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Cinderella
Cynthia lives happily with her father in a big city. Happily, that is, until her father falls in love and remarries. Life with Cynthia's new stepmother and stepsisters turns out to be grueling and tiresome. Then the king announces that he will throw a grand ball for all his citizens. Cynthia longs to go, but it doesn't even occur to her stepmother, her stepsisters, or even to herself that she could. Cynthia starts to feel sorry for herself -- until her fairy godmother appears and shows her that she has to take control of the situation -- and her life.
In Cinderella, author Michele Marineau breathes new life into Charles Perrault's timeless classic. Gone are the mouse, the horse and carriage, and the glass slippers, and in their place are a dog chauffeur, a flashy red car, and a modern pointy-toed shoe. Accompanied by charming illustrations by Mylene Pratt, this Cinderella-story is an empowering tale for children to embrace.
In Cinderella, author Michele Marineau breathes new life into Charles Perrault's timeless classic. Gone are the mouse, the horse and carriage, and the glass slippers, and in their place are a dog chauffeur, a flashy red car, and a modern pointy-toed shoe. Accompanied by charming illustrations by Mylene Pratt, this Cinderella-story is an empowering tale for children to embrace.
- GenresPicture BooksFairy Tales
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2007
1 person is currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Michèle Marineau
23 books19 followersMichèle Marineau est une romancière québécoise. Elle a ensuite amorcé une double carrière de traductrice et d'auteure de livres pour la jeunesse.
Michèle Marineau is a two-time Governor General’s Award winner. Marineau studied medicine, art history, and translation at the University of Montreal before she became a writer. After she began writing, she started translating the works of other authors. Her first novel, Cassiopée: L’été polonais, was published in 1988. Her books have been translated and published in Canada, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Spain.
Michèle Marineau is a two-time Governor General’s Award winner. Marineau studied medicine, art history, and translation at the University of Montreal before she became a writer. After she began writing, she started translating the works of other authors. Her first novel, Cassiopée: L’été polonais, was published in 1988. Her books have been translated and published in Canada, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Spain.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 11, 2021
More modern retelling with Cinderella getting to the ball in a car and being called Cynthia. Possibly more ethical version since the coachmen and horses were made out of things like a tomato, raisins, and yogurt.
July 12, 2019
cute, modern take on a favorite classic
October 20, 2009
This is a modern retelling of the classic Cinderella story written by Michele Marineau and Mylene pratt. The main character is Cynthia who lives in the city with her widowed father. He falls in loves with and marries an unkind woman who brings her two lazy daughters to live with them. While Cynthia does all the housework they just watch TV and sleep. They start to call her Cinderella because after working so hard all day she curls up in front of the fireplace with only the cinders to keep her company. When the king throws a grand ball to which the whole family is invited Cynthia cannot go because as her stepmother says “she has too much to do.” Her long forgotten fairy godmother sees how depressed Cynthia is and sets her up for the ball. She is driven there in a tomato car by a dog driver. She leaves the ball right at midnight after dancing all night with the prince. As she runs out she loses her shoe. The prince retrieves it and hangs signs up looking for the owner of the lost shoe. After going through endless feet he finds the owner and they marry.
I liked the modern components of this story. The modern day city setting with the lazy stepsisters watching TV all day was different. I think that kids could use this as a reference if they were writing their own retelling of a traditional story.
I liked the modern components of this story. The modern day city setting with the lazy stepsisters watching TV all day was different. I think that kids could use this as a reference if they were writing their own retelling of a traditional story.
February 14, 2016
Kind of a confusing story. It's supposed to be modernized, in a city, and there are television and high-rises. But there's still a king. And the sisters are referred to as both half-sisters and stepsisters at different points, so that's just bad editing. Doesn't really add anything to the hundreds of existing Cinderella stories.
September 10, 2016
My little boys and I found the drawings of pantyhose about to be put on and pink panties on the following page unnecessary and distracting. Other than that, it was a fun variation of the classic story.
October 15, 2010
My girls loved that she drove in a tomato car with a dog for a driver! Cute story!
May 2, 2017
This is kind of a modern Cinderella. This book is funny because all of Cinderella's coach and things are made out of stuff she and the Fairy Godmother find in the refrigerator. I will give this book 4 stars.
Grade Equivalent: 2.5
Lexile: 600L
Grade Equivalent: 2.5
Lexile: 600L
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews