Hilary Knight's Cinderella

by Hilary Knight

Hilary Knight imbues the story of Cinderella with characters of the same humor, zest, and personality that have made generations of children and grown-ups fall in love with his most famous Eloise. A pair of pet cats, a blue fairy godmother, and an endearing, if somewhat overweight, Prince Charming are just a few of the delightful details that dance across these pages—right into readers’ hearts—in this thoroughly charming, sometimes surprising, and always original version of the classic fairy tale.

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

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Hilary Knight writes, "I attribute any abilities I possess to the fact that both my parents are artists and writers. My father, Clayton Knight, is well-known for his aviation paintings and books. My mother, Katharine Sturges, has done fashion drawings, fabric designs as well as many children's books" (The Horn Book, 1968).

Born in Hempstead, Long Island, New York, in 1926. Childhood spent on Long Island and in New York City. Attended Art Students League, New York, where he studied under Reginald Marsh.

The Navy interrupted his studies from 1944 to 1946, but Mr. Knight went on painting -- ships. His own career began when several of his humorous drawings were published in "House and Garden" and "Mademoiselle." His famous illustrations for Eloise by Kay Thompson came out in 1955 followed by several sequels. He has illustrated more than fifty books for children, six of which he wrote himself.

Reviews

[Marquise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read mostly for the illustrations by Hilary Knight, some of the best existing ones for this tale, as the textual retelling itself contains nothing remarkable and is mostly for very young readers.

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like that Cinderella is a brunette and her prince is a redhead because it's different from what we always see...But the thing is that the prince looks like that creepy antique Leprechaun doll.

The illustrations are very unique and darling. The story is a little altered to exclude punishment and we also don't get resolution with the father, is he alive or is he dead?

[Samantha Penrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have owned this book since I was a little girl and I find the illustrations to be as enchanting today as I did then!
The details are exquisite...from hat boxes to cracked plaster, teapots to sewing baskets, the backgrounds demand your attention. The clothing and hairdos are also great fun, especially for a little girl.

You will notice that the "nice" characters (Cinderella, her mom and dad, the prince, and the fairy godmother) are drawn using soft angles, they have rosy complexions and even a slightly plump/rounded stature. The "mean" characters (Step-mother, step-sisters, and even the other young ladies who are eager to try on the glass slipper) are drawn with sharp, pointy angles from their noses, to their hair and clothes.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute rendition of the classic story we so love!

Ages: 3 - 10

[Melissa Powers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hilary Knight's Cinderella by Hilary Knight was published in 1978. This version of Cinderella is similar to the one many of us are familiar with. This version seems to add more humor than other versions. Even the prince charming is not a very good looking prince charming, but a cute lovable prince charming.

This version of Cinderella was enjoyable because I am familiar with the original Cinderella, but it had humorous parts that made me laugh throughout the book.

In the classroom I would use this book for students in grades 1-3. I would read this version aloud to students, then I would read another version of Cinderella out loud. I would have students compare and contrast the two versions to see the similarities and differences between the versions. I would then have a discussion at table groups. Students would discuss the similarities and differences. They will also have to give their opinions of which story they liked better, and why.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to make a story as old and oft-told as Cinderella fresh again. Yet Hilary Knight, best known for his Eloise illustrations, manages to apply his unique wit and familiar illustrative style to the fairy tale while retaining the magic of the original story. Cinderella is lovely, of course, and her nasty sisters are pointy-nosed and outrageously vain. But Knight's depiction of Prince Charming provides a happy departure from tradition: he's pudgy and, well, kind of goofy looking. Modern readers will like Cinderella's slightly more brazen ways, too; although still demure, Cinderella steps right out of the kitchen when the prince arrives at her house with the glass slipper. "Let me try," she says, much to her stepmother and sisters' horror. Astute readers will enjoy picking up on subtle details: the tiny fairy godmother hiding under Cinderella's pumpkin-like stool, Cinderella's mother's gravestone in the front yard, and poor, beleaguered Cinderella's chore list next to the invitation to the Prince's ball. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

[Mikaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been searching every possible database I could think of, because I could not get this artwork out of my mind. I LOVE the way the story flows and I LOVE the characterization of the images. That's what has stuck in my mind since I had this book read to me by my mother. I don't remember when we got it, but I know we've had it a long time. I don't even think we have it anymore. I'm going to make a guess at how many times I've read this book, because I know I didn't pick it up to read everytime. Sometimes I would just flip through it to stare at the pictures.

[Vesper Stamper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE book that taught me how to draw. Hours, days and YEARS copying, as faithfully as I could, every magical dewdrop on Cinderella's gossamer dress...oh! the gestures; the poetry in the balletic forms; the flawless watercolors...now I read my tattered copy to my kids. Hilary Knight is quite possibly my favorite illustrator (though I can leave Eloise back at the Plaza).

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost too cute -- Cinderella looks prepubescent! -- but I really liked the playful mice and cats and other details, as well as the touch of humor added to the spats of the step-sisters. Aside from Knight's sweet, blue-dominant illustrations, this is a pretty standard retelling of the fairy-tale, but I quite liked it.

[Britney Padilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Folktale – Grades 2-3.
Motif - fairy godmother.

This version of Cinderella starts off with Cinderella and her parents living a happy life in a happy village until her mother became ill and passed away. Years later, her father remarries her new stepmother who brings along her two stepsisters. Shortly after, the father dies and Cinderella is made to act as a servant in her own home. They take advantage of Cinderella and give her chore after chore. Cinderella helps her stepsisters dress for the ball and they leave and they do not even thank her. When they all leave, Cinderella remains in the kitchen by the hearth and begins to cry because she wished to go to the ball. Suddenly, her fairy godmother appears and asks her to bring a pumpkin, a fat rat, two mice, and four lizards. Using her magic wand the fairy godmother chants some magic words and a carriage, two footmen, a coachman, and four steeds appear from the previous animals. The fairy godmother then asks Cinderella for a few more objects and makes her a beautiful blue dress and glass slippers. Cinderella is warned to leave the ball by midnight because the spell will then be broken. At the ball, Cinderella immediately catches the prince’s eye and they dance every waltz together. At the stroke of midnight Cinderella flees from the prince leaving behind a glass slipper. The next day the prince led a search for the owner of the slipper. No one seemed to fit their foot into it, not even Cinderella's stepsisters. In the end, Cinderella takes out the other glass slipper. Strengths of this version of Cinderella are the illustrations. The sequencing of the illustrations match the text. The use of color bring out the feeling of the story. For example, when Cinderella is shown with her parents the colors are soft pastel colors and colors darken when the stepmother and stepsisters make their appearance. Also, the moment where the fairy godmother appears the colors all shift to different shades of blue and ends when the clock strikes midnight. The stepsisters are also dressed in dresses that are made up of sharp angles which matches the harshness of their personalities. A weakness in this story was that the illustrations only showed the stepsisters being mean to Cinderella when the stepmother was also said to have been mean as well. The stepmother was only just part of the backgrounds. I would recommend this title due to the clever use of color and the beautiful illustrations to this classic folktale.

[Kendall Peterson]

This book falls under the genre Folktale/Traditional Literature because it is a fairytale. This book is about a merchant, his wife, and their daughter. The merchant’s wife tragically dies and he remarries a woman with two daughters. One day, the merchant goes on a trip and never returns. Leaving his daughter alone with her stepmother and stepsisters. They treat her very poorly. One day they all get invited to the ball, but Cinderella has nothing to wear. She helps her stepsisters and stepmother get ready for the ball, wishing she could go with. Suddenly her fairy godmother appears and assists her in getting ready for the ball. Cinderella attends the ball and dances with the prince until midnight. She leaves her shoe behind and the prince searches the entire town for Cinderella. Finally, he finds her and they get married and Cinderella is generous enough to allow her stepmother and stepsisters to live with them and they never treat her bad again.
I would recommend this book to others. It is another Cinderella story, but it has a good storyline and good, detailed pictures.

[Amara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh, the cover looked so magical that I thought the whole book would look that way. I was kind of put off by the drawings.

And the prince is a fat, soulless ginger. What fairy tale has a prince like that?

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the whimsy and detail of Hilary Knight’s illustrations. Pretty standard Cinderella story, but Knight’s illustrations make it such a delightful read. Really like all the cats hidden in the pictures, and the chubby, dapper prince

[Cassidy Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful traditional tale of Cinderella. Nothing different from the average Cinderella tale we all heard growing up.

[♥♣Mary♦♠ If She So Pleases · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I think the prince isn't very attractive and he actually looks a lot like Cinderella's father. He could have looked a lot better if he was fit.

[superawesomekt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet retelling with lovely illustrations

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations that have stayed with me my whole life.

[Paige Otterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture Book: Beautiful illustrations detailing the classic tale of Cinderella. I would use this as the original Cinderella story to compare with other versions in a language arts lesson.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even as an adult I still love the illustrations in this book! I grew up imagining this is how Cinderella really looked and when I finally watched the Disney version I had difficulty not comparing it to this one. I still want her gown - but only the design from this book will do!

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A traditional Cinderella story written by Hilary Knight, this is a story about a young girl who first loses her mother to illness. Her father remarries a woman with two daughters, but soon after he is lost a sea on one of his merchant ships. The stepmother turns the girl into a servant for her and her two daughters. They call her Cinderella because she huddles near the fireplace for warmth and gets ashes on her clothing. One day an invitation for all single women to attend a ball at the king’s palace because the prince is looking for is future wife. Cinderella gets her stepsisters ready for the ball and they leave. Cinderella is left crying because she wants to go as well. Suddenly her fairy godmother appears and does her magical thing and gets Cinderella to the ball where she meets the prince and everyone lives happily ever after.

I really like this traditional non-Disney version of Cinderella. The story is one I remember from when I was a child and the illustrations are absolutely beautiful. This would be a perfect book for children from Pre-K through second grade.

A teacher could use this in a story study set where you could provide several versions of the story of Cinderella. This set could include stories from different countries and authors. The teacher could have the children do a Venn diagram to compare to versions. A teacher could also have the children write their own version of Cinderella.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilary Knight's drawings (watercolors?) are beautiful and expressive (though Cinderella herself is so graceful and demure that she looks and moves like the offspring of a Precious Moments character). My favorite aspect of it is her splattering of the stepsisters and stepmother in lines and hard angles. Their dresses are full of triangles, the curls in their hair are sharp and crisp (while Cinderella's are wispy), and their postures are straight and gestures fully extended (they don't move a hand without throwing their whole bodies into it). Also, they aren't portrayed as ugly, and the one with pince-nez I find to be particularly interesting in a 'future disapproving librarian' kind of way.

The only drawback is that the whole family seems to have a complete 180 in attitude at the end, as many Cinderella retellings do, though the fairy godmother is also hovering over the scene so she may have magiked the change in their personalities.


THE VERDICT?
A perfectly ordinary retelling that can boast pretty artwork. Cinderella is still distracting, though, with how totally different she moves compared to everyone else, like she's constantly floating through a dream.

[Handan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, so I like this one a little less, but that's because it is basically a straightforward retelling of the story we all know. Stepmother, two stepsisters, one fairy godmother, prince, midnight strikes, shoe found, ta da. The illustrations are very sweet and rounded and border on whimsical. This is a good book to introduce Cinderella, if you're wanting to introduce the main points but want to avoid Disney and you want the version "everybody knows." That said, there are a host of Cinderella-esque tales, and nothing says you have to go with the supposed 'traditional' version.

Let me be clear: There is nothing wrong with this book. It's lovely and light and would make a great bed-time book for little ones. I'm just a fan of looking at finding all the ones that are weird, different, and a little wacky, potentially.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are more Cinderella books out there than you can shake a stick at. If you wanted to, you could buy nothing for your child BUT Cinderella, and you'd still never make a dent in the pile.

This version doesn't have the more flowery language or intricate illustrations of some versions. It doesn't take place in some sort of exotic or unusual setting. There isn't a new take on it, nor is it some variation you've seldom heard of (actually, it puts me in mind of nothing so much as the Disney version!)

What you have is sweet and charming illustrations (and Cinderella looks refreshingly down-to-earth with brown hair falling out of a bun!) and simple language. It's not new or different or fancy... and sometimes, that's what you want.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

noted illustrator Hilary Knight presents his version of Cinderella in a Japanese-style animation, though not as overt as standard Japanese anime. in this story, we see glimpses of Cinderella's parents that are usually alluded to but not often shown. her mother dies and her father goes missing shortly after he remarries. she's left to fend for herself with a rotten stepmother and 2 bratty stepsisters. her fairy godmother is a radiant blue fairy, however the prince who swoons over her is red-haired and pudgy. at the end, once it's revealed that she's the mystery girl at the ball her formerly cruel step-family begs for forgiveness and she grants it to them, which is rather altruistic of her considering the way she was treated previously.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cinderella is truly an awful story. I cringe every time I read it and it gets to the part about the glass slipper. Just the transparent message of good women are dainty makes me so angry!

But I love fairy tales, so I'm conflicted. This one is very sweetly illustrated. I like the creepy details, like spiders and snakes, hidden within an otherwise feminine little world. I don't know why the prince has to be such a goofy-looking chubster, especially being one so concerned with beauty, but whatever.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why I didn't steal this one when I left home, I don't know. I still can picture the illustrations from several of the pages of this book. They're lovely. I'm going to have to rebuy this, so I have it for my imaginary children.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very impressed with this version of the classic fairytale. The illustrations are wonderful and it lacks the saccharine sweetness of the Disney version. I really enjoyed reading this one aloud to our girls.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My FAVORITE version of this story!!! The illustrations are stunning!!! I still think about the costumes when I think about Cinderella's story! The prince is not attractive, but everything else is!!! :-D

[Ashley]

This book is similar to the traditional Cinderella story, however, it provides unique characters and vivid illustrations in its pages.
This book is an excellent book for whole group story time - the students will love the uniqueness of this version.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations in this are gorgeous. I could spend hours poring over all the detailed artwork. The story, however, was not my favorite retelling of this story. The prose was choppy, to the point that I actually checked to see if I had skipped a page a few times.