'm partial to blondes. And that froggie is just too cute for words... ... Read more

Book Description

Once there was a little mermaid who fell in love with a human boy .. . The story may be familiar, but Lisbeth Zwerger's art makes this fairytale seembrand-new. This Jubilee edition, celebrating 200 years of Hans ChristianAndersen, is superbly illustrated in Zwerger's signature style. Known for herpopular and award-winning editions of classics such as The Wizard of Oz andAlice in Wonderland, Zwerger is herself the recipient of the Hans ChristianAndersen Medal for lasting contributions to children's literature. The LittleMermaid is sure to win her new fans, and to delight her old ones.

The text is an all-new translation by Anthea Bell, and includes many lovely andpoignant details that may be new to even those who think they know the littlemermaid's story well. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Three-time Caldecott Honor artist and four-time winner of the CorettaScott King Award, Jerry Pinkney doesn't disappoint with this lovely, old-fashioned, richly textured watercolor adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's The Ugly Duckling. The mother duck knew from the very beginning that one of her babies would be different from the rest... the sixth egg was large and oddly shaped.When it finally hatches that summer, she thinks the "monstrous big duckling" must be a turkey chick! Other ducks are appalled by the ugly duckling, and he is chased, pecked, and kicked aside. When he can't stand it anymore, he runs away from the pond, eventuallytaking refuge in the warm cottage of an old woman with a cat and a hen. Missing the delicious feeling of the water too much to stay, however, he heads out again into the wide, increasingly cold autumn world.

One day, he heard a sound of whirring wings, and up in the air he saw a flock of birds flying high. They were as bright as the snow that had fallen during the night, and their long necks were stretched southward. Oh, if only he could go with them! But what sort of companion could he be to those beautiful beings?"

Reviews (9)

Great story, gorgeous illustrations
This version of The Ugly Duckling is a great retelling of the classic story, with an enriched exploration of the Ugly Duckling's feelings and experiences. The illustrations are stunning. My three children, ages 3-5, are enthralled. And because of the nuance and complexity of the story, this will continue to be a family favorite for years to come.

A duck that just wants to be accepted
This story was about a duckling that was different from all the others when it was young. Everyone rejected him and didn't want him around just because he was ugly. They didn't even look at his other qualities that were inside him. The duckling tried to fit in in many places, but no one would let him stick around. Much like in life when people don't like other people because of how they look. You have to just try and look past looks and look down to the inside. You will find good qualities there no matter what. I think that you should accept everyone no matter how they look. Put yourself in the rejected person's shoes and just think of how you would feel if that were you. I think the author feels for real people that are not accepted. I think he probably feels pretty strongly about the subject.

The Ugly Duckling ~ Hans Christian Anderson
This book teaches a lot abou morals. Just becuase someone is alittle different from everyone else, doesn't mean they should be treated badly. Everyone is different in their own seperate way. Some people just show and others hide their feelings. People have differences, and no one is the same. Some of us just have to learn to accept it. And some have to realize we all are the same in some ways to.

The ugly duckling is a duck who is the same as everyone else, yet is also different. He just wants to be accepted. He doesn't know how to make people like him. People were not accepting him becuase he was not good enough. Everyone seems to be 'not good enough' at one time or another. Yet other people do not realize this.

I like this book because it explains how life goes. Some people aren't accepted because of their looks, other epople jsut need to learn to accept people for who they are. Not what they are not. You need to learn to look past the "bad" qualities and see the good qualities.

Ms. Elliott's Class Book Review
Our class liked it when the ugly duckling turned into a swan. Everyone learned that it doesn't matter if you don't look like everyone else. You should like who you are. We learned about the differences between swans and ducks. Our class learned that when you are young you have to learn about a lot of different things. We think that kids could learn about different things from reading this story such as animals, other stories to read, and feelings.

Ugly is bad and pretty is good
As an adult, I now understand the meaning of this book; but as a child I actually understood the story to mean that being ugly was bad and made you unloveable and that being pretty was important and made you loveable. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

great book
This book is one of Wegmans greatest books, with the use of the 20 x 24 camera he is able to achieve some of the most amazing outdoor photography.
Some people do not uderstand how intence photographing animals is. This is a great book for anyones collection.

A Real Let-Down
As a fan of William Wegman's for years now I always enjoy his works on some level. Unfortunately, this is not one of his best attempts. The photographs are often repetitive and sometimes make it difficult to see the dogs. The pictures really don't work when the wolf is dressed as grandmother. It is hard to understand how Little Red Riding Hood can exclaim how different the wolf's eyes and ears look when they look exactly like her grandmother's. I also had some problems with the story, particularly the ending. The changes were disconcerting and I found the epilogue, in particular, a real let down. I think Wegman's version of Cinderella worked much better than this story did. ... Read more

Book Description

0nce upon a time a miller's daughter was given an impossible task by a cruel and greedy king. She had to spin straw into gold. And who should show up to help her but an odd little man named Rumpelstiltskin.

According to tradition, the gold-bedazzled king and the miller's daughter are wed. But wait just a minute! This king is definitely not husband material, and there's someone else who is -- a hardworking guy who's supportive and nice looking, and who really comes through in a pinch.

Why not marry Rumpelstiltskin?

In Diane Stanley's merry rethinking of the traditional tale, Rumpelstiltskin and the miller's daughter are wed...and then sixteen years later their only daughter is stuck in the same dilemma: She's been locked in a room full of straw to spin for a greedy king! She could call for help from her father, but this fairy-tale heroine has some canny plans of her own.

How Rumpelstiltskin's daughter sets things to rights in the troubled kingdom, while achieving a unique place for herself, makes for a wise and witty tale of kindness and cleverness rewarded. Diane Stanley's wickedly funny text and zesty illustrations put a delightful new spin on a classic fairy tale.

Rumpelstiltskin's daughter may not be able to spin straw into gold, but she is more than a match for a monarch whose greed has blighted an entire kingdom.

Reviews (7)

Well illustrated children's story
This children's story is 29 un-numbered pages in a large format. The cover size is 9 x 12 inches. It is well illustated with large, full-color illustrations.

It is a delightful retelling of the story of Rumpelstiltskin. In this version, the miller's daughter finds Rumpelstiltskin more attractive than the greedy king, and escapes with him to take up a new life on a farm. But, later, the king discovers their daughter, and kidnaps the daughter to try to force her to spin his straw into gold.

The daughter is certainly not attracted to a greedy old king in his dotage, expecially one that her mother had already rejected when he was younger. But the daughter has plans of her own for rescuing the kingdom, and she is a lot smarter than the king.

Like many good children's stories, this one has gone out of print. One could hope that the publisher will reissue this one.

FANTASTIC!!!
I *love* this book! And so does my 3 year old daughter. The artwork is beautiful and so wonderful to look at. The story is *awesome* and just great for little girls [and boys!].

The author has a superb wit and a gift for storytelling. This has quickly become one of our very favorites and my daughter spends lots of time now pretending to be "Rumplestiltskin's Daughter" [who also had a name!]. I'm very happy with the impact this tale has had on her sense of what it is to be a woman.

This tale encourages girls to be clever and self sufficient without being tedious or overbearingly feminist. [And without being anti-male]. I can't recommend this book highly enough!

Wonderful!
This book has a great message for young girls (and boys!), and the illustrations are very clever. I think I enjoy this book as much as my daughters do! It makes a great gift.

Wonderful story, stunning illustrations
Sometimes I run across a book that has such a well-crafted story and such exquisite illustrations that I just sit back and say, "Wow!" This book by Diane Stanley is one of those "wow" books. In this version of Rumpelstiltskin, the miller's daughter, Meredith, is not a brainless wench who jumps at the chance to marry the king. Rumpelstiltskin is not an evil child-snatching gnome. In fact, he's a sweet soul who only wants one thing in life -- a child to love and care for. No wonder Meredith decides to ditch the king and marry Rumpelstiltskin. Besides, she has a weakness for short men. Rumpelstiltskin and Meredith marry, work on their farm, and raise their daughter. Although the family could use Rumpelstiltskin's talents to become exceedingly rich, he only spins a small amount of gold to buy those things they can't make or grow themselves. The rest of the people in the kingdom are not so lucky. The greedy king has rooms full of gold while his subjects are penniless and starving. No wonder he needs a contingent of armed guards who have elevated teeth-gnashing and sword-clutching into an art form.

When Rumpelstiltskin's daughter is sixteen, her parents let her take the odd bit of gold into town to exchange it for coins to buy necessities. Eventually the old greedy king hears about this, kidnaps Rumpelstiltskin's daughter, and locks her in a tower filled with straw. "Rumpelstiltskin's daughter looked around. She saw a pile of straw the size of a bus. She saw a locked door and high windows. She gave a big sigh and began to think. She knew her father could get her out of this pickle. But she had heard stories about the king all her life. One room full of gold would never satisfy him. Her father would be stuck here, spinning, until there was not an iota of straw left in the kingdom. "After a while she climbed the pile of straw and thought some more. She thought about the poor farmers and about the hungry children with their thin faces and sad eyes. She put the two thoughts together and cooked up a plan. . ." Instead of spinning straw into gold, Rumpelstiltskin's daughter puts her plan (which Ms. Stanley develops so cleverly that you really should read it for yourself) into action and saves the kingdom by teaching the king some simple lessons in economics and public relations. By the end of the story, the king offers her his hand in marriage, which she wisely declines. "Why don't you make me prime minister, instead," she suggests.

The best word to describe the illustrations is sumptuous. Diane Stanley's greedy king with his elegantly styled coif bears a striking resemblance to Louis XIV, and the artwork mirrors the Sun King's opulence. The palace shines with gilded ceilings and elaborate tiled floors. On the palace walls hang masterpieces so famous that my six year old can recognize most of them --works by da Vinci, Van Gogh, Picasso.

A Wonderful Antidote To Grim Fairy Tales
When Rumpelstiltskin's daughter is captured by the same greedy king who imprisoned her mother, she is determined to save herself and teach the king a lesson at the same time. This she does with real flair, improving the king's economy and polishing his image until his subjects adore him. A funny and refreshing change from fairy tales that promise only rescue for the dainty heroine, this updating of the Rumpelstiltskin story features the sharp wit of Diane Stanley as well as wonderfully clever illustrations that will engage everyone from children to adults. ... Read more

Book Description

In the Spice Islands, where clove and nutmeg trees grow,
a girl named Damura lived long ago.

Damura is a beautiful girl, as kind and lovely as the little green parrot that perches on the nutmeg tree. But Damura's stepmother and stepsister mistreat her. They force her to rise before dawn, carry out all the chores, and sleep on the floor. One day, while down by the river, Damura calls out to the creatures of the wild for help. Rising from the waters, an ancient crocodile answers the call. This unusual fairy godmother, aptly named Grandmother Crocodile, outfits Damura in a sarong of gold, with slippers to match, and sends her to the palace to dance for the prince. Once he sees her, the prince knows that she will be his bride.

But the fairy tale isn't quite over. Damura's wicked stepmother and stepsister are so jealous that they push Damura into the river, where she is swallowed by a crocodile. Too bad they didn't know about Grandmother Crocodile....

The Gift of the Crocodile, a tale from the Spice Islands in Indonesia, offers a colorful and dramatic twist on the universally adored Cinderella story. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Spice
This Indonesian version of Cinderella hails from the Moluccas, or Spice Islands--the place to which Christopher Columbus was headed when he found the New World. In 1492 they were the only place in the world where cloves grew. The earliest written version of Cinderella is from China. As the author indicates in the afterward, no one knows where the story originated. But she speculates that Cinderella may have traveled West with the spices.

Damura was a child when her mother taught her to light a fire, cook, and to tend and harvest rice. But she still loved dolls when her mother died. The lorikeet and little green parrot outside in the nutmeg tree were not company enough for her. With a new doll, a neighboring widow bribed Damura into convincing her father to marry her. Her stepmother's two daughters were kind at first, but soon made Damura their servant. She cried at night that she had traded her happiness for a doll.

One day as she washed the family's clothes, she lost her sarong in the river. She called to the creatures of the wild for help, and a crocodile appeared. "Good morning Grandmother," she said to the crocodile.

The crocodile gave Damura her baby to care for, and returned with a silver sarong that sparkled like the night sky. She told Damura to take it and come to the river again if she ever needed anything.

Her stepsisters were naturally jealous of the sarong. But when they tried to entice the crocodile to help them, she saw through their façade. A year later, the village buzzed with excitement as the prince planned to hold a dance to choose his bride. Damura asked her stepmother if she might go, wearing her silver sarong. Of course her stepmother refused her.

The rest of this tale is very similar to that of Cinderella. But to find the unique ways in which it sparkles, you'll have to read this book. Alyssa A. Lappen

A fresh new spin on the cinderella stry
I Have never read such an interesting version of the cinderella story, i recomend that every one with children or who know those who have them buy this book and save it. It will provide pleasure to generations to come ... Read more

Amazon.com

Little Red Riding Hood. Ever heard of it? Retelling old stories isalways a little risky--you've either got to bring some worthwhile new twist tothe tale, or you've got to do such a great job telling it that we're all willingto forget for a minute just how everything's going to turn out. Fortunately forthe celebrated Ms. Hood, Marjorie Priceman (winner of a Caldecott Honor for thebuoyant Zin! Zin! Zin! AViolin) proves herself by doing both--this pop-up edition of an oldfavorite is energetic and original.

Priceman's dignified but still playful style suits these old clothes well, witha very traditional Red peeking out from under her huge flowing hood and a wolfthat's all lithe and toothy. Each page achieves added oomph from the book'sclever format: a primary pop-up spread sets the stage, then an inset on theright for text opens up to reveal the next event. Red looks lovely and livelythroughout, but the wolf--of course--steals all the best scenes ("The better toEAT you with," etc.). Priceman shows similar storytelling skill in How to Make an Apple Pie and See theWorld. You'll find that same offhand humor here, from the very dismayedcrew of gingerbread people in the oven to the copies of the HeraldTribune strategically strewn about ("Peep's Sheep Found," "3 Pigs: 'We WillRebuild'"). (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (1)

THE BEST OF THE BEST!
MY NEICE INSTANTLY FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS AS DID I!
IT HAS BEEN 5 MONTHS SINCE I GOT IT AND IT'S STILL ARE FAVORITE!
YOU WILL LOVE NOT LIKE LOVE THE POP- UPS! ... Read more

Book Description

This brilliant edition of a timeless story is sure to become the favorite of a generation. Readers young and old will be enchanted by the vision and mastery of Kinuko Y. Craft's luminous paintings, inspired by the lavish artwork of late seventeenth-century France and embellished with extraordinary borders and ornamentation.Rich with radiant color and astonishing detail, here is a dream come true for anyone who has ever believed in living happily ever after. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Absolutely Fabulous
I bought this book to read to my daughter until she is old enough to read on her own. I thought the story was intriguing, with multiple prince sightings and the illustrations were absolutely extraordinary. This book is a delight to look at, never mind read.

Lush paintings alongside nice prose
Craft adds quite a bit to Charles Perrault's original terse version of this tale, including a scene with a wounded bird being tended by Cinderella. The bird is reminiscent of the Grimm brothers version, however, and serves a nice touch at the end. It is not the story which is so outstanding about this book, though. I was introduced to Craft's work through my college's poster fair, but nothing prepared me for the exquisite nature of her work in "Cinderella." This version embodies all the fantastic and beautiful elements which we want to see in a fairy tale like "Cinderella," but so often illustrators take an avant-garde approach, or seek to focus on Perrault's prose and ignore the chance to fully realize the story visually. However, we all know the story - we want to SEE it. Craft obliges by bringing the story to life luxuriantly and without holding back. She deserves a hand of applause.

Exquisite retelling of Cinderella
Another absolutely amazing book by K. Y. Craft. Here she brings us a "more genuine" retelling of the famous tale - far more rich in detail than the Disney production. The pictures are lush images from dreams, and the story is more detailed and enjoyable. If you are looking for an alternative to the Disney version (one in which the sisters are not physically violent with Cinderella) this is the one that will make a young girl's dreams soar. My 3 year old loved it when she got it for Christmas, and it is still a favorite. I also recommend "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" by K. Y. Craft as well, which is available in an affordable paperback that should not be missed.

Kinuko Y. Craft is a genius with a heart of gold!
Okay, I love fairy tales, but I bought this book because Kinuko Y Craft illustrated it. Craft's work is absolutely stunning, not to mention romantic and atmospheric. I buy any book which has a Craft cover (Patricia McKillip's are just wonderful).

But I have to say this, in all honesty, this book just took my breath away. The paintings are almost beyond words. Trust me. You have to see them to know Craft's genius, and as one reviewer wrote, never has Cinderella looked more beautiful, more enchanting, more magical. If I didn't know better, I would think Craft really is part fae. If you love fairy tales, this Cinderella is a must for your collection.

For adults, children, and all who love magic and fantasy.

Rich illustrations
The dedication in this book reads: "For All Dreamers." The illustrations are ethereal and lush, very similar to the Cinderella I imagined when I first heard the story in my childhood. Craft takes her readers back to a traditional setting where the gowns are elaborate and the colors are vibrant. Little girls will especially enjoy the illustrations as they dream of their own "princess" dresses.

Fans of Kinuko Y. Craft will adore this new book. Some of you may know her for her illustrations of other children's books such as "The Twelve Dancing Princesses." Others may know her as the cover artist of many of Patricia McKillip's beautiful books. However you may know her work, you will enjoy this new edition of Cinderella. ... Read more

Book Description

An amusing twist on the beloved rags-to-riches tale

Greta's father marries unwisely and brings home a heartless wife, her two argumentative daughters, and her nasty little dog. Soon Greta is vacuuming floors and sleeping in the kitchen among the cinders-thus her nickname: Cinderella. Then one day a royal proclamation beams out over all the radios in the land: Prince Roderick is giving a ball! Despite her stepmother's conniving-and with a little help from a kindly woman-Cinderella makes it to the ball in style and wins the heart of the charming prince.

This humorous and engaging retelling places Cinderella in the opulent era of Art Deco. Whether she's drinking from Clarice Cliff coffee cups, dusting the frames of paintings by Augustus John and Tamara de Lempicka, or setting off for the ball in a white Rolls Royce, Cinderella lives life to the fullest-despite her fabulously evil stepmother and stepsisters. Young readers will laugh out loud! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

1920's Fairytale
This is one of my Fav books! I love how it is set in the 1920's - my fav era! The vampy illustrations are so beautiful! I just love the attention that has been paid to making sure that all the furnishings and dresses are of the deco era! This book is a inspiration!

Cinderella
This really is a refreshing version of an old tale. If you are sick of the "disney" sickly sweet illustrations then this is the book for you. The story is basically cinderella with a few minor changes accompanied by wonderfully detailed illustrations. This is a real pleasure to read. Highly recommended for kids aged 4-8 and parents who are fond of anything art deco!

A Great Addition to Your Cinderella Library!
Who is that 1920's vintage flapper, tripping down the stairs to zip off in her ultra-classy, very long white limousine? Why, it's Cinderella, leaving the ball at midnight, of course! No? Not quite the fairytale you had pictured all these years? That's just the idea behind David Roberts' wonderfully innovative illustrations of the traditional Cinderella story.
The story itself is not so different from the one we have all heard during our childhood. In fact, without the illustrations, this story gives no hint that it takes place during the glizty "roaring twenties," when champagne was sipped from ladies shoes, and...well, you get the picture.
With a background in fashion design, David Roberts has researched life in the 1920's and 1930's to bring quite a bit of accuracy to his illustrations. The wallpaper, furniture, and pottery are all based on actual Art Deco designs. The clothes, electrical appliances, cars, hairstyles, and makeup all reflect life eighty years ago. Cinderella pushes an old upright vacuum rather than broom, and turns the crank on a sinister-looking wringer washer as she does her step-sisters' laundry.
Roberts also uses a good sense of humor in presenting the step-sisters. Instead of evil, they're simply bad-natured slobs. While they do rob Cinderella of many possessions, she seems inclined to include them in her family after her marriage to the prince. The wedding photo with her step-sisters as bridesmaids is a classic. For models, Roberts called upon old magazine covers, movie stills, and art of the 1920's and 30's.
The rather unique setting in time of this version makes it a worthwhile addition to any Cinderella collection. While the story itself is not innovative, the illustrations more than make up for any shortcomings.

Cinderella An Art Deco Princess
What a divine book!
Not just for children. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the Cinderella tale and the deco period.

The illustrations are so incredibly charming and evocative, I'm going to buy a second book, tear out the pages and frame them. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Daughter of a friend loves it!
Some friends of mine have a young daughter who absolutely loves this book. I've probably read it to her a half-dozen times already. She loves princesses, and since this is based on Cinderella, it qualifies. It's a good story with fun, colorful art, and the Hairy Godmother is fun to read. Definitely recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

The universally celebrated fairy tales of Charles Perrault--Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots, Blue Beard, Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, and Little Tom Thumb, among others--were first published in France in 1697.Everyone knows most if not all of these tales, but few realize that Perrault was the first to put these stories, which had been passed down through the oral tradition for generations, in written form.

Through the centuries, the stories have been adapted and changed.Now, this profusely illustrated volume presents Perrault's original texts--filled with beautiful princesses, evil ogres, talking cats, and fairy godmothers--and their concluding morals.Readers will find new enjoyment in these delightfully illustrated versions of Perrault's tales, some of the earliest and most entertaining accounts of our favorite stories.

CHARLES PERRAULT (1628 1703) published a collection of eight fairy tales in 1697 entitled Histoires ou contes du temps passe avec des moralites, (Histories or Tales of Long Ago with Morals). The work became the most important and popular collection of fairy tales until that of the Grimm Brothers in 1812. These fairy tales were not invented by Perrault; the stories had been passed down through many generations through the spoken word, but Perrault was the first person to write them down in the form which we know today as the fairy tale.

Corinne Chalmeau, Fabienne Fesseydre, Lionel de Neouanic are all European children;'s book artists. 168 pages of illustrations in full color, 8 x 10 1/2" ... Read more

Book Description

There is perhaps no better loved, no more universal story than Cinderella. Almost every country in the world has a version of it, but the favorite of story-tellers is the French version by Charles Perrault.

This translation is excellent for story-telling and also for reading aloud. Marcia Brown's illustrations are full of magic and enchantment from the little cupids putting back the hands of the clock to the last scene at the palace. They are pictures that will stay in a child's mind. ... Read more

Book Description

Introducing the easiest and most enjoyable way for parents to encourage their children to read! Recently selected among the Most Outstanding Children's Books of 1998 by the Parent Council and one of the 100 Best Children's Products of 1998, We Both Read is the first series of books to invite parents and children to sharethe reading of a book by taking turns reading aloud.Parents read the more sophisticated text on the left-hand pages and the children read the right-hand pages, which have been written at one of three early reading levels.Developed with reading education specialists, this delightful new series brings parents and children together for a wonderful new reading experience and faster reading development!

About this book:In this delightfully funny version of the classic story, a princess loses her golden ball and then makes promises to a frog who gets it back for her.However, the princess never intends to keep her promises.To her amazement the frog appears at the castle door looking for the princess and all that she promised! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Delightful teamwork for my son and me
I think this "We Both Read" series is great. Whatever mood my boy is in when bedtime rolls around - whether he's working with me or against me - this concept works. I read the (difficult) left page in each two page spread, and the child reads the (easy) right. Teamwork. And even though these make no mention of Power Rangers or Batman Beyond, these are my boy's favorites. Along with some math books from Singapore(sgbox.com), and a learn-to-read series called "Now I'm Reading" by Nora Gaydos, these books are a great experience for your child. After your child has finished reading and they climb in bed, give your child something to strive for... turn on your booklight, turn off the room lights, and read your child a chapter or two from a more advanced book. Treasure Island, Harry Potter, anything by Roald Dahl... That's what works for my boys and I.

a simple idea, with a touch of genius in it
This series of readers really works. I've been running through them at bedtime with my six-year-old, who adores taking it in turns with me to read her page after I've read mine. It turns reading into a collaborative game, with plenty of play-acting (doing the different voices of the characters) thrown in. At my daughter's stage of reading, a short book can be a long haul, when she has to do it all by herself. The "We Both Read" books break up the text into manageable segments, and give her time-out while I do my share of the work. I'd like to see more and more titles quickly added to the series. I am baffled as to why Amazon should inflict a $1.35 surcharge on the publisher's recommended price--it seems to run entirely counter to the Amazon way of doing things. But the books themselves are splendid. ... Read more