Sumorella: A Hawaii Cinderella Story

by Esther Szegedy (Illustrator), Sandi Takayama

A boy gets help from a magical friend to compete in a sumo wrestling exhibition in this Hawaiian version of Cinderella.

Genres: Cinderella, Picture Books

24 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1997

Reviews

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Interesting that the gender-bent Cinderella starring a young boy is not about going to a ball and meeting a handsome prince, but about achieving financial and personal success via a lifelong career.
There's even a joke made that the magic that gives Sumorella a fancy dress, slippers, and carriage is the "wrong one" for his story and hahah isn't it so funny that he's wearing a dress.
However, he does get married in the end, to a former Miss Hawai'i. But noticeably different in his story, marriage to a beautiful woman is not the life-changer and lifesaver that it is for Cinderella, but merely a perk of his newfound fame and wealth.
If it is considered emasculating for a low-status man to gain power through a high-status woman via marriage, it is interesting that Sumorella is emasculated in other ways in the story (e.g. He is made fun of for being skinny and he is shown looking uncomfortable in a poofy, frilly dress with a flower in his hair and wearing dainty glass slippers).

[Shelby Beasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sumorella is about Mango Boy who wants to be a sumo wrestler more than anything, but he's stuck working the fields all day while his brothers get to train. One day, his "fairy godfather" shows up and teaches him how to be a real sumo wrestler in time for the big fight.
I was born in Hawaii, so Hawaiian versions of fairy tales were a staple of my childhood. I love this story, but I'm still not great at pronouncing all the Hawaiian words.
I would read this along with other cultures' versions of the Cinderella story in a lesson about diversity.

[Linda Heggs · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had high hopes but this screams toxic masculinity to me. I realize I am viewing this as an adult not a child but it still sends out misogynistic vibes. Cinderella: pretty dress, handsome Prince. Sumorella: highest ranking sumo wrestler, successful career and a beautiful woman.
It was published in 1997, which is no excuse, but I understand why it reads like it does.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always try to read different modern and cultural adaptations of the traditional Cinderella story. Having just returned from Hawaii and looking for short books to help me better understand and learn about the state of Hawaii, its land, people, culture, literature and history, this popped up on a search of Hawaii (subject) children’s books.

[Nicole Van Iwaarden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sumorella is the Hawaiian version of Cinderella about "Mango Boy" and his dream to be a sumo wrestler despite his skinny stature and belittling older brothers. The text uses authentic Hawaiian words which helps add to the genuineness of the story and also includes a glossary of these words in the back. This book can be used as a read aloud in the classroom that inspires discussion about other cultures and their differences in language.

[Meadow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has everything; mangos, sumotori, the manapua man, sillyness.

Hazel likes this book a lot and even though it is kind of wordy for a bedtime story it isn't too bad to read over and over again.