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The Salmon Princess: An Alaska Cinderella Story
One of the most popular children's books about Alaska, The Salmon Princess retells the classic Cinderella story through an Alaskan lens.
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 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.
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 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.
32 pages, Paperback
First published March 9, 2004
3 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
August 4, 2019
A contemporary North American version of Cinderella, this book is a must-have for your Cinderella picture book collection!
May 2, 2017
I'm not sure the world needed another retelling of the Cinderella story, though this one is not bad. Living in Alaska, poor Cinder can't go to the Silver Salmon Festival because she's go too many fish to clean. An eagle serves as her fairy godmother, and outfits her in the shimmery salmon-skin dress shown on the cover. I love that when she runs off at dawn, she leaves her clunky, rubber fishing boot behind. I don't suppose I'm giving away anything by saying that Cinder marries the prince, and they live happily ever after.
And she never has to clean a fish again.
And she never has to clean a fish again.
October 21, 2020
Lovely retelling of Cinderella set in Alaska, full of cultural and regional allusions to life there, and so much salmon I almost want to go see how salmon fishing is like up north. It has funny bits, with the lovely art highlighting the relevant plot points, which seems to have derived from one of the most ancient versions of this tale type, because here the "fairy godmother" is a bird (it reminded me a bit of the Egyptian version).
February 19, 2019
An Alaskan twist to the Cinderella story. Two brothers instead of sisters.
February 10, 2020
This is an Alaskan version of Cinderella where everything in it from an eagle being her fairy godmother to Cinder taking a sciff (little motorboat) to the fair and she wears Sitka Slippers (big plain fisherman boots that everyone in SE Alaska wears for their versatility) instead of heels and her dress is shimmering silver of fish scales. There is even a Salmon Prince involved.
This is a great book to show how cultures differ in what it important to the people in it.
This is a great book to show how cultures differ in what it important to the people in it.
June 7, 2012
Dwyer, M. (2004). The salmon princess: An Alaska Cinderella story. Seattle, Washington: Sasquatch Books. Unp. Ages 3 and up.
This charming Alaskan twist on the Cinderella story, The Salmon Princess follows the age-old tale. When a turn of events places Cinder in the grasp of a nasty stepmother, who keeps her working and cleaning fish all day, an eagle helps her go to the festival and find her happily ever after. Accompanied by full colored illustrations, this book insights the imagination and is wonderful for the classroom.
Related Activity: Read a collection of Cinderella stories and create a compare/ contrast project.
This charming Alaskan twist on the Cinderella story, The Salmon Princess follows the age-old tale. When a turn of events places Cinder in the grasp of a nasty stepmother, who keeps her working and cleaning fish all day, an eagle helps her go to the festival and find her happily ever after. Accompanied by full colored illustrations, this book insights the imagination and is wonderful for the classroom.
Related Activity: Read a collection of Cinderella stories and create a compare/ contrast project.
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September 14, 2020the salmon princess FICTION
the salmon princess is about a girl named cinder who’s mother died and her father remarried to a woman who made her do all the hard work cleaning salmon. Cinder finds a dress and a way to go to the festival dance she’s been wanting to go to. she meets suspense, excitement, and a prince!
I liked this book for a few different reasons, i love all things princesses and anything that has to do with that, and i also love salmon! i liked how it gave a different version of cinderella’s story and put it into a different perspective. i also like how the book made her sound like a stud and a hard worker.
i think i could use this book in my classroom just because it’s different and gives kids something else to think about when they think about cinderella. they can find out facts about fish if nothing else. it was very easy to follow and not hard to understand!
the salmon princess is about a girl named cinder who’s mother died and her father remarried to a woman who made her do all the hard work cleaning salmon. Cinder finds a dress and a way to go to the festival dance she’s been wanting to go to. she meets suspense, excitement, and a prince!
I liked this book for a few different reasons, i love all things princesses and anything that has to do with that, and i also love salmon! i liked how it gave a different version of cinderella’s story and put it into a different perspective. i also like how the book made her sound like a stud and a hard worker.
i think i could use this book in my classroom just because it’s different and gives kids something else to think about when they think about cinderella. they can find out facts about fish if nothing else. it was very easy to follow and not hard to understand!
October 22, 2019
Genre: Modern Fantasy Grade: K-5
This book had been a remake of Cinderella. Within the book her name had been Cinder. When her mother died her father had remarried. So she had gotten a stepmother and instead of having two stepsisters she had two stepbrothers. When she wanted to go to the carnival that was happening nearby on the island her stepmother had told she can’t go because she smelled like salmon. Her father had agreed with her stepmother which she wasn’t happy about. Thought later that when cleaning the fish a eagle had been soaring above and had made her a salmon dress so she could go to the festival. Later.... she had meet a boy and was very nervous but they had soon connected. As we know she had to leave by midnight, instead of her leaving behind her glass slipper she had left behind her brown boot.
This book had been a remake of Cinderella. Within the book her name had been Cinder. When her mother died her father had remarried. So she had gotten a stepmother and instead of having two stepsisters she had two stepbrothers. When she wanted to go to the carnival that was happening nearby on the island her stepmother had told she can’t go because she smelled like salmon. Her father had agreed with her stepmother which she wasn’t happy about. Thought later that when cleaning the fish a eagle had been soaring above and had made her a salmon dress so she could go to the festival. Later.... she had meet a boy and was very nervous but they had soon connected. As we know she had to leave by midnight, instead of her leaving behind her glass slipper she had left behind her brown boot.
November 27, 2021
This story takes homage to the story of cinderella, but in its own fun way. In this story there is a girl named Cinder who lives in Alaska with her father, step mother and two sons. One day the salmon festival comes into town and Cinder wants to go but she is stuck at home cleaning salmon. When she is gifted a beautiful silver dress she gets the opportunity to go. As she is there she meets a boy and is forced to leave abruptly leaving behind one of her boots and the winning raffle ticket. The boy goes on the hunt to try and find Cinder eventually finding her and then getting married living a happy life as the salmon princess.
October 12, 2022
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Grade range: 3-5
This book would be very meaningful for students that have lived in Alaska or for a unit on Alaska. The story twists the classic Cinderella tale into the context of Alaskan life. There are many parallels that can be found with the Grim Brothers version, so students could spend some time comparing the two texts. It is a simple enough read that grades 5 and up could read it independently. It is not my favorite variation of this story, but i can see the educational value of this text.
Grade range: 3-5
This book would be very meaningful for students that have lived in Alaska or for a unit on Alaska. The story twists the classic Cinderella tale into the context of Alaskan life. There are many parallels that can be found with the Grim Brothers version, so students could spend some time comparing the two texts. It is a simple enough read that grades 5 and up could read it independently. It is not my favorite variation of this story, but i can see the educational value of this text.
March 12, 2024
Since I am in a more northern state, I think this book would pair well in a classroom with northerners who love fishing, and those other blue collar- like things, and it adds some humor to it as well. I think I am a bit biased in my rating due to this. We do a trip to see the alewives in the spring at my middle school, I think this could be a fun Friday activity, easily that week! Or maybe when we do ice breaker activaties in younger years, or do water cycle stuff this could be implemented.
November 28, 2024
Genre: Folk Tale
Grade Level: Pre-k-2nd
I enjoyed reading this book because it was similar to a Cinderella story. There are many different retellings of Cinderella, and this book portrays a girl who had to take care of salmon, who were her friends. It was a fun and adventurous read, making me curious about what comes next. I would highly recommend reading this book and showing future students that there are retells of different stories.
Grade Level: Pre-k-2nd
I enjoyed reading this book because it was similar to a Cinderella story. There are many different retellings of Cinderella, and this book portrays a girl who had to take care of salmon, who were her friends. It was a fun and adventurous read, making me curious about what comes next. I would highly recommend reading this book and showing future students that there are retells of different stories.
October 23, 2017
4-6; modern fantasy; I don’t even to know where to begin with this one. If it wasn’t for my professor providing me the opportunity to read this book I don’t think I would have ever picked it up. I am so thankful she did though! What a complete 180 from the original Cinderella story! I love how the characters are closely related to modern every day people versus loyalty.
December 3, 2017
Genre: Traditional Literature
Grades: K-3
This was a weird book. I did not like it at all. It is supposed to be an Alaskan twist on the story of Cinderella, but it hardly follows the story line (at least not very well). However, it was neat that on every single page, there was a salmon included in the illustrations in some fashion.
Grades: K-3
This was a weird book. I did not like it at all. It is supposed to be an Alaskan twist on the story of Cinderella, but it hardly follows the story line (at least not very well). However, it was neat that on every single page, there was a salmon included in the illustrations in some fashion.
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April 23, 2024The Salmon Princess: An Alaska Cinderella Story by Mindy Dwyer offers a unique twist on the classic Cinderella tale set in Alaska. It could be used in class to introduce students to different cultural interpretations of familiar stories or to explore themes of resilience and adaptation in diverse environments.
October 23, 2024
Traditional Literature/Fantasy
PreK-2nd Grade
This Alaskan Cinderella Story was a different kind of Cinderella story that I was not familiar with. The story was a bit different however, the illustrations were beautiful! This story will catch the attention of young readers! This book would be helpful to include during a fairytale unit.
PreK-2nd Grade
This Alaskan Cinderella Story was a different kind of Cinderella story that I was not familiar with. The story was a bit different however, the illustrations were beautiful! This story will catch the attention of young readers! This book would be helpful to include during a fairytale unit.
September 8, 2025
It's always fun to experience different versions of classic fairytales. This one is set in modern Alaska. Cinder cleans and smokes the salmon that her fisherman father catches. The stepmother brought two sons to the marriage rather than more daughters, so they catch even more fish to keep Cinder too busy to attend the fair.
October 23, 2018
The Salmon princess is a tradition literature book for grades 3-4. This is an Alaskan spin on the traditional Cinderella story. This book is very entertaining and was a good read. I think it is neat how well the book tied the Alaskan culture into the book.
June 6, 2020
50 States books Alaska. This was quite a Cinderella stretch. Will teach info about Alaska though. Maybe add a writing lesson to write a Cinderella story from their state project state?
May 2, 2021
This was underwhelming.
May 24, 2021
Y'all this book was my childhood and I remember reading it all the time growing up. I was able to relate to it soooo much more since I was living in Alaska. It's a true gem and it's so cute to me!
July 15, 2021
It was excellent. I liked that it was close to the Cinderella story I know, but that it was different. I like that the girl can walk across salmon!
January 13, 2024
I guess you could call her Salmonella...
Cute children's story. Good illustrations. Fun spin. (:
Cute children's story. Good illustrations. Fun spin. (:
December 1, 2025
Checked out from Kilbourn Public Library 📚 in Wisconsin (took so long to finish)
July 12, 2024
There are hundreds of cultural variants of the Cinderella story. Two of the earliest such narratives are the Ancient Greek story of Rhodopis from the 6th-century BC and a 9th-century Chinese version, Yeh-Shen. Mindy Dwyer’s
The Salmon Princess
is not a traditional cultural variation of Cinderella; rather, it’s the author-illustrator’s own creative working of it in a non-indigenous Alaskan context.
Dwyer’s heroine, Cinder, named for her gray eyes with a spark of fire in them, is the daughter of a salmon fisherman. The author tells us something of her happy early family life. While Cinder’s father fished, the girl and her mother cleaned and smoked the salmon, singing old songs of miracles and possibilities as they worked. Alas, Cinder’s mother died.
In Dwyer’s telling, Cinder’s father remarries years later. Cinder’s stepmother is a modern woman from south of the 48th parallel, strikingly dressed in purple, a real contrast to Cinder’s mother who’s depicted in trousers, plaid shirt, and kerchief. Instead of stepsisters, Cinder gets two fisherman brothers. They’re not as vindictive as the nasty step siblings in the well-known fairytale, just very greedy.
Cinder’s story revolves not around a ball but the “Silver Salmon Festival”, which includes a dance and a raffle for a prize of real silver bars. Of course, Cinder isn’t allowed to attend, as there are so many fish that need gutting and smoking. Fairy godmothers not being a thing in Alaska, a magical eagle comes to the poor girl’s aid. The bird delivers a shimmering silver dress for Cinder to wear to the festival but is apparently unconcerned about appropriate footwear. No glass slippers in Alaska! Luckily, the long dress supplied hides the girl’s “Sitka Slippers”—rubber boots—one of which is left behind when Cinder later flees the festival to return her silver dress before dawn.
The boy who finds the stranded boot (along with the young woman’s winning raffle ticket) is not a prince, but he is the son of the owner of King Salmon Cannery. He travels to a hundred coastal islands in a 24-hour period to locate the owner of the boot. Of course, he finds Cinder and the two live happily ever after.
While I found Dwyer’s illustrations attractive, I was unimpressed with her narrative. In spite of the sometimes lyrical prose (which seemed a bit forced and precious to me, often drawing on fishing and water metaphors), the telling lacked magic. There’s no spark between Cinder and the boy, for one thing.
There are some wonderful variations on the Cinderella tale: Robert San Souci’s moving Sootface: an Ojibwa Cinderella Story and Shirley Climo’s lovely The Persian Cinderella come to mind. Dwyer’s The Salmon Princess, however, is not in that class. It’s competently told, but I found it uninspired and lacking in charm.
2.5 rounded up (for the illustrations)
Dwyer’s heroine, Cinder, named for her gray eyes with a spark of fire in them, is the daughter of a salmon fisherman. The author tells us something of her happy early family life. While Cinder’s father fished, the girl and her mother cleaned and smoked the salmon, singing old songs of miracles and possibilities as they worked. Alas, Cinder’s mother died.
In Dwyer’s telling, Cinder’s father remarries years later. Cinder’s stepmother is a modern woman from south of the 48th parallel, strikingly dressed in purple, a real contrast to Cinder’s mother who’s depicted in trousers, plaid shirt, and kerchief. Instead of stepsisters, Cinder gets two fisherman brothers. They’re not as vindictive as the nasty step siblings in the well-known fairytale, just very greedy.
Cinder’s story revolves not around a ball but the “Silver Salmon Festival”, which includes a dance and a raffle for a prize of real silver bars. Of course, Cinder isn’t allowed to attend, as there are so many fish that need gutting and smoking. Fairy godmothers not being a thing in Alaska, a magical eagle comes to the poor girl’s aid. The bird delivers a shimmering silver dress for Cinder to wear to the festival but is apparently unconcerned about appropriate footwear. No glass slippers in Alaska! Luckily, the long dress supplied hides the girl’s “Sitka Slippers”—rubber boots—one of which is left behind when Cinder later flees the festival to return her silver dress before dawn.
The boy who finds the stranded boot (along with the young woman’s winning raffle ticket) is not a prince, but he is the son of the owner of King Salmon Cannery. He travels to a hundred coastal islands in a 24-hour period to locate the owner of the boot. Of course, he finds Cinder and the two live happily ever after.
While I found Dwyer’s illustrations attractive, I was unimpressed with her narrative. In spite of the sometimes lyrical prose (which seemed a bit forced and precious to me, often drawing on fishing and water metaphors), the telling lacked magic. There’s no spark between Cinder and the boy, for one thing.
There are some wonderful variations on the Cinderella tale: Robert San Souci’s moving Sootface: an Ojibwa Cinderella Story and Shirley Climo’s lovely The Persian Cinderella come to mind. Dwyer’s The Salmon Princess, however, is not in that class. It’s competently told, but I found it uninspired and lacking in charm.
2.5 rounded up (for the illustrations)
May 31, 2018
Traditional
November 30, 2018
Traditional literature, grades k-3. This was an interesting twist on the classic Cinderella story. I found it to be an interesting read, especially because Alaska is one of my favorite places to visit. While this story wasn’t exactly the same storyline as he tradition Cinderella, I think it made it more interesting. I really enjoyed reading this book.
May 8, 2015
Ages K-3
I...kind of liked this one. I'm still a little uncertain. I liked that it was set in Alaska as you don't read many books set in Alaska. I liked the illustrations. I liked SOME of the parts of the Cinderella retelling.
But I was really hoping it would not be a typical "ends up with a prince" ending. I liked the idea of the boy only trying to find her because she won money with her raffle tickets, but apparently he also fell madly in love with her after one night, as ya do, so they got married and had babies.
I do think this would be useful during a unit on fairy tales (so perhaps I should also shelve this in that category) to talk about different ways of telling a story. I'm not sure how useful it would be during a discussion on various American cultures, because although there are a lot of mentions about some aspects of Alaskan culture, with the boots and the salmon, I'm not sure how useful that information is. I think I would keep looking for a better book set in Alaska for that purpose.
I...kind of liked this one. I'm still a little uncertain. I liked that it was set in Alaska as you don't read many books set in Alaska. I liked the illustrations. I liked SOME of the parts of the Cinderella retelling.
But I was really hoping it would not be a typical "ends up with a prince" ending. I liked the idea of the boy only trying to find her because she won money with her raffle tickets, but apparently he also fell madly in love with her after one night, as ya do, so they got married and had babies.
I do think this would be useful during a unit on fairy tales (so perhaps I should also shelve this in that category) to talk about different ways of telling a story. I'm not sure how useful it would be during a discussion on various American cultures, because although there are a lot of mentions about some aspects of Alaskan culture, with the boots and the salmon, I'm not sure how useful that information is. I think I would keep looking for a better book set in Alaska for that purpose.
June 12, 2015
This story started out great. It had many of those unique Alaska connections and did a great job of creating the characters and backstory. Then, when it came to the meeting of the boy, I felt it lost some of it's flow and it started to seem more like it was trying to fit the pattern than holding it's own. It still had Alaska connections, which was great, but the transitions could have been smoother...perhaps the story could have been a little longer to help with that. Having said that, I still really liked it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews