Ella's Big Chance: A Jazz-Age Cinderella

by Shirley Hughes

The classic story of Cinderella gains even more charm in this glamorous retelling by world-famous picture book writer and illustrator Shirley Hughes.
Ella Cinders loves helping her father in his dress shop and laughing with her friend Buttons, the store's delivery boy. Then comes the terrible day when her father remarries and everything changes. Her stepmother makes her sew in the dreary basement. Her stepsisters mock her shabby dress. And to top it off, the new Mrs. Cinders forbids Ella to attend the duke's grand ball. Heartbroken, Ella is sure that her life will never be what she dreamed. But with the help of a fairy godmother and some sparkling courage of her own, this Cinderella discovers that dreams can come true in the most unexpected of ways.
Join Ella amidst the dazzle and fashion of the roaring twenties as she takes happily ever after into her own hands!

Genres: Picture Books, Cinderella, Fairy Tales, Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Shirley Hughes is the illustrator of more than two hundred children’s books and has won many prestigious awards, including the Kate Greenaway Medal twice. She is the author-illustrator of DON'T WANT TO GO! and OLLY AND ME 1 2 3. She died at her home in London on the 25th of February, 2022.

Reviews

[Marquise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great art by Shirley Hughes for this retelling of Cinderella in the 1920s. It mostly only updates the plot with elements from a more recent era and changes the outcome rather than completely retell the story to be entirely realistic as I thought would be given the period setting, but it still keeps its magical aspects, like the fairy godmother and the glass slipper.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite Shirley Hughes books. She's managed to bring a different twist to a well loved fairy tale, which is very appealing. As always her illustrations are excellent; the book will please adults and children alike.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. I really liked this retelling! There's more than just the setting/era that is different, though... The ending had a definite twist! I admit that I wasn't that huge a fan of the illustrations, though I certainly appreciated their merit and they did fit nicely with the story. Also, I felt a tad bad for "Prince Charming" -- though I can't say why unless I spoil the ending for you!!! But, the story was told really beautifully--just a very warmhearted sort of tale and I absolutely loved the jazz age setting and that Ella works in a clothing design store. The clothes are inspired by the famous French designers of the '20s. ("House of Elliot"--ANNIE, you must read this!) I'll be looking for more by Shirley Hughes.


See this list for more Cinderella tellings:
http://www.amazon.com/Everything-Cind...

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A retelling of Cinderella if the story had taken place in the roaring 20's. Beautiful, colorful illustrations of fashionable dresses from back then that would excite any child who likes playing dress-up. Great vocab words in the story as well.

[Oshin Desu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending isn't like I always expected. AND I LOVE IT

[Literary Strawberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buttons <3 this was so cute

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this twist on the traditional fairy tale of Cinderella. To fully understand this story, children will also need knowledge of Alladin. I think children would enjoy spotting the similarities and differences between this version of Cinderella and the traditional one. Children could then plan and write their own versions, changing yet more details.

The illustrations really add to the story, especially the use of colour for the dresses and moods. Some illustrations are boxed in, some escape the box, and some are whole page illustrations. I particularly like the double page spread showing Ella's transformation back into her usual self at midnight, which is shown very cleverly in three stages, like a comic strip. There is plenty of book talk to be had here about the illustrations.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary/A Thoughtful Review:
This version of Cinderella, set in the 1920's Jazz Era, tells the story of Ella Cinder, seamstress and daughter of dress shop owner, Mr. Cinder. After her mother died, she and her father have lived and worked happily together, along with their delivery boy and friend, Buttons. Ella and Buttons build a friendship, laughing, singing, and dancing together. In not to long, her father remarries an evil stepmother, Renee, who attempts to take over the family business, forcing Ella to work even harder, in the dismal basement. Stepsisters, Ruby and Pearl, tease and taunt Ella, forcing her to do everything, as well. After being invited to the Duke of Arc's grand ball, the woman go over the top in preparations by Ella and forbid her from going. Ella's father has lost all control in the situation and merely says, "You see how it is. There is nothing I can do." Buttons consol's Ella, offering to make her dinner, but is surprised by an unexpected visitor, the Fairy Godmother, who transforms Button's bicycle into a "gleaming limousine," the cat into a "smart chauffer," and Ella's rags into a silver ball gown, "glittering all over with silver beads." As the story goes, Ella arrives at the ball, unrecognizable to all, meets and dances with the Duke, but hurries away, dropping a slipper at midnight. So, when the Duke travels from house to house in search of "the girl who had worn the glass slipper," her notices the servant standing in the corner shadows of the Cinder's house. When the shoe fits, does Ella accept or decline his proposal?
The setting of this story, the 1920 Jazz Era, plays a prominent role in the story's events and themes. Historically, the 1920's were roaring, alive, and full of independence for both men and women. Here, we meet Ella, a strong woman character, determined to better herself and her life, yet not willing to take the "easy street." Again, Shirley Hughes, author and illustrator, challenges the original Cinderella story in a way that builds on strong characters and their motives. The bright and bold illustrations also depict this time of glimmer and shine in fashion. A beautiful story all around!

[bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god I loved this so much!!!
I am so happy Ella and Buttons ended up together! It makes a lot more sense than her and that-duke-she-hung-out-with-for-one-night. I did, however, think this was going to go a Camila-Cabello-Cinderella direction and have the Duchess of Arc offer Ella a job as a seamstress to work so that she and Buttons could be financially taken care of, but it's okay. I guess my only concern coming out of this story is how they will support themselves. Although now that I think about it, the shop that her father and stepfamily run is said to do very well, so now that the father has finally grown a pair and stopped letting the stepmother walk all over him, perhaps he has given Ella and Buttons money so they can make a downpayment on their new shop and enough money so they can live. Okay, yeah, that makes sense.
I wonder if we would ever see a gender-bent version of this retelling? See: a poor man stays with a poor woman because they love each other. no marrying up. probably not because we never see stories where a poor man is marrying a rich woman.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous twist on the classic Cinderella. The illustrations earned the Kate Greenway Medal for Children's Illustrations. The language is decadent, and the ending is fitting. The girls loved it, too. I did NOT, however, appreciate the evil stepmother being named Renee!

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations. Hughes' people always look like real individuals.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

The classic fairy-tale of Cinderella gets the Jazz-Age treatment in this Kate Greenaway Medal-winning picture book from celebrated English children's author and artist Shirley Hughes. The daughter of a successful dressmaker, Ella becomes a talented seamstress and dressmaker herself, living a happy life with her widowed father and her good friend Buttons, the shop boy in her father's establishment. But when her father remarries, and her new stepmother, Madame Renée, takes over, everything changes. Now Ella must wait on her vain and lazy stepsisters, Ruby and Pearl, and is reduced to a life of drudgery making all of the shop's clothing, but living in the basement. When the Duchess of Arc invites the family to a ball she is throwing for her son, Ella is not permitted to attend, until her umbrella-toting godmother shows up and provides her with the transport and clothing needed. Not surprisingly, Ella enchants the duke, who seeks her out when she flees at midnight, leaving behind her glass slipper. But is Ella in love with the duke? Or does she have someone else in mind...?

Awarded the 2003 Kate Greenaway Medal, the UK's most prestigious illustrator's award, Ella's Big Chance: A Jazz-Age Cinderella is an absolute delight, from an aesthetic perspective. I loved Hughes' artwork here, with the wonderful Jazz-Age clothing and settings, the delightfully expressive characters, and the overall composition on each page. Some of the artwork is in full color, but there are also charming little black and white illustrations throughout, in the vertical boxes containing the text on each page. I appreciated the fact that Ella's stepsisters are depicted as rail thin, whereas the more attractive and appealing Ella is more full-figured. Not plump, but not excessively slim either. The story itself was engaging, and felt like a real retelling, in another place and time, with details that were true to that time. I would consider this a fractured fairy-tale, as well as a transplanted one, because the ending has been changed, but even there I found myself pleased, despite not usually liking retellings that meddle too much with the story in question. Here I strongly felt from the beginning that Ella belonged with Buttons, who had been a faithful friend to her, so I was happy to see that ending come to be. All in all, a wonderful fractured/transplanted retelling of this tale type! The only similar retelling I can think of, that equals it in my estimation, is Nancy Willard and Barry Moser's Hudson Valley version of Beauty and the Beast . Recommended to young fairy-tale fans, particularly those who appreciate unconventional retellings, as well as to those who appreciate stories in which fashion, and the art of making clothing, is an important element.

[McCleary · Rating 5 out of 5]

_Ella's Big Chance_ by Shirley Hughes won the Kate Greenaway Medal for a very good reason! I have hardly ever seen illustrations as beautiful as these. I literally gasped out loud at many of them! The story was a quirky and unique take on Cinderella that I also loved. I think this story is intended for older elementary school children. As opposed to younger readers, older students may understand the parallel between this book and Cinderella a little better. In addition to that, there were multiple paragraphs per page, which makes this book perfect for older elementary readers. The illustrations in this book were absolutely gorgeous. I think they were done with very pigmented watercolors and then details were drawn over top with a pen. Every spread was beautiful, but one I especially loved was when Ella got to the ball. There were so many vibrant colors, but it looked very blended, too. There were shades of purple, yellow, orange, and white blended together to create the walls, ceiling, and chandeliers, but then very distinctive black lines gave shape to the features of the room. I definitely think the style of this book is impressionist. Impressionist art blurs the lines between colors, which these illustrations definitely had. The illustrations also had a dream-like, airy quality that I also think is characteristic of impressionism. Since this story is a take on Cinderella, I loved the contrast of blended, but bright colors with lines giving a structure to the illustrations' dreaminess. Something physical that made me love this book even more were these little spot art illustrations at the bottom of every page. In the bottom corner of every page, there is a little black and white sketch of what is happening "in between" each scene. For example, when Ella realizes that she can't go to the ball, the small sketch shows Ella's father comforting her. This is such a creative addition to this story! If I were to use this with older children, I would have them compare and contrast this book to the "original" Cinderella and write about their favorite of the two. I am obsessed with these gorgeous illustrations and this creative story! This is a book that I will definitely remember to use with my future students.

[Charlotte S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ella and her father run a dress shop with the shop's delivery boy, Buttons, and are perfectly happy until Ella's father remarries a conniving, deceptive woman. Her two daughters, Ella's new stepsisters, are mean and tease her every chance they get. The only highlight of her day is when she gets to talk with Buttons. When she thought her life couldn't get any worse, Ella's stepmother forbids her to go to the duke's ball and forces her to make elaborate gowns for her daughters. Will Ella get to go to the ball? This is my favorite version of Cinderella out there by far. I love the illustrations so much. I also love the twist at the end!
✨SPOILERS BELOW!✨
I love how Ella doesn't end up falling for the prince but for Buttons. I thought that was really sweet and it made a very nice ending! Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for more fun book recommendations!

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book serendipitously ended up on the top of our library stack the night after we had just seen a live performance of Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. Needless to say, my son's interest was higher than it might have otherwise been.

This story was a bit on the long side for reading aloud, but we loved the way the Cinderella story was adapted and told here. The illustrations were fun too! Recommended.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious and heartwarming Cinderella retelling, set in the 1920's. But THIS Cinderella pushes against type in several ways. I loved that she was short and curvy with frizzy red hair - about as far away from the typical standard of flapper beauty as possible, but of course, she still outshines everyone at the ball. And then, a fun twist at the end after the shoe fitting.

Also - loved the disgruntled cat!

[Joelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The illustrations in this picture book were beautiful (and award winning). I found this version of Cinderella to be a welcome departure from the earlier, more well-known versions. The twist at the end is likely more applicable to most people's lives and serves as an important message to all readers.

[CandC · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the retelling of the classic Cinderella. There were a few differences, obviously, the setting and era but also the relationship between father and daughter as the father is still alive and the twist at the end. Great book to introduce children to the jazz era. I enjoyed the illustrations and they gave my kids a taste of the 20s style.

[Deidra Chamberlain · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art is beautiful, but since she reworked the story anyway I think it would have been more powerful if Ella took responsibility for how she dressed. She was a dressmaker after all, and she liked her work until she was overworked. She could have dressed in a practical outfit, and that would have been why she appeared less glamorous than the sister models.

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this Cinderella story. Several twists from the original fairy tale, including an original ending that makes it even better than the original! The illustrations struck me as not great ... until I realized they were, indeed, telling the story as well, helping me to like certain things and dislike others. Great work!

[Slow Man · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, Cinderella with a twist.
As I was reading, I thought it is going to be some recycled material that we all have listened a million times before but thank God for that little twist.
I am smiling now and the smile is getting a little bigger as the seconds go by.

[Orla Bourke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! Shirley Hughes creates a wonderful twist on the popular fairy tale- Cinderella. It has a brilliant plot twist at the end that isn't expected. The story and illustrations in this book are both captivating and beautiful.

[Clara]

This version of the Cinderella story takes place in the 1920s during the jazz-age I liked this one a lot because the main character does not end up marrying the prince but chooses a life long friend. I think I would put this in my primary classroom for a read to self book.

[Ron Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okaaaay. I'm gonna be sassy here. This book appeals to the Hallmark Channel crowd. Old biddies love love loooove this. But kids? I'm thinking not so much. Mostly because it's more of an illustrated short novel than a picture book. But also because the illustrations are rather dated.

[Lee]

The addition of Buttons and his role in the ending makes this a much more satisfying take on Cinderella overall (excluding Just Ella of course). But I'm still gonna make fun of anyone who's first instinct to find their true love is matching shoe size.

[Jeani · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter and I both appreciated that the love she wanted was right there all along, and she had the ability to see it and accept it.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming with stunning pictures.

[Enola Stevenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous retelling of a classic, with such a sweet twist! The illustrations are stunning, too, making it one of those story books that is just as enjoyable for the 'grown up' reader.

[Chrisanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

And old, almost-forgotten favorite. Who can help loving a slightly chubby, shortish Cinderella with rust-colored hair? Worth checking out.

[Tessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one is a big meh from me.