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Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella
Jan Brett sets her Cinderella story in a snowy Russian winter where one magical night, Cinders, the most picked upon hen in the flock, becomes the most loved by Prince Cockerel when she arrives at his ball looking so beautiful that even her bossy sisters don't recognize her.
Jan travelled to Russia and readers will be in awe of the Ice Palace aglow under a deep blue moonlit sky, exquisite ball gowns on the comely pullets, uniforms with gold braids and buttons on the cockerels, striking Russian architecture transformed into ice in the borders, and a very funny flock of chickens who provide an appealing, original look at this snowy Cinderella. Readers will find these dressed up chickens comical as they pour over the extravagant setting, including a "WOW"-inducing double gatefold of chicken couples whirling around the ballroom. A feast for the eyes sure to become a perennial favorite.
Jan travelled to Russia and readers will be in awe of the Ice Palace aglow under a deep blue moonlit sky, exquisite ball gowns on the comely pullets, uniforms with gold braids and buttons on the cockerels, striking Russian architecture transformed into ice in the borders, and a very funny flock of chickens who provide an appealing, original look at this snowy Cinderella. Readers will find these dressed up chickens comical as they pour over the extravagant setting, including a "WOW"-inducing double gatefold of chicken couples whirling around the ballroom. A feast for the eyes sure to become a perennial favorite.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published November 5, 2013
6 people are currently reading
548 people want to read
About the author
Jan Brett
113 books1,029 followersWith over thirty three million books in print, Jan Brett is one of the nation's foremost author illustrators of children's books. Jan lives in a seacoast town in Massachusetts, close to where she grew up. During the summer her family moves to a home in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts.
As a child, Jan Brett decided to be an illustrator and spent many hours reading and drawing. She says, "I remember the special quiet of rainy days when I felt that I could enter the pages of my beautiful picture books. Now I try to recreate that feeling of believing that the imaginary place I'm drawing really exists. The detail in my work helps to convince me, and I hope others as well, that such places might be real."
As a student at the Boston Museum School, she spent hours in the Museum of Fine Arts. "It was overwhelming to see the room-size landscapes and towering stone sculptures, and then moments later to refocus on delicately embroidered kimonos and ancient porcelain," she says. "I'm delighted and surprised when fragments of these beautiful images come back to me in my painting."
Travel is also a constant inspiration. Together with her husband, Joe Hearne, who is a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Jan visits many different countries where she researches the architecture and costumes that appear in her work. "From cave paintings to Norwegian sleighs, to Japanese gardens, I study the traditions of the many countries I visit and use them as a starting point for my children's books."
--from www.janbrett.com
As a child, Jan Brett decided to be an illustrator and spent many hours reading and drawing. She says, "I remember the special quiet of rainy days when I felt that I could enter the pages of my beautiful picture books. Now I try to recreate that feeling of believing that the imaginary place I'm drawing really exists. The detail in my work helps to convince me, and I hope others as well, that such places might be real."
As a student at the Boston Museum School, she spent hours in the Museum of Fine Arts. "It was overwhelming to see the room-size landscapes and towering stone sculptures, and then moments later to refocus on delicately embroidered kimonos and ancient porcelain," she says. "I'm delighted and surprised when fragments of these beautiful images come back to me in my painting."
Travel is also a constant inspiration. Together with her husband, Joe Hearne, who is a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Jan visits many different countries where she researches the architecture and costumes that appear in her work. "From cave paintings to Norwegian sleighs, to Japanese gardens, I study the traditions of the many countries I visit and use them as a starting point for my children's books."
--from www.janbrett.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
September 1, 2015
The basic Cinderella story, but with chickens. I'm afraid I'm not really convinced this needed to exist. The fact that there was a most realistic frame narrative (actually the most interesting part even though it was only a couple pages) showing that these are indeed normal domestic chickens kept in a coop by a family made it seem even sillier.
Brett's art is always excellent, but it was wasted on chickens in ballgowns, which look simply ridiculous no matter how fancy you make the dresses.
Brett's art is always excellent, but it was wasted on chickens in ballgowns, which look simply ridiculous no matter how fancy you make the dresses.
April 4, 2019
Brett's artwork is gorgeous, as usual, and I liked seeing a wide variety of chickens in finery. I do wish she'd come up with something a little more chickeny than a glass slipper, however.
November 8, 2013
Just what the world did not need...Cinderella played by chickens. Lovingly detailed in Jan Brett-style as usual, but this book brings nothing new to the old tale, and the idea of a chicken with a glass slipper (how would that even work?) is not working for me.
I wish Jan Brett would spend more time coming up with new stories or finding old stories that are not so overdone that we are tired of them.
I wish Jan Brett would spend more time coming up with new stories or finding old stories that are not so overdone that we are tired of them.
December 24, 2017
In this fowl retelling of a classic fairy tale, Cinders is shunned by her fellow hens and left behind when it's time for the ball. With the help of a fairy hen, she is able to look her best and turns many a neck at the event, but must flee by midnight. In the end, true honesty wins everyone over and there is a bright and shimmering egg for those who wait. Neo liked this, especially the wonderful drawings. He was, however, a little creeped out by all the dressed-up chickens in their finery. I suppose some chickens are only meant to be dressed with breadcrumbs and thyme!
August 29, 2015
I grew up with my mom reading Jan Brett books to me, so I couldn't resist checking Cinders out from my library to read to my daughter. I don't know if this was just a poor reintroduction to Jan Brett or she's not as good as I remember, but I was sorely disappointed by this book. The only twist is that the characters are chickens-- it follows the basic Cinderella story 1:1. There is really nothing captivating or unique about it. It missed the mark.
November 15, 2013
Have you ever seen a grown hen cry before?
Jan Brett will show you, and it is HEART WRENCHING.
Does this negate the accidental endorsement of duck-slavery?
You'll have to be the judge of that.
As a University of Oregon alumnus, I may be biased.
Buy this title from Powell's Books.
Jan Brett will show you, and it is HEART WRENCHING.
Does this negate the accidental endorsement of duck-slavery?
You'll have to be the judge of that.
As a University of Oregon alumnus, I may be biased.
Buy this title from Powell's Books.
June 12, 2016
wtf
Shouldn't this be *funny*? I think it was just an excuse for Brett to travel to Russia. Just a straight-up telling, really. I mean, it's framed as if it's a dream of the girl who cares for her family's prize chickens, but even that 'addition' doesn't actually add anything to the story. Just another insta-love with sparkles.
Shouldn't this be *funny*? I think it was just an excuse for Brett to travel to Russia. Just a straight-up telling, really. I mean, it's framed as if it's a dream of the girl who cares for her family's prize chickens, but even that 'addition' doesn't actually add anything to the story. Just another insta-love with sparkles.
July 15, 2016
I absolutely love this version of Cinderella! Jan Brett's stunning illustrations make a chicken coop look cozy and elegant enough to move into myself! I love all the detail of the costumes and the different species of chickens. And the names of the "old biddy" and her daughters--Largessa, Pecky, and Bossy--priceless! I've got to get a copy of this for my collection. Highly recommended.
February 3, 2023
3.5 stars. If you like chickens or anything by Jan Brett, you'll love this retelling of Cinderella.
March 9, 2025
This book didn’t quite make sense to me. Okay, there’s a henpecked chicken. But Prince Cockerel’s fancy footwear and Cinderella’s glass slipper didn’t quite work, especially when the rest of the chickens are unshod.
But the illustrations are stunningly elaborate, an apparent labor of love. This made me wonder. And yes, it turns out that as a breeder of chickens, some with spectacular plumage, Jan Brett brought a connoisseur’s perspective to the work. Still odd to me - I wish there were more fun in it - but I guess I just don’t have a chicken lover’s appreciation for detail.
But the illustrations are stunningly elaborate, an apparent labor of love. This made me wonder. And yes, it turns out that as a breeder of chickens, some with spectacular plumage, Jan Brett brought a connoisseur’s perspective to the work. Still odd to me - I wish there were more fun in it - but I guess I just don’t have a chicken lover’s appreciation for detail.
January 15, 2021
Child me would have lost their mind if they'd known this existed. This is my new favorite book.
April 26, 2025
Jan Brett does the sweetest illustrated Children’s books. They are a delight to the eyes. And she retells stories in a new way or with a new twist.
December 27, 2014
Beautiful, lavish illustrations as usual. But if Brett insists on doing Cinderella, couldn't she have used PEOPLE?
Sadly, there are a limited number of non-Disney Cinderellas out there, and hers would have really been of use. I'd have especially liked it with the lovely Russian style she uses here. Chickens would have been fine if it were someone with more of a sense of humor in their art, but the fabulous pictures combined with chickens makes for a weird fairy tale here.
Sadly, there are a limited number of non-Disney Cinderellas out there, and hers would have really been of use. I'd have especially liked it with the lovely Russian style she uses here. Chickens would have been fine if it were someone with more of a sense of humor in their art, but the fabulous pictures combined with chickens makes for a weird fairy tale here.
February 15, 2014
A new twist on the traditional Cinderella with chickens as the characters along with a girl named Tasha who loves the poorly treated hen. The illustrations are beautifully detailed Jan Brett style with the side illustrations on both the left and right pages. There is also double page pull-out spread to see the entire ball in one viewing.
June 16, 2021
Best Cinderella story ever. IMHO
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April 11, 2025the world needs more fancy chickens in ballgowns
April 11, 2018
LOVED the illustrations! 5 stars for the pictures.
November 6, 2022
I found this book on display at my local library. In this version of Cinderella, Cinders is a chicken with multiple chicken sisters attending the ball. This version followed the original story very closely but I appreciated the silliness of the animal aspect. The setting is a snowy evening and I read on the inside of the cover that that the illustrations are modeled after 18th century Russia. I found the illustrations to be a bit much at times and the feathers of the chickens blended in too much with the background.I liked that it has pages that open to more text, in reference with the chickens looking into a window to see who the lucky chicken is dancing with the prince. Overall, I think the book was cute and the theme stayed true to the original version with a silly twist.
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January 28, 2016"Yesterday, we read Santa Claus and the Three Bears. We found that sometimes when an author writes a fractured fairy tale, they may change the main character. Today, I'm going to show to another one, in which the author takes all of the human characters and turns them all into animals. This one is called "Cinders, A Chicken Cinderella" by Jan Brett. Look at the front cover, she does great illustrations too. Which fairy tale do you think she based this story off of?" Student response. "Yes! The title said Cinderella in it, but you noticed that it was called CHICKEN Cinderella. She even used an alliteration. Cinders must be this chicken being pulled in this sleigh here. Isn't that a fun idea? To turn Cinderella into a chicken?! How silly! Authors love to have fun with fractured fairy tales and their characters. What do we remember about the story Cinderella?" Student response. "Let's read this story to compare and contrast "Cinders, A Chicken Cinderella" with the original Cinderella."
Opening Moves:
Humor-Chicken and Cinderella
Making Connections-Cinderella and Cinders
Compare and Contrast-Humans and Animals
Review background knowledge.
Rationale:
As students have progressed from seeing small changes within fractured fairy tales, now they are seeing how an author can completely change the characters and the setting, while still maintaining a similar story. They will begin to recognize how big and/or little changes that an author makes in their writing can change a story, while still sprinkling in the original. Students should be gaining an interest and inspiration at this point to play with stories and turn them into their own.
Opening Moves:
Humor-Chicken and Cinderella
Making Connections-Cinderella and Cinders
Compare and Contrast-Humans and Animals
Review background knowledge.
Rationale:
As students have progressed from seeing small changes within fractured fairy tales, now they are seeing how an author can completely change the characters and the setting, while still maintaining a similar story. They will begin to recognize how big and/or little changes that an author makes in their writing can change a story, while still sprinkling in the original. Students should be gaining an interest and inspiration at this point to play with stories and turn them into their own.
January 2, 2014
There is more to the life of chickens than we know. On a snowy night, as their girl caretaker sleeps, the chickens go to a ball. Dressed in their fine regalia, they become more human, including all the emotional trappings. While most head off, Cinder is left behind until a Silkie hen magics her off. The jealous hens may try to prevent her union with Prince Cockerel, but true love prevails, even for the chicken version of Cinderella.
Aside from them being chickens there are some other variations, like the silver egg being used as secondary proof to the glass slipper, and Cinder's entourage remaining in animal form, but dressed like humans too. Also, this is a fairytale fit into a real world farm, hence the bookend approach with the farmers who see them only as animals.
Like Jan Brett's others works she keeps the fantastical elements grounded in the realistic. Her animals are expressive, but never beyond the capabilities of said creature. She painstakingly draws them in detail, but it is up to the writing to portray their feelings.
Every bit of the characters, backgrounds, and borders is exquisite. With the borders remaining simple shades of snow or wood to balance out the menagerie of colours within.
While this is an unusual version of Cinderella it is one of the most beautiful. The writing sometimes jumps over parts, but otherwise it elegantly matches its counterpart with words that fit its setting. Younger children will need help if they attempt to read this. Jan Brett's chickens are beautiful, which is a word chickens are rarely described as.
Aside from them being chickens there are some other variations, like the silver egg being used as secondary proof to the glass slipper, and Cinder's entourage remaining in animal form, but dressed like humans too. Also, this is a fairytale fit into a real world farm, hence the bookend approach with the farmers who see them only as animals.
Like Jan Brett's others works she keeps the fantastical elements grounded in the realistic. Her animals are expressive, but never beyond the capabilities of said creature. She painstakingly draws them in detail, but it is up to the writing to portray their feelings.
Every bit of the characters, backgrounds, and borders is exquisite. With the borders remaining simple shades of snow or wood to balance out the menagerie of colours within.
While this is an unusual version of Cinderella it is one of the most beautiful. The writing sometimes jumps over parts, but otherwise it elegantly matches its counterpart with words that fit its setting. Younger children will need help if they attempt to read this. Jan Brett's chickens are beautiful, which is a word chickens are rarely described as.
March 8, 2014
Beautiful illustrations, and a whimsical tale, as one always finds in a Jan Brett book.
I've raised chickens, so the concept was appealing on a personal level, but using chickens to retell the Cinderella story was...odd. I can certainly think of picture books with avian main characters that show lots of emotion--Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus immediately comes to mind. But Pigeon is a comic character in a wildly imaginative setting. Make Way for Ducklings tells a story with more realistically portrayed animals, but the story tells us about something real animals do: find a nesting spot, raise babies, and so on. Cinders is trying to tell a story of the imagination--a famous fairy tale complete with pumpkin coach and glass slipper--with a realistically portrayed flock. Cinders has real chicken feet, which somehow still fit in her glass slippers. Their faces have little expression.
The frame story, about a young Russian girl who cares for the flock, is gorgeously illustrated, but adds little. I guess I'd rather have seen a beautiful Russian version of the fairy tale, with humans.
I've raised chickens, so the concept was appealing on a personal level, but using chickens to retell the Cinderella story was...odd. I can certainly think of picture books with avian main characters that show lots of emotion--Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus immediately comes to mind. But Pigeon is a comic character in a wildly imaginative setting. Make Way for Ducklings tells a story with more realistically portrayed animals, but the story tells us about something real animals do: find a nesting spot, raise babies, and so on. Cinders is trying to tell a story of the imagination--a famous fairy tale complete with pumpkin coach and glass slipper--with a realistically portrayed flock. Cinders has real chicken feet, which somehow still fit in her glass slippers. Their faces have little expression.
The frame story, about a young Russian girl who cares for the flock, is gorgeously illustrated, but adds little. I guess I'd rather have seen a beautiful Russian version of the fairy tale, with humans.
February 22, 2015
I like this story and how it is a twist off of Cinderella. It uses the same story line as Cinderella but only this time Cinderella is a chicken. She still has evil step sisters who make her do every thing and she almost misses the ball because she is too busy helping them. Then suddenly a hen appears and turns her ragged clothes into a beautiful outfit with glass slippers. The Prince and Cinders spend the entire ball together, dance and having fun. Once the clock strikes midnight Cinders runs away leaving behind her glass slipper. The Prince checks everyones foot to see if the slipper will fit any of them and he knows when he finds the one that is his true love. The Prince finds Cinders and the glass slipper fits and they spend the rest of their lives together. I would use this story to teach students about comparing and contrasting. I would take the original Cinderella story and have students compare it to this story. We would compare the stories and also contrast them. I would also bring in other stories similar to this one and do the same with them.
May 5, 2016
In this delightful and colorful book, the story of Cinderella unfolds, but it's no human, more like a chicken! This book has excellent with it's cover, it is bright, colorful, glittery, and eye catching. The illustrations are also very detailed and great, the pages use the same pastel colors on each page, but they seem to pop out from the detail on each page. This story unfolds as most Cinderella stories do, her mother dies, her father remarries an evil stepmother and she inherits jealous step sisters, all get invited to royal ball where they don't want Cinder to be a part of, but she goes and is the most beautiful chicken there that the prince falls in love with. He discovers it is her with the glass slipper she left behind, they get married and live as always, happily ever after. This book was a good version for children, especially because of all the color and elegance in the book. This is a fun version of Cinderella to share with children.
October 16, 2016
Cinders A Chicken Cinderella story is based of the original Cinderella fairy tale but this time the story is about a little girl (Tasha) who takes special care of a small chicken who seems to have a hard time competing with the other chickens and hen during meal times. One day after putting the food out for the chickens to feed Tasha was forced to stay in the hen house because a snowstorm had forced the hen door closed and she couldn't get out. So Tasha curled up near the warm stove and fell asleep. While she slept she dreams that Cinder the little chicken played the roll as Cinderella, the story was just like the the original story but at the end when Tasha woke up her father was standing there with a new hen to add to the hen house Tasha thought that the new hen and Cinder would rule the hen house and live happily ever after. I enjoyed reading this book and I think that this is a wonderful story for K-4.
July 27, 2014
This is a Cinderella story written and illustrated by Jan Brett. The characters are all chickens. The story starts with a girl going out to feed the chickens and the step mother and the step sisters push Cinders aside so she doesn't get any food. Once the human falls asleep the step mother pulls out an invitation to a ball. Cinders has to dress everyone. She has a fairy godmother who is a chicken too. She ends up at the ball, loses he slipper, and the chicken prince finds her by fitting a glass slipper on the foot. From then on they are the king and queen of the coop. Jan Brett illustrates this beautifully, in her normal style and includes the borders as well. I liked that it was a chicken since we talked about her in class taking her chickens to Ohio in the back seat of her really nice car.
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April 29, 2016In this version of the old Folktale Cinderella, Cinder is a chicken who mother end up passing away and the father remarries and ends up being to evil chicken of the hen, which then her and her daughters treat Cinders bad. Next day The prince Chicken invites everyone to the ball and yet Cinder's stepmother and stepsisters says she can't go to the ball. Yet, then her fairy godmother changes her into a beautiful dress and ends up having goose to ride her to the ball. She ends up dancing with the prince and he ends up falling in love with her, but she exits so fast since the clock strike midnight, but leaves behind her slipper. Which is a way the prince is able to find her by making a the girl chickens try on the slipper and whoever it fit he would marry. Then it end being Cinders that fits the slipper and then they marry and live happily ever after.
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October 25, 2016This is a Cinderella story with chickens that we can assume is a little girl's dream. In the end of this Cinderella story, the prince is not only looking for the hen whose foot fits in the slipper, but also the one that lays silver eggs.
Obviously Jan Brett's illustrations were amazing as usual, but in addition these pictures of chickens in elaborate ball gowns were hilarious. The book featured classic Jan Brett borders and extreme attention to detail, and lovely writing that told a heartwarming story. I think that young kids would have a lot of fun with this Cinderella story, because it is a creative and funny take on the fairy tale.
Illustrations: water color
Brett, J. ( 2013). Cinders: a chicken Cinderella. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers.
Tags: Farm, fairy tale, geography, culture, author study
Obviously Jan Brett's illustrations were amazing as usual, but in addition these pictures of chickens in elaborate ball gowns were hilarious. The book featured classic Jan Brett borders and extreme attention to detail, and lovely writing that told a heartwarming story. I think that young kids would have a lot of fun with this Cinderella story, because it is a creative and funny take on the fairy tale.
Illustrations: water color
Brett, J. ( 2013). Cinders: a chicken Cinderella. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers.
Tags: Farm, fairy tale, geography, culture, author study
April 29, 2014
In Jan brett’s version of a favorite fairytale, Cinders is pushed around by her comical sisters, Pecky and Bossy, and their haughty mother, Largessa. Cinders is the main character of the story. The text is in narrative form with conversation between the characters which enhances the emotional connection to the story.
One of the first things that you notice when reading this book is the attention to detail as well as the use of vivid color. The images appear to pop out at the reader. Brett was able to depict the animal’s emotions, especially the chickens. The plumage of the chickens was extraordinarily illustrated so that the reader could see the realistic features of the bird’s feathers.
One of the first things that you notice when reading this book is the attention to detail as well as the use of vivid color. The images appear to pop out at the reader. Brett was able to depict the animal’s emotions, especially the chickens. The plumage of the chickens was extraordinarily illustrated so that the reader could see the realistic features of the bird’s feathers.
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June 8, 2016If you like chickens and cinderella then this is the picturebook for you! Meet a group of chickens that partake in the annual ball. A little chicken named Cinders is in charge of getting everyone else ready for the ball and does not get to go until her fairy god chicken comes to save her.
Instead of just the traditional watercolor and gouache used in these illustrations, airbrushing was also used to finish the pictures.
This is another twisted fairytale to bring out the imaginations of children, but it also introduces a different ethnicity and country based on the human interactions and setting.
Instead of just the traditional watercolor and gouache used in these illustrations, airbrushing was also used to finish the pictures.
This is another twisted fairytale to bring out the imaginations of children, but it also introduces a different ethnicity and country based on the human interactions and setting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews