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Cinderella: A Fashionable Tale
Cinderella wants nothing more than to go to the ball, but she doesn’t have a thing to wear! This classic fairy tale of the young servant girl who experiences a magical night and finally finds her prince receives a fresh and modern retelling from illustrator Steven Guarnaccia.
Guarnaccia’s stylized illustrations give familiar characters new life with a fun, fashion-forward look, using apparel and accessories inspired by some of the most famous fashion designers of the 20th and 21st centuries. Young readers will delight in the bright and beautiful illustrations, and fashion enthusiasts will enjoy the references to well-known haute couture designs, including a Vivienne Westwood–inspired ball gown, a rag dress of patched-together designer patterns, and Prada-inspired crystal slippers. Includes endpapers that detail the different featured designs as well as the year they were made.
<!--? prefix = o ns = "" /--> Praise for Cinderella
STARRED REVIEW
"A crisp, modern take on the oft-told deliciously subversive and visually captivating. Chic and sophisticated, a delectable homage to fashion."
-- Kirkus Reviews , starred review
"This title will be appreciated by children and adults who are captivated by the world of fashion and who will find inspiration for creating their own designs."
-- School Library Journal
Guarnaccia’s stylized illustrations give familiar characters new life with a fun, fashion-forward look, using apparel and accessories inspired by some of the most famous fashion designers of the 20th and 21st centuries. Young readers will delight in the bright and beautiful illustrations, and fashion enthusiasts will enjoy the references to well-known haute couture designs, including a Vivienne Westwood–inspired ball gown, a rag dress of patched-together designer patterns, and Prada-inspired crystal slippers. Includes endpapers that detail the different featured designs as well as the year they were made.
<!--? prefix = o ns = "" /--> Praise for Cinderella
STARRED REVIEW
"A crisp, modern take on the oft-told deliciously subversive and visually captivating. Chic and sophisticated, a delectable homage to fashion."
-- Kirkus Reviews , starred review
"This title will be appreciated by children and adults who are captivated by the world of fashion and who will find inspiration for creating their own designs."
-- School Library Journal
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2013
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119 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 8, 2015
In this fractured fairytale, the classic story of Cinderella is given a fashionable twist. Cinderella acts as servant to her stepmother and step sisters, and isn't allowed to go to the royal ball. So, after her step family leaves, a fairy godfather appears and turns her night upside down. Just as in the classic original, her mice friends are turned into beautiful horse that lead the carriage that was made out of a pumpkin. His magic creates a beautiful ball gown for Cinderella, along with two beautiful glass slippers, and he suggests that they will be very comfortable. Quite similar to the original, Cinderella dances with the prince, he falls in love with her, the clock strikes twelve, and the prince scours the town to find the girl who fits into the glass slipper that was left. When he finds Cinderella, they, of course, live happily ever after, and in good fashion.
The illustrations in this book beautifully represent the high-fashion designs included, as well as tell the classic tale of Cinderella. I found the most interesting part of the illustrations was that there was really no setting indicated, the whole story was against a white background. I think this can be pulled off because it is based on such a well known story, so readers already know what the basics are, and we can focus on the fashion part of the story, and what makes the fairytale fractured. The illustrations do a very good job of making the evil step-sisters look not-so-cute. They are not nearly as nice-looking as Cinderella, and their feet are absolutely disgusting. The page where one of them is trying the glass slipper on with long, ragged toenails very effectively makes Cinderella seem more like a princess. I enjoyed the use of bright color throughout the story, as well as the unconventional look of all the characters. Most people envision Cinderella as this perfect princess, but in this story, she is more quirky and laid-back. I especially liked her funky haircut, a cute little pixie. The Illustrations in this story create a very eccentric, enjoyable version of Cinderella.
I thoroughly enjoyed the references made about the fashion industry in this book. My favorite would have to be the Karl Lagerfield-inspired fairy godfather. Lagerfield is a huge icon in the fashion world, being creative director of Chanel, Fendi, and his own fashion house, and I found it quite refreshing to find him in a children's book. He fits the role of fairy godfather so perfectly; he's kind of like a fairy godfather in real life, too. I also loved that the bookends were covered with iconic designs in fashion. I found great pleasure in looking at all the familiar designs in cartoon form, and I think it's not just enjoyable to me, but the incredible, quirky designs would also appeal to a little girl as well. Cinderella is so fashionable in this twisted story that even her ragged cleaning clothes contain patches of well known high-fashion designs. For example, the plaid patch on her left side is a nod to Burberry. This simple picture book is absolutely jam-packed with references to the fashion world, as Cinderella's gown is inspired by Vivienne Westwood, and her very important glass slippers are inspired by Prada. I had a wonderful time reading this book and seeing the illustrations depict the high-fashion world so beautifully, and I truly think this book applies to all ages.
The illustrations in this book beautifully represent the high-fashion designs included, as well as tell the classic tale of Cinderella. I found the most interesting part of the illustrations was that there was really no setting indicated, the whole story was against a white background. I think this can be pulled off because it is based on such a well known story, so readers already know what the basics are, and we can focus on the fashion part of the story, and what makes the fairytale fractured. The illustrations do a very good job of making the evil step-sisters look not-so-cute. They are not nearly as nice-looking as Cinderella, and their feet are absolutely disgusting. The page where one of them is trying the glass slipper on with long, ragged toenails very effectively makes Cinderella seem more like a princess. I enjoyed the use of bright color throughout the story, as well as the unconventional look of all the characters. Most people envision Cinderella as this perfect princess, but in this story, she is more quirky and laid-back. I especially liked her funky haircut, a cute little pixie. The Illustrations in this story create a very eccentric, enjoyable version of Cinderella.
I thoroughly enjoyed the references made about the fashion industry in this book. My favorite would have to be the Karl Lagerfield-inspired fairy godfather. Lagerfield is a huge icon in the fashion world, being creative director of Chanel, Fendi, and his own fashion house, and I found it quite refreshing to find him in a children's book. He fits the role of fairy godfather so perfectly; he's kind of like a fairy godfather in real life, too. I also loved that the bookends were covered with iconic designs in fashion. I found great pleasure in looking at all the familiar designs in cartoon form, and I think it's not just enjoyable to me, but the incredible, quirky designs would also appeal to a little girl as well. Cinderella is so fashionable in this twisted story that even her ragged cleaning clothes contain patches of well known high-fashion designs. For example, the plaid patch on her left side is a nod to Burberry. This simple picture book is absolutely jam-packed with references to the fashion world, as Cinderella's gown is inspired by Vivienne Westwood, and her very important glass slippers are inspired by Prada. I had a wonderful time reading this book and seeing the illustrations depict the high-fashion world so beautifully, and I truly think this book applies to all ages.
October 7, 2017
This book portrays an entertaining twist on the classic story we all know as Cinderella. It starts out with emphasis that Cinderella was a servant girl. Her step sisters made it obvious that she was dressed in rags and told her she was not pretty. The sisters were all excited to go to the ball except Cinderalla's step mother did not allow her attend. The sisters laughed and could not imagine Cinderella going in her rags. However, Cinderella's magical godfather turned her rags into an beautiful outfit and she was able to attend the ball. She danced with the prince all night long and no one recognized her as the servant girl, not even her sisters. However as we all know she had to leave the ball at midnight, but she ended up living happily ever after with her prince.
This has to be one of my favorite spin offs of the original Disney tale of Cinderella. This book has very eye catching illustrations and portrays Cinderella with really short blonde hair unlike most of the other spin offs. The illustrations give off a sixties vibe especially the part where the fairy godfather changes her rags to an beautiful dress. The page is full of Cinderella wearing unique outfits that look like they should be on the runway! The end pages of the book also contain famous style patterns and shoes from the decades ranging from 1885 to the 1990's. I believe this book definitely wanted to emphasize different fashions and it definitely hit the mark with using the classic story line!
This has to be one of my favorite spin offs of the original Disney tale of Cinderella. This book has very eye catching illustrations and portrays Cinderella with really short blonde hair unlike most of the other spin offs. The illustrations give off a sixties vibe especially the part where the fairy godfather changes her rags to an beautiful dress. The page is full of Cinderella wearing unique outfits that look like they should be on the runway! The end pages of the book also contain famous style patterns and shoes from the decades ranging from 1885 to the 1990's. I believe this book definitely wanted to emphasize different fashions and it definitely hit the mark with using the classic story line!
February 14, 2017
In this version of Cinderella Steven Guarnaccia writes about a young girl who lives with her father, stepmother, and two horrible stepsisters. Cinderella wants to attend the ball that the Prince is throwing but she doesn't have anything to wear. Cinderella's fairy godfather appears and the fashion fun begins. Many iconic figures in the fashion world are represented as Cinderella tries on several different styles from different eras.
When Cinderella finally decides on a dress, she attends the ball and falls in the love with the Prince. Still embarrassed about her real identity, Cinderella runs from the Prince with the clock strikes midnight. When the Prince starts a search party to find the girl he fell in love with at the party, Cinderella provides her Prada inspired glass slipper as proof she is that girl.
This book could be enjoyed by anyone interested in the fashion world. Cinderella: A Fashionable Tale is a great example of how a classic story can become something different with a few modern twists. In the classroom, this book could be used to compare/contrast to other versions of the classic tale.
When Cinderella finally decides on a dress, she attends the ball and falls in the love with the Prince. Still embarrassed about her real identity, Cinderella runs from the Prince with the clock strikes midnight. When the Prince starts a search party to find the girl he fell in love with at the party, Cinderella provides her Prada inspired glass slipper as proof she is that girl.
This book could be enjoyed by anyone interested in the fashion world. Cinderella: A Fashionable Tale is a great example of how a classic story can become something different with a few modern twists. In the classroom, this book could be used to compare/contrast to other versions of the classic tale.
June 22, 2020
Saya menemukan buku ini di #bigbadwolf2020 kemarin di ICE dan baru berkesempatan untuk membacanya sekarang. Buku ini menceritakan tentang Cinderella, si gadis malang yang tinggal bersama ibu tiri dan kakak-kakak tirinya. Cinderella setiap hari harus bekerja keras melayani ibu dan kakak-kakak tirinya. Hingga suatu hari sebuah undangan pesta dansa muncul dan membuatnya Cinderella sangat ingin sekali mengikutinya, tapi sayang ibu tirinya melarang. Dimalam pesta dansa Cinderella menangis sendirian karena semua keluarganya meninggalkannya ke pesta, hingga tiba-tiba sang ibu peri datang dan membantunya. Ceritanya sama dengan kebanyakan cerita Cinderella lainnya, tapi yang membuat berbeda adalah unsur fashion yang diangkat didalam buku ini. Semua ilustrasi atau baju-baju Cinderella menggunakan fashion yang terkenal pada abad 20 dan 21 . Saya sendiri tidak begitu mengenal baju-baju tersebut,kecuali Karl Lagerfed yang didalam buku ini menjadi ibu peri Cinderella. Tapi saya menyukai setiap ilustrasinya dan cukup menghibur karena plot twistnya yang berbeda dari buku-buku cinderella lainnya.
January 5, 2024
My kid's favorite version of Cinderella, which was totally unexpected! They were 3 yrs old when we picked this up from the library. They couldn't appreciate who Yves Saint Laurent was, but I love that she knows that crazy ostrich dress.
July 17, 2024
The illustrations set this Cinderella story apart from the rest, making this large book an intriguing tale
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January 11, 2025I'm not into fashion enough to enjoy this. The story was very bare bones and the pictures rather dull.
January 24, 2018
Fun twist on the Cinderella story with a modern more fashion-oriented Cinderella. I thought it was pretty cool how it mentions actual fashions. Creative twist on a classic fairy tale.
March 1, 2017
The book was super short and a very quick read. I enjoyed looking at the pictures. For me I enjoy the story of Cinderella so I generally enjoy reading any re-takes or spins on that original story... this would be a good book for little kids to mostly look at the pictures it's not a ton of words on the page
September 16, 2016
The classic tale of Cinderella gets a new, modern twist! Her ragged dress isn't just covered in ashes, it's patched together with famous design patterns! When her stepmother refuses to let her attend the ball, Cinderella's magical godfather appears. As he waves his magic wand, Cinderella's dress changes from one fashionable gown to the next until the perfect one, and the perfect shoes are found. She dances the night away with the prince and runs home at midnight-losing her shoe in the process, of course! After searching all the next day, the prince finds Cinderella, slips the shoe onto her foot and whisks her off to his castle where they are married.
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I'll just be honest and say I thought this book was weird. I'm not into haute couture, but for those who are, the illustrations and especially the end papers will have them swooning. The outfits are inspired by "the most famous fashion designers of the 20th and 21st centuries." I did like Cinderella's bobbed haircut and her ugly stepsisters were truly ugly! I think this is a picture book for more grown up fashionistas. Young children would probably not understand or even realize that the dresses and accessories were based on reality. It's the perfect book for the right audience.
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I'll just be honest and say I thought this book was weird. I'm not into haute couture, but for those who are, the illustrations and especially the end papers will have them swooning. The outfits are inspired by "the most famous fashion designers of the 20th and 21st centuries." I did like Cinderella's bobbed haircut and her ugly stepsisters were truly ugly! I think this is a picture book for more grown up fashionistas. Young children would probably not understand or even realize that the dresses and accessories were based on reality. It's the perfect book for the right audience.
September 19, 2016
This is literally the exact same Cinderella story we already know, except that the fairy "godmother" is that one fashion designer guy (Karl...something) and she gets to try on a bunch of high fashion dresses before picking one. The illustrations are quirky and the end papers are fun, but other than that there is nothing unique here.
February 2, 2015
Cinderella a Fashionable Tale is about a girl named Cinderella and her fashionable journey to the ball. This story is a little different from the original. In this story Cinderella has three step sisters rather than two. Her fairy godmother is also a small fairy guy with glasses. It follows the same storyline as the traditional fairy tale. Cinderellas evil step sisters walk all over her and make their way to the ball, leaving Cinderella behind. Then, something magical happens and Cinderella’s fairy god mother appears and gives her this beautiful fashionable dress. Cinderella makes it to the ball where she dances with the prince, then later in the story lives happily ever after.
I personally did not like the overall story. Before reading this book I thought that the story would include a more fashionable plot line. The book is considered a fractured fairytale, but the only change was the additional step sister and the fairy godmother. The writing was mostly in standard black writing in block like formations. When it comes to fairytales, I thought that the writing would be fancier and more curved like.
I really enjoyed the illustrations that the book had. Some of the pictures were very detailed when it came to the characters, but the background remained plain. Some of the features that the characters had were very interesting such as, only eyelashes being on the bottom eyelid. The fashion part of this story was very neat, because at the end it displays all the different dresses that were within the book. Along with all the dresses are the years and places where they were designed. Some of these dresses were on the main characters or sometimes on a background character.
I personally did not like the overall story. Before reading this book I thought that the story would include a more fashionable plot line. The book is considered a fractured fairytale, but the only change was the additional step sister and the fairy godmother. The writing was mostly in standard black writing in block like formations. When it comes to fairytales, I thought that the writing would be fancier and more curved like.
I really enjoyed the illustrations that the book had. Some of the pictures were very detailed when it came to the characters, but the background remained plain. Some of the features that the characters had were very interesting such as, only eyelashes being on the bottom eyelid. The fashion part of this story was very neat, because at the end it displays all the different dresses that were within the book. Along with all the dresses are the years and places where they were designed. Some of these dresses were on the main characters or sometimes on a background character.
December 7, 2014
Cinderella wants nothing more than to go to the ball, but she doesn’t have a thing to wear! This classic fairy tale of the young servant girl who experiences a magical night and finally finds her prince receives a fresh and modern retelling from illustrator Steven Guarnaccia. This is a another fractured fairytale on Cinderella.
Guarnaccia’s stylized illustrations give familiar characters new life with a fun, fashion-forward look, using apparel and accessories inspired by some of the most famous fashion designers of the 20th and 21st centuries. Young readers will delight in the bright and beautiful illustrations, and fashion enthusiasts will enjoy the references to well-known haute couture designs, including a Vivienne Westwood–inspired ball gown, a rag dress of patched-together designer patterns, and Prada-inspired crystal slippers. Includes endpapers that detail the different featured designs as well as the year they were made.
Guarnaccia’s stylized illustrations give familiar characters new life with a fun, fashion-forward look, using apparel and accessories inspired by some of the most famous fashion designers of the 20th and 21st centuries. Young readers will delight in the bright and beautiful illustrations, and fashion enthusiasts will enjoy the references to well-known haute couture designs, including a Vivienne Westwood–inspired ball gown, a rag dress of patched-together designer patterns, and Prada-inspired crystal slippers. Includes endpapers that detail the different featured designs as well as the year they were made.
February 28, 2016
Cinderella A Fashionable Tale is about Cinderella making her way to the ball in fashion. This is a funny spin on Cinderella. The fairy godmother is actually a fairy godfather. This book is an easy read for children. I thought it could've had more to do with fashion because it wasn't that different from the original Cinderella story. Although this fractured fairytale was still cute. This book would be great for little girls to read because it shows Cinderella in a different light not always playing the damsel in distress. The illustrations were cute because they were very fashionable. The plaid patch on her skirt is supposed to be Burberry and the glass slippers are Prada which was funny to catch on each page!
January 25, 2017
The drawings were ... interesting and I liked that the dresses were based off of actual gowns. Loved the fairy godfather. Tim Gunn anyone? And that was were the good stopped. What was with the 3 stepsisters? And why did they look like transvestites? Transvestite does NOT equal ugly. What time period did this take place? Cindy's got a twenties bob but uses a vacuum and the pumpkin turns into a plane. The stepsisters have undergarments for three different eras. The dancers at the ball are wearing fashion from very different decades. If the "carriage" was a plane, how did Cinderella get home after it turned back into a pumpkin. And why oh why was nothing, with the exception of the third stepsister, original about this tale. The title had so much promise. I was very let down.
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December 1, 2015Cinderella: A Fashionable Tale, is a childrens folk tale written by Steven Guarnaccia. This story is about a poor treated sister, Cinderella, in which her father died so she is being taken care of by her step mom. She lives with her two step sisters. Cinderella is the maid of the house and has to all of the dirty work. The prince sets up a ball in which Cinderella disguises herself. Cinderella and the prince fall in love but he does not know her name to find her. This is a well known story. Children tend to love this story. This version makes it easy for children to read as it uses short sentences.
July 21, 2016
Aside from opening the book and seeing Karl Lagerfeld as the fairy godmother, this was a disappointment. Essentially it is the same story we all know, the novelty is finding the fashion indexed on the end pages on the pages of the books. If it was more in the spirit of the fairy godmother I think it would have been much better.
August 11, 2016
I wish she would have denied the Prince and told him she wanted to become a fashion designer! =)
July 26, 2016
I don't feel like the fashion element was strong enough in these illustrations to warrant another variation of Cinderella. It just didn't adapt it enough in any direction.
January 28, 2015
Simple retelling of the classic fairytale. At the ball, several attendees are seen in certain historic fashion pieces but not compelling enough to make it a separate book.
April 15, 2017
Guarnaccia's version of the Three Little Pigs using various architectural classics was so much fun that maybe I just set my sites too high on this one, but it didn't have the same appeal to me. Cinderella's fairy godfather tries a few different dresses on her from various time periods, all of them from the world of fashion (and, frankly, most of them are pretty darn ugly) before sending her off to the ball. If you're a real fashion aficionado, then you'll have fun going through the different shoes and dresses and giggling over their inclusion (those not so in-the-know can find notes on the endpapers), but the average kid and even adult is going to wonder what's the point of it.
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September 11, 20177-year-old daughter: 3 stars
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