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Walt Disney's Cinderella
This is a story about darkness and light, about sorrow and joy, about something lost and something found. This is a story about Love.
Cinderella's story has been told over and over, but never has it been touched by the kind of magic found in this book. Mary Blair painted the original pictures for Walt Disney's incomparable animated film, and here her elegant art is gathered together as a picture book for the first time. Cynthia Rylant's stories about hardscrabble lives have won not only awards and honors, but hearts. Who better to take a young girl from the darkness of her garret room to the light and brilliance of a ballroom?
Together these two great artists have created something quite astonishing: a Cinderella that is breathtaking, heartrending, and joyous, both for those who are coming to the tale for the very first time, and for those who think they know it well.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2007
17 people are currently reading
698 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Rylant
383 books873 followersCynthia Rylant is an American author, poet, and librarian whose deeply felt books for children and young adults have made her one of the most beloved voices in contemporary literature. Writing across picture books, novels, short stories, nonfiction, and poetry, she has published more than one hundred works, many of them rooted in memory, family, solitude, and the emotional landscapes of ordinary life. Her fiction often draws from her upbringing in West Virginia and reflects the textures of Appalachian life with unusual tenderness and clarity.
Raised in modest circumstances, Rylant spent much of her childhood with her grandparents in a rural setting that later became central to her imagination as a writer. Those early years, marked by hardship as well as warmth, shaped the emotional honesty and quiet resilience that define her work. She later studied English and library science, and after working as a waitress, librarian, and teacher, she began publishing books inspired by the world she had known so intimately.
Among her most acclaimed works are Missing May, which received the Newbery Medal, and A Fine White Dust, a Newbery Honor Book. She also earned Caldecott Honors for When I Was Young in the Mountains and The Relatives Came. For younger readers, she became especially well known through the enduring Henry and Mudge series, as well as other popular books and series that combine gentleness, humor, and emotional depth.
Rylant's writing is distinguished by its compassion for lonely, searching, or overlooked characters, and by its reverence for animals, nature, and small human connections. Whether writing about grief, wonder, childhood, or belonging, she brings a lyrical simplicity that resonates across generations. Her books continue to offer comfort, recognition, and beauty to readers of all ages. She remains a singular literary presence in children's literature and beyond today.
Raised in modest circumstances, Rylant spent much of her childhood with her grandparents in a rural setting that later became central to her imagination as a writer. Those early years, marked by hardship as well as warmth, shaped the emotional honesty and quiet resilience that define her work. She later studied English and library science, and after working as a waitress, librarian, and teacher, she began publishing books inspired by the world she had known so intimately.
Among her most acclaimed works are Missing May, which received the Newbery Medal, and A Fine White Dust, a Newbery Honor Book. She also earned Caldecott Honors for When I Was Young in the Mountains and The Relatives Came. For younger readers, she became especially well known through the enduring Henry and Mudge series, as well as other popular books and series that combine gentleness, humor, and emotional depth.
Rylant's writing is distinguished by its compassion for lonely, searching, or overlooked characters, and by its reverence for animals, nature, and small human connections. Whether writing about grief, wonder, childhood, or belonging, she brings a lyrical simplicity that resonates across generations. Her books continue to offer comfort, recognition, and beauty to readers of all ages. She remains a singular literary presence in children's literature and beyond today.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
April 24, 2018
This is a lovely retelling of a classic fairy tale. Beautiful illustrations in very nice colours with decorative pages, very attractive to look through.
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October 19, 2009Thank you, Tyler, for this lovely birthday gift! :-)
I really loved the concept of this story, since I'm a Cinderella fan and a sucker for Disney art, especially the "oldies" and there are some really lovely images here. While I appreciated what Rylant was trying to do with the story, though, it just seemed a bit over-the-top on the sweet/Love (always with a capital "L") destiny stuff--which I usually tend to Love! ( ;-> ) so I am not sure if her execution was off (in my view) or if I was just in an odd mood when I read this. I'm sure to visit it again often for the illustrations and I typically enjoy Rylant's work, so we'll see!
I really loved the concept of this story, since I'm a Cinderella fan and a sucker for Disney art, especially the "oldies" and there are some really lovely images here. While I appreciated what Rylant was trying to do with the story, though, it just seemed a bit over-the-top on the sweet/Love (always with a capital "L") destiny stuff--which I usually tend to Love! ( ;-> ) so I am not sure if her execution was off (in my view) or if I was just in an odd mood when I read this. I'm sure to visit it again often for the illustrations and I typically enjoy Rylant's work, so we'll see!
December 4, 2022
It opens “this is a story about darkness and light, about joy and sorrow, about something lost and something found. This is a story about Love”
Something about Cynthia Rylant’s retelling was truly precious! Very good.
Something about Cynthia Rylant’s retelling was truly precious! Very good.
November 1, 2025
Absolutely beautiful. I really liked the aesthetic of this one.
January 27, 2018
“Who can say by what mystery two people find each other in this great wide world.”
Cinderella is one of my favorites. I love all the details within the story and Disney’s imagination with the characters and objects. I hadn’t ever seen this book before until I was researching talented illustrators. Mary Blair’s work shines light on Walt Disney’s voice. She stays true to the classic disney feel; her images are very beautiful!
Before reading this, I decided to do a little research on the history behind Cinderella. What I found was fascinating! The only other version I had read was the gruesome Brother’s Grimm version and of course Disney. Did you know versions of a Cinderella story have been told since 800 A.D.?! I’m definitely going to have to read those ancient tales!
Cinderella is one of my favorites. I love all the details within the story and Disney’s imagination with the characters and objects. I hadn’t ever seen this book before until I was researching talented illustrators. Mary Blair’s work shines light on Walt Disney’s voice. She stays true to the classic disney feel; her images are very beautiful!
Before reading this, I decided to do a little research on the history behind Cinderella. What I found was fascinating! The only other version I had read was the gruesome Brother’s Grimm version and of course Disney. Did you know versions of a Cinderella story have been told since 800 A.D.?! I’m definitely going to have to read those ancient tales!
August 18, 2025
Lyrical writing and lush art work combine to make this retelling of Cinderella something special.
July 24, 2025
five stars for Mary Blair's beautiful art 💜
February 13, 2010
This is the story I remember reading as a child. It captures the true essence of a girl being swept away by her prince. The story grasps the readers attention on the very first page, "This is a story about darkness and light, about sorrow and joy, about something lost and something found.
This is a story about LOVE." Cinderella wishes for a better life from her awful stepmother and stepsisters. She finds her opportunity when the prince sends an invitation all the fair maidens in the town to his home to meet his future wife. With help from Cinderella's godmother she changes from her raggedy clothes into a beautiful dress and glass slippers. When the clock strikes twelve Cinderella's magical evening comes to an end. As she hurries home, the prince finds the woman he was dancing with has left her slipper behind. The prince finds Cinderella owns the shoe and then get married and live happily ever after. The grade levels I would recommend this book for are readers in the 2-4th grades. Although published in 2007, the latest edition, the illustrations are not updated. The pictures are faint but yet still magical to a reader's eye. Every young girls' dream comes true when Cinderella is saved from her horrible family and into the of a princess. It is a story of love but it also is a story of hope.
This is a story about LOVE." Cinderella wishes for a better life from her awful stepmother and stepsisters. She finds her opportunity when the prince sends an invitation all the fair maidens in the town to his home to meet his future wife. With help from Cinderella's godmother she changes from her raggedy clothes into a beautiful dress and glass slippers. When the clock strikes twelve Cinderella's magical evening comes to an end. As she hurries home, the prince finds the woman he was dancing with has left her slipper behind. The prince finds Cinderella owns the shoe and then get married and live happily ever after. The grade levels I would recommend this book for are readers in the 2-4th grades. Although published in 2007, the latest edition, the illustrations are not updated. The pictures are faint but yet still magical to a reader's eye. Every young girls' dream comes true when Cinderella is saved from her horrible family and into the of a princess. It is a story of love but it also is a story of hope.
February 5, 2010
This version of Cinderella is full of love, magic, and emotion. This story can best be described using the words on the first page of the book: “This is a story about darkness and light, about sorrow and joy, about something lost and something found. This is a story about Love.”
The magic of the story of Cinderella shines throughout this book. It has the same theme of love and shows through the text and illustrations’ the journey one goes through in order to find love. This is a version of Cinderella that is beautifully told, as the text and illustrations alike are both heartwarming and breathtaking, and embody the feeling of magic, joy, and love. When reading, the reader will be able to see the resemblance between the story and the Walt Disney movie. Overall, this story will be enjoyed and shared by all, as it is told in such a way that will warm the heart and not be forgotten. This version is definitely a classic that should be added to any book library.
The magic of the story of Cinderella shines throughout this book. It has the same theme of love and shows through the text and illustrations’ the journey one goes through in order to find love. This is a version of Cinderella that is beautifully told, as the text and illustrations alike are both heartwarming and breathtaking, and embody the feeling of magic, joy, and love. When reading, the reader will be able to see the resemblance between the story and the Walt Disney movie. Overall, this story will be enjoyed and shared by all, as it is told in such a way that will warm the heart and not be forgotten. This version is definitely a classic that should be added to any book library.
April 3, 2011
Just read this to both of my language arts classes. I had read other Cinderella versions such as the Egyptian Cinderella and was surprised to learn that many of my students were not familiar with the traditional Cinderella story (mostly boys). I chose Cynthia Rylant's retelling because Rylant is one of my favorite authors. The illustrations are done by one of the illustrators who created the Disney movie.
Rylant's wonderful words create a conflict between darkness and light; good and evil, love and hate. The illustrator creates pictures that are large backdrops of the setting and in which the characters are small. Which to me means the story is not about the characters but are about the ideas of good and evil, darkness and light.
Rylant's wonderful words create a conflict between darkness and light; good and evil, love and hate. The illustrator creates pictures that are large backdrops of the setting and in which the characters are small. Which to me means the story is not about the characters but are about the ideas of good and evil, darkness and light.
June 28, 2016
Elegant illustrations give this classic story a timeless feel. Many of these illustrations are also featured in another must have Disney book, A Wish Your Heart Makes (reviewed above). The illustrations in this book are signature to the old timeless Disney illustrations that were used prior to bringing an animated movie to life. This is a book we enjoyed.
April 22, 2010
This is not your average Disney storybook. This is not a retelling of a Disney movie; it stands on its own. The illustrations, while based on the movie, also have their own charm and style, and they're definitely worth a look if you're a fan.
October 19, 2017
Can I just have all the Mary Blair illustrated books?
March 9, 2016
Gorgeous illustrations, marvelous storytelling. This isn't your average retelling of a Disney classic. Symbolism, imagery, excellent writing. Love it.
September 30, 2019
This version of Cinderella was one I would strongly recommend to have in a classroom library. First off, the illustrations in this book are very detailed and will keep kids engaged because there is always something else to notice and look at in the pictures while a teacher reads it aloud. It is also a great book for the students to read themselves if they are interested in fairytales. It is a wonderful version of the original tale, while at the same time is not too gruesome for young children, which makes this book better than the other versions that sugarcoat and/or changed the original story to be happy all the way through. I also think that the way the author includes evil, darkness, light, love, sorrow and other emotions realistically depicts life and doesn't depict the life of Cinderella as a joyous and perfect one like other versions. This would be a great book for a class to have rich conversations with; there are multiple cases of symbolism, great imagery, and lessons to talk about with all ages, cultures, and with both boys and girls. I will definitely be wanting a copy of this book in my future classroom so that I can share these lessons and conversations with my students.
November 17, 2019
Cinderella is a modern classic that I grew up watching and reading about. I enjoyed the book from beginning to end as it takes me back to Cinderellas's life as she is stuck dealing with her evil stepmom and stepsisters. It is a great story that a lot of authors have wrote about, but this book especially is by far my favorite version. The illustrations in this book were done so beautifully and with careful details. This book contains a lot of text making it a long children's book, but every piece of information is necessary in order to capture the full picture. I really liked how in-depth this version of Cinderella is because I've read shorter versions of this book that didn't allow me to truly appreciate this story. I would use this book in the classroom as a lesson about modern fantasy because the story of cinderella possesses aspects of magic within this book.
May 12, 2017
Great version to read if you want children to first hear the more traditional version of Cinderella. Other Cinderella books can be read after to compare and contrast how versions of fairy tales differ. Cinderella is the story of a young girl who is mistreated by her step-mother and step-sisters. She is forced to do chores and is not given the same opportunities as her step-sisters. One day a Fairy God Mother approaches her and changes her life, giving her a new dress, stage coach, and glass slippers. She meets Prince Charming at the ball, but must leave quickly before her "riches" magically change back to their original state. Upon losing a slipper at the ball, the Prince eventually finds her and returns the slipper to her. They live, "happily ever after," as all fairy tales end.
March 14, 2018
Because it's "Walt Disney's Cinderella" I was rather surprised to find it a retelling that doesn't involve talking mice and a dress made from a vintage gown and scraps. Instead, what I found was a delightful and poetic (of course...Cynthia Rylant!) tale with a theme of love throughout. The only nods to Disney I could find were the Duke accidentally breaking the glass slipper right before Cinderella could try it on, and the illustrations. The illustrations actually aren't at all what I would expect from a Disney published book, but the artist, Mary Blair, was clearly influenced by Disney's animated film (ie Cinderella's clothes, the King, the Duke, the Fairy Godmother, etc.)
December 30, 2023
I actually really enjoyed this one, though being an illustration snob, these were not my favorite. The text shined for me in this one as it was a bit old-school, but still approachable for today's audiences. Cinderella has always been one of my favorite fairy tales. All you Cinderella haters, you are missing the point: sometimes all we have control of is ourselves and our own character, and sometimes it's enough to change our circumstances. And more: hope is universal, and can triumph over even the most bitter of enemies. It's a lesson that is still very much relevant today, and I found this version of the retelling charming.
March 5, 2024
This lovely picture book was beautifully written. I was expecting it to sound (per the name) more like the movie, but it was more poetic and emotive in certain aspects. And let's not forget the gorgeous illustrations - as expected from one of the designers of the animated film! Even so, she adds more whimsy with her child-like chalk drawings that are full of color and vitality. The only reason I did not rate this more highly is that I felt there were some elements of plot and characterization that were missing. I realize this is a short picture book for children, but I've read several picture books that have hit the mark in both areas. This one fell just a bit short for me.
January 7, 2018
When I saw three Disney books illustrated by Mary Blair in the store, I wanted to buy at least one of them. I love the concept art she made for Disney films. As Cinderella is my favorite fairy tale, the choice wasn't very hard. The book is indeed beautiful. The story is simple, as it should be in such books. Although I do agree with another reviewer here that the language is somewhat over the top here and there, especially the highlighting of the word "love" every time. It makes it sound silly in my head. ;-) But other than that, lovely book.
December 9, 2018
A brief retelling of Disney's Cinderella story.
I liked the changes, as this helped make the Prince into more of a character and less a Deus ex Machina. Can also see this as a stepping stone from the old cartoon version to the live action movie that does a better job building characters and starting a friendship between Ella and the Prince before BAM! insta-love. Also liked that the pictures had nods to the cartoon, with characters looking the same (for the most part), but added a style twist to set the book a little apart.
No content issues.
December 14, 2017
Surprisingly low key. Graphics are retro and not at all cartoon like. Beautifully done and Cinderella is not at all the Disney Princess of the movie and that is a very good thing. The first two pages are even quite poetic. I was prepared to dislike this version. But really, this is a good alternative to the prepackaged version. I am only surprised that Disney's name is on it. I liked it quite a bit.
March 13, 2018
This is the story of Cinderella and how she finds her magical love with a prince. She is mistreated by her stepmom and sisters but when he magical fairy godmother comes and transforms her into a beauty, she goes to the ball and finds love with the prince and gets the love she so longed for. I like this story because it is a story about hope. This fairy tale can be used to teach students that true love will always find each other.
October 28, 2020
2.5 stars
I had high expectations for this because I am a big Cynthia Rylant fan and the artwork is lovely. It's genius of Disney to commission art that integrates into their merchandise yet is artistically fresh and appealing. Unfortunately, the text left something wanting. It had a strong focus on Love with a capital L. Obviously that is a big part of the story, but I thought the fatalistic romance was over the top. This was just okay for me.
I had high expectations for this because I am a big Cynthia Rylant fan and the artwork is lovely. It's genius of Disney to commission art that integrates into their merchandise yet is artistically fresh and appealing. Unfortunately, the text left something wanting. It had a strong focus on Love with a capital L. Obviously that is a big part of the story, but I thought the fatalistic romance was over the top. This was just okay for me.
April 24, 2022
Modern Fantasy
K-2nd
This is a wonderful rendition of a fairy tale that is so well known by all. The artwork in this version of the book is beautiful and I really enjoyed it. I used this book for storytelling, and it was such a fun book that had kids moving closer to hear what happened next. It is a book that I think really highlights that there is always a happiness to be found, even in what may seem to be the darkest of circumstances.
K-2nd
This is a wonderful rendition of a fairy tale that is so well known by all. The artwork in this version of the book is beautiful and I really enjoyed it. I used this book for storytelling, and it was such a fun book that had kids moving closer to hear what happened next. It is a book that I think really highlights that there is always a happiness to be found, even in what may seem to be the darkest of circumstances.
June 27, 2017
This book is about Cinderella. She lived with her evil stepmother and stepsisters and always wore rags. Magically she was able to go to the ball with help from a fairy godmother where she meets prince charming. She loses a glass slipper and he powers wore off at midnight. The prince finally finds her.
I rated this book 5/5 because it is a timeless classic full of imagination and magic!
I rated this book 5/5 because it is a timeless classic full of imagination and magic!
June 7, 2019
"This is a story about darkness and light, about sorrow and joy, about something lost and something found. This is a story about Love."
Isn't that a great way to start a book?
Threaded in the story are wonderful lines such as this one..."Tears have a wondrous magic about them. They often change everything."
You know. Stuff like that!
Isn't that a great way to start a book?
Threaded in the story are wonderful lines such as this one..."Tears have a wondrous magic about them. They often change everything."
You know. Stuff like that!
April 24, 2020
Genre: Traditional Literature: fairy tale
Reading Level: K-2
Reading this story reminds me so much of when I was a child. I always dreamt of being cinderella. The message in this story is clearly to remain kind always and it will work out. Poor Cinderella was not treated well, but eventually she received her happy ending. These happy endings are wonderful for kids!! It expands their imagination and takes them away from the horrors of the world. That is why I love this fairy tale so much, it reminded me of times when I was a kid and I only thought of happy endings!! Please make sure your kids read as many fairy tale happy endings as they can!!
Reading Level: K-2
Reading this story reminds me so much of when I was a child. I always dreamt of being cinderella. The message in this story is clearly to remain kind always and it will work out. Poor Cinderella was not treated well, but eventually she received her happy ending. These happy endings are wonderful for kids!! It expands their imagination and takes them away from the horrors of the world. That is why I love this fairy tale so much, it reminded me of times when I was a kid and I only thought of happy endings!! Please make sure your kids read as many fairy tale happy endings as they can!!
March 25, 2021
A lovely version of Cinderella slightly based off the Disney one. Beautifully told by Cynthia Rylant and superbly illustrated by Mary Blair. Recommend for every Cinderella fan. The only sour note is that some of the illustrations were clearly not meant to fit the large format of this book, and came out blurred as a result.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews