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The Other Side of the Story
Seriously, Cinderella Is SO Annoying!: The Story of Cinderella as Told by the Wicked Stepmother
OF COURSE you think Cinderella was the sweetest belle of the ball. You don't know the other side of the story. Well, let me tell you...
24 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2011
794 people are currently reading
786 people want to read
About the author
Trisha Speed Shaskan
67 books90 followersAs an author of 50 books for children, Trisha Speed Shaskan carries her childhood dreams into her adult life. With the upcoming picture book Trisha wrote THE ITTY-BITTY WITCH illustrated by Xindi Yan, Trisha celebrates Halloween, magic, brooms, witches, and self-empowerment. Trisha is also the author of the picture book PUNK SKUNKS and graphic novel series Q & RAY, which are illustrated by her husband Stephen Shaskan. When Trisha isn't writing stories, she loves to laugh, travel, and spend time with her dog Beatrix and husband Stephen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 276 reviews
January 7, 2018
I like the idea of a fairy tale being told from another characters point of view, but we miss out on SO MUCH of the fun with this version, as the stepmother isn't around to see Cinderella's fairy godmother, and the pumpkin coach, etc. I guess that was the main problem with this: it wasn't fun.
January 22, 2021
*Read for free with Kindle Unlimited*
Cute :) Not as funny as I thought it would be but still amusing.
The artwork was well done, cute and bright 🌞.
Artwork: 3.5 stars 🌟
Story: 3 stars 🌟
Wouldn't mind seeing DisneyPlus series with these type of stories. Bet they would come up with sone good ones.
Cute :) Not as funny as I thought it would be but still amusing.
The artwork was well done, cute and bright 🌞.
Artwork: 3.5 stars 🌟
Story: 3 stars 🌟
Wouldn't mind seeing DisneyPlus series with these type of stories. Bet they would come up with sone good ones.
May 7, 2020
Free for Prime members! (5-6-20)
I’m not gonna lie, the twist was pretty funny and believable for this realm of make-believe.
I’m not gonna lie, the twist was pretty funny and believable for this realm of make-believe.
May 18, 2025
Omg, how have I not discovered this series yet? It's my favorite important theme! I will look for them all, whether or not this is great....
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It wasn't great, but it was very well worth reading! I love that the stepmother isn't as wicked as in the classic versions, but is no paragon of loving kindness either.
Believe Me, Goldilocks Rocks!: The Story of the Three Bears as Told by Baby Bear by Nancy Loewen
Trust Me, Jack's Beanstalk Stinks!: The Story of Jack and the Beanstalk as Told by the Giant by Eric Braun
Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten!: The Story of Little Red Riding Hood as Told by the Wolf by this author.
And probably other books by all three!
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It wasn't great, but it was very well worth reading! I love that the stepmother isn't as wicked as in the classic versions, but is no paragon of loving kindness either.
Believe Me, Goldilocks Rocks!: The Story of the Three Bears as Told by Baby Bear by Nancy Loewen
Trust Me, Jack's Beanstalk Stinks!: The Story of Jack and the Beanstalk as Told by the Giant by Eric Braun
Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten!: The Story of Little Red Riding Hood as Told by the Wolf by this author.
And probably other books by all three!
October 25, 2012
Everyone knows the story of Cinderella and her evil stepmother and stepsisters, but maybe just maybe there is more to the story. Maybe Cinderella is not as innocent as she seems. According to her stepmother Cinderella never stops talking and the only reason she had to stay home from the ball was because she was sick. Could that be the truth?
I would recommend this story to teachers who want their students to learn that there is always more then one side to a story. For teachers of older students this would be a great book to start a writing assignment from.
Shakan, T.S. & Guerlais, G. (2012). Seriously, Cinderella is so annoying!: the story of Cinderella as told by the wicked stepmother. Mankato, Minn.: Picture Window Books.
I would recommend this story to teachers who want their students to learn that there is always more then one side to a story. For teachers of older students this would be a great book to start a writing assignment from.
Shakan, T.S. & Guerlais, G. (2012). Seriously, Cinderella is so annoying!: the story of Cinderella as told by the wicked stepmother. Mankato, Minn.: Picture Window Books.
February 19, 2021
A hilarious version of the Cinderella story told from the stepmother's POV, suggesting she wasn't so wicked after all.
October 24, 2021
Reading Source: Kindle, Prime Reading (Free).
Content: Ebook
Length: 15 Pages
(Details actual Length is 24 Pages).
It was a quick read and a little funny.
It is told from the stepmother’s perspective. But, imagining from her point of view on cinderella.
She really did talk a lot and most would not believe her stories. I do like this version of the story, but Cinderella fairytale is still my fave because I grew up on it and it is a fairy tale. Cinderella remakes or different versions are always nice to see as the years go by.
A good learning childs book and discussion about other characters point of views in a story.
Content: Ebook
Length: 15 Pages
(Details actual Length is 24 Pages).
It was a quick read and a little funny.
It is told from the stepmother’s perspective. But, imagining from her point of view on cinderella.
She really did talk a lot and most would not believe her stories. I do like this version of the story, but Cinderella fairytale is still my fave because I grew up on it and it is a fairy tale. Cinderella remakes or different versions are always nice to see as the years go by.
A good learning childs book and discussion about other characters point of views in a story.
September 30, 2013
Book Title: Seriously, Cinderella is so Annoying!
Short Description of the Book: In this story, the story of Cinderella is retold but from the point of view of the Wicked Stepmother.
FOCUS: Narrative Features I would Use in a Mini-Lesson:
1)Point of View: I would use this story to encourage students to think about how a story is different when it is told from different points of view. This particular story uses humor to show the entire Cinderella story from the view of the Wicked Stepmother. The author portrays the Wicked Stepmother as a misunderstood character who really does care for Cinderella.
TEACH: CCSS Connection:
4.W.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
**1. Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
**2. Use dialogue and description to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
3. Use a variety of transitional words and phrases to manage the sequence of events.
4. Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.
5. Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.
Mini Lesson-
1-Have students share the story elements from the classic Cinderella story. Allow students to turn and talk with their writing partner to share how they predict the story will be different when told from the Wicked Stepmother’s point of view.
2-Read aloud the book. Use a double bubble map (Venn Diagram) to compare the two stories. Have students reference the text when sharing the differences.
3-Ask students to share ways that other fairy tales could be different from a different characters’ point of view. Ask students to explore the idea of telling a story from a different point of view while they are writing today. Encourage them to explore a fairy tale they are familiar with, or a narrative story that they have recently written.
4-Allow share time at the end of workshop and an author’s chair time as well.
EXPECTED OUTCOME: Students will recognize how the narrator’s point of view can change the story dramatically. Students will be able to use dialogue and description to develop events and/or show the responses of characters to situations. I hope that my students will be able to write one of their personal stories from a different point of view, or be able to rewrite a fairy tale that they are familiar with from a different character’s point of view.
Short Description of the Book: In this story, the story of Cinderella is retold but from the point of view of the Wicked Stepmother.
FOCUS: Narrative Features I would Use in a Mini-Lesson:
1)Point of View: I would use this story to encourage students to think about how a story is different when it is told from different points of view. This particular story uses humor to show the entire Cinderella story from the view of the Wicked Stepmother. The author portrays the Wicked Stepmother as a misunderstood character who really does care for Cinderella.
TEACH: CCSS Connection:
4.W.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
**1. Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
**2. Use dialogue and description to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
3. Use a variety of transitional words and phrases to manage the sequence of events.
4. Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.
5. Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.
Mini Lesson-
1-Have students share the story elements from the classic Cinderella story. Allow students to turn and talk with their writing partner to share how they predict the story will be different when told from the Wicked Stepmother’s point of view.
2-Read aloud the book. Use a double bubble map (Venn Diagram) to compare the two stories. Have students reference the text when sharing the differences.
3-Ask students to share ways that other fairy tales could be different from a different characters’ point of view. Ask students to explore the idea of telling a story from a different point of view while they are writing today. Encourage them to explore a fairy tale they are familiar with, or a narrative story that they have recently written.
4-Allow share time at the end of workshop and an author’s chair time as well.
EXPECTED OUTCOME: Students will recognize how the narrator’s point of view can change the story dramatically. Students will be able to use dialogue and description to develop events and/or show the responses of characters to situations. I hope that my students will be able to write one of their personal stories from a different point of view, or be able to rewrite a fairy tale that they are familiar with from a different character’s point of view.
February 3, 2017
A cute little twist on the story we all know. This is more of a comical, wholesome take on the story so no one is left looking like the evil villain. It was free on Prime so I figured why not.
Recommended for ages 2-8 maybe, definitely a good pick for a quick bedtime read with your little one.
Recommended for ages 2-8 maybe, definitely a good pick for a quick bedtime read with your little one.
August 15, 2012
This was a great exercise in viewing the other side of the story! I especially like the ideas at the back of the book as an example of distinguishing the differences in both the classic tell and the stepmother's version. This would be a great storytime lesson for elementary age kiddos
May 22, 2017
I didn't expect an illustrated version with very few pages. The book would have been hilarious if it was written like a novel. I liked the way they told about why Cindy is so annoying because I found all those things annoying while watching the movie 😁😁 It was good. But not that good. Cindy darling, only 2 stars for your step-mom!
July 31, 2017
POV is everything
November 18, 2022
Content: Clean
It's not my favoritretelling to put it nicely... and I'm known for having a lot of Cinderella retellings.
It's not my favoritretelling to put it nicely... and I'm known for having a lot of Cinderella retellings.
February 13, 2022
It's Cinderella but we follow the stepmother's POV. It's lowkey hilarious.
Such beautiful illustrations too!
Such beautiful illustrations too!
January 4, 2023
This was a cute book to teach POV
December 4, 2025
This story follows the "other side" of the typical Cinderella story we all know and love. This story is told through the POV of the "evil" stepmother. This book did not win any specific awards, however it is one of the most recommended stories on the Fractured Fairy Tales list for it's humor and originiality and a great way to bring in a different point of view to a classic fairytale students know and love.
This story is again told through the point of view of the evil stepmother when she marries Cinderella's father and her and her daughters (the evil stepsisters) move in. They immediately notice that Cinderella's father gets away as quick as possible when they arrive and they also notice how Cinderella will not stop talking and telling stories.
This story puts a twist on the original story of Cinderella being given all these chores to do and her stepmother making her stay home from the ball. However, the story tells it how Cinderella lost her voice and her stepmother made her stay home for her health and she made her do all these chores to keep her from constantly telling stories.
I would recommend this book for 2nd grade and up. I feel that this book would be a great example how characters can experience stories through their own point of view. I would recommend a type of point of view activity or writing activity that involves students comparing the classic tale of Cinderella and this story. Seeing how they can compare and contrast different points of view. If this were done as a writing activity, students could write their own points of view on the story or how they would feel if they were put into the point of view of either Cinderella or the stepmother.
This story is again told through the point of view of the evil stepmother when she marries Cinderella's father and her and her daughters (the evil stepsisters) move in. They immediately notice that Cinderella's father gets away as quick as possible when they arrive and they also notice how Cinderella will not stop talking and telling stories.
This story puts a twist on the original story of Cinderella being given all these chores to do and her stepmother making her stay home from the ball. However, the story tells it how Cinderella lost her voice and her stepmother made her stay home for her health and she made her do all these chores to keep her from constantly telling stories.
I would recommend this book for 2nd grade and up. I feel that this book would be a great example how characters can experience stories through their own point of view. I would recommend a type of point of view activity or writing activity that involves students comparing the classic tale of Cinderella and this story. Seeing how they can compare and contrast different points of view. If this were done as a writing activity, students could write their own points of view on the story or how they would feel if they were put into the point of view of either Cinderella or the stepmother.
October 18, 2021
As I was searching for interesting versions of the traditional tale of Cinderella, I found a video on Youtube with an interesting title. It was, ¨Seriously, Cinderella is SO Annoying: The Story of Cinderella as Told by The Wicked Stepmother¨ by Trisha Speed Shaskan and illustrated by Gueralis. I found the title and cover page to be very intriguing. Instead of the narrator being from the 3rd person point of view with Cinderella as the main character, the story of Cinderella is told by the Wicked Stepmother in 1st person point of view.
I watched a Youtube video read-aloud of the text and found it to be very entertaining. The evil Stepmother isn’t so evil anymore when you hear the story from her point of view. She married Cinderella’s dad who quickly left on a business trip which left her and her twin daughters to listen to Cinderella tell stories all day and all night. She would never stop talking, it was so annoying to them. The house was so dusty and messy that they tried to give Cinderella tasks to help clean just so that they could have some peace and quiet but she finished each of the tasks so quickly that they didn’t know what to do with her and she would go right back to jabbering again.
When the invitation to the ball came from the prince, Cindy, as her Wicked Stepmother refers to her, was horse because of all of her storytelling and wasn’t feeling well so she ordered her to stay home so that she would feel better. Then some beautiful girl showed up at the ball in an amazing ball gown that the Wicked Stepmother adored. Finally, when the prince came around the next day, she wanted the glass slipped to fit the feet of her daughters so that they could get married to the prince, but was happy when Cindy became his bride ultimately because it took her off of their hands. In a humorous illustration of their wedding, the prince is shown sweating once he got to know the annoying Cindy better. The final page reads, ¨A few days later, the prince married Cindy. Poor man. He had no idea what he was getting himself into. But we lived happily ever after!¨. Cindy is pictured in the middle of a long conversation with the prince and the Wicked Stepmother and the Wicked Stepsisters are high fiving and laughing. I like this ending to the story because traditional tales, ¨often have ritual openings and closings to set the story apart from day-to-day speech¨ (CBICH pg. 191). This is a ritual ending to the story with a twist. No longer are Cinderella and the Prince the ones that are living happily ever after per the norm, but the Stepmother and Stepsisters live happily ever after without the annoying Cindy.
I enjoy this new take on the traditional tale. In Children’s Books in Children’s Hands it states that, ¨writers and illustrators can create interesting effects by playing a new take on a story against the familiar one the reader already knows.¨ Instead of the story being focused on Cinderella, it is fun to hear a different perspective where the Wicked Stepmother and Stepsisters have more personalities besides being just evil and selfish, though they still are slightly in this version. It is also a fun twist to have Cinderella be annoying to others since she is always portrayed as being perfect in the traditional Cinderella tale. It is a nice addition to this traditional tale to add some depth to the Wicked Stepmother character. ¨Main characters in folktales are contrasted in the extreme--they are either very good or very bad¨, and ¨folktales introduce very good characters and very bad characters and run them through a sequence of events as the problem is presented, attempts to solve it are tried, and a solution is found. In other words, folktales give prominence to plots¨ (CBICH pg. 193). It is refreshing to have a version of a traditional tale where the main character is not just always good or always bad, perfect or evil. It makes the Stepmother a more dynamic character as well as Cindy who isn’t just beautiful, nice and perfect.
I also found it interesting that Cinderella is pictured as a redhead and the prince has darker skin and darker hair. This is consistent with the other version of the traditional tale of Cinderella that I read, Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood. When I picture Cinderella and the Prince, I view them as they were depicted in the Disney Movie: Cinderella has extremely light skin, light colored eyes and blonde hair. The Prince has dark brown hair, light brown eyes and still fairly light skin. I wonder why both of the texts that I read were consistent but the Disney depiction is not. I like that these texts illustrate the characters so that they don’t just fit in with the majority viewpoint of what princesses and princes should look like. I wonder if the original Cinderella tale describes them as so or more like the Disney version. I am disappointed in Disney for changing this part of the story, if that is the case.
Finally, this text could be used for many classroom instructional purposes. It could be used to compare and contrast character traits of the main characters in the original text and this version of the tale. It could also be a great anchor text for a lesson about perspective. The text alongside a traditional Cinderella text could be used to analyze the difference between 1st person and 3rd person perspectives as well as how and why authors might pick to use different perspectives when writing similar texts. Students could also be challenged to re-write another traditional tale they know of in a differing perspective. This assignment could be applicable for students in higher levels of education like middle school or even high school if versions of traditional tales that were turned into novels were used at a more appropriate reading level. It would also be interesting to read other books by Trisha Speed Shaskan. She has a series of texts like this one called ¨The Other Side of the Story¨, with texts like ¨Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten!¨ and, ¨Truly, We Both Loved Beauty Dearly!¨. This could become a great Traditional Tale and Perspective literacy unit!
I watched a Youtube video read-aloud of the text and found it to be very entertaining. The evil Stepmother isn’t so evil anymore when you hear the story from her point of view. She married Cinderella’s dad who quickly left on a business trip which left her and her twin daughters to listen to Cinderella tell stories all day and all night. She would never stop talking, it was so annoying to them. The house was so dusty and messy that they tried to give Cinderella tasks to help clean just so that they could have some peace and quiet but she finished each of the tasks so quickly that they didn’t know what to do with her and she would go right back to jabbering again.
When the invitation to the ball came from the prince, Cindy, as her Wicked Stepmother refers to her, was horse because of all of her storytelling and wasn’t feeling well so she ordered her to stay home so that she would feel better. Then some beautiful girl showed up at the ball in an amazing ball gown that the Wicked Stepmother adored. Finally, when the prince came around the next day, she wanted the glass slipped to fit the feet of her daughters so that they could get married to the prince, but was happy when Cindy became his bride ultimately because it took her off of their hands. In a humorous illustration of their wedding, the prince is shown sweating once he got to know the annoying Cindy better. The final page reads, ¨A few days later, the prince married Cindy. Poor man. He had no idea what he was getting himself into. But we lived happily ever after!¨. Cindy is pictured in the middle of a long conversation with the prince and the Wicked Stepmother and the Wicked Stepsisters are high fiving and laughing. I like this ending to the story because traditional tales, ¨often have ritual openings and closings to set the story apart from day-to-day speech¨ (CBICH pg. 191). This is a ritual ending to the story with a twist. No longer are Cinderella and the Prince the ones that are living happily ever after per the norm, but the Stepmother and Stepsisters live happily ever after without the annoying Cindy.
I enjoy this new take on the traditional tale. In Children’s Books in Children’s Hands it states that, ¨writers and illustrators can create interesting effects by playing a new take on a story against the familiar one the reader already knows.¨ Instead of the story being focused on Cinderella, it is fun to hear a different perspective where the Wicked Stepmother and Stepsisters have more personalities besides being just evil and selfish, though they still are slightly in this version. It is also a fun twist to have Cinderella be annoying to others since she is always portrayed as being perfect in the traditional Cinderella tale. It is a nice addition to this traditional tale to add some depth to the Wicked Stepmother character. ¨Main characters in folktales are contrasted in the extreme--they are either very good or very bad¨, and ¨folktales introduce very good characters and very bad characters and run them through a sequence of events as the problem is presented, attempts to solve it are tried, and a solution is found. In other words, folktales give prominence to plots¨ (CBICH pg. 193). It is refreshing to have a version of a traditional tale where the main character is not just always good or always bad, perfect or evil. It makes the Stepmother a more dynamic character as well as Cindy who isn’t just beautiful, nice and perfect.
I also found it interesting that Cinderella is pictured as a redhead and the prince has darker skin and darker hair. This is consistent with the other version of the traditional tale of Cinderella that I read, Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood. When I picture Cinderella and the Prince, I view them as they were depicted in the Disney Movie: Cinderella has extremely light skin, light colored eyes and blonde hair. The Prince has dark brown hair, light brown eyes and still fairly light skin. I wonder why both of the texts that I read were consistent but the Disney depiction is not. I like that these texts illustrate the characters so that they don’t just fit in with the majority viewpoint of what princesses and princes should look like. I wonder if the original Cinderella tale describes them as so or more like the Disney version. I am disappointed in Disney for changing this part of the story, if that is the case.
Finally, this text could be used for many classroom instructional purposes. It could be used to compare and contrast character traits of the main characters in the original text and this version of the tale. It could also be a great anchor text for a lesson about perspective. The text alongside a traditional Cinderella text could be used to analyze the difference between 1st person and 3rd person perspectives as well as how and why authors might pick to use different perspectives when writing similar texts. Students could also be challenged to re-write another traditional tale they know of in a differing perspective. This assignment could be applicable for students in higher levels of education like middle school or even high school if versions of traditional tales that were turned into novels were used at a more appropriate reading level. It would also be interesting to read other books by Trisha Speed Shaskan. She has a series of texts like this one called ¨The Other Side of the Story¨, with texts like ¨Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten!¨ and, ¨Truly, We Both Loved Beauty Dearly!¨. This could become a great Traditional Tale and Perspective literacy unit!
April 15, 2020
Charming yet failed attempt at demoralizing the Cinderella mythos by having the story told through the viewpoint of the wicked stepmom. Except the author makes the Stepmom more heinous through unintended methods. Stepmom has had it with Cindy telling stories of bluebirds, fairy godmothers, etc. Stepmom suffers self-pity same as all mothers go through when their own children get more independent and more resilient. Then Cindy finally loses her voice, so Stepmom makes her stay home. Sure, mom! A likely story only a control freak parent will concoct. Then comes the ball, the dance, the stroke of twelve...snore. Well at least it chips away at the mindset promoted by the Cinderella story and made worse by way of Disney's movies. Not much but a chip is all it takes.
Three stars
Cinderella needs better shoes!
Three stars
Cinderella needs better shoes!
February 7, 2021
Seriously, Cinderella Is SO Annoying!: The Story of Cinderella as Told by the Wicked Stepmother (The Other Side of the Story) by Trisha Speed Shaskan – I feel sorry for the prince in this one! But I’ve always thought he was a bit dumb anyway. How can you fall in love with a girl without remember what her face looks like? No lets rely on a shoe instead! Lol! Another cute twisted tale! Happy Reading!
November 17, 2013
I love a good book that makes you look at the other side of things. This teaches kids to look at the other point of view in a story. In this case we learn that Cinderella was crazy and wouldn't shut up! Come one, the stepmother wasn't that bad was she?
November 13, 2021
This story was written by Trisha Speed Shaskan and illustrated by Gerald Guerlais. It was published in 2011. The main character is the wicked Stepmother, since the story is told from her point of view. I found this book on Amazon by searching Cinderella stories from around the world. This story, though not from a different culture, was on the list of different Cinderella stories. This book is recommended for ages 5-9 in preschool-grade 3, but I think depending on how it is used, it could be beneficial for up to 5th grade. This book has not really won any awards or received rave reviews. It has been reviewed by School Library Journal on the Barnes and Noble website though. I listened to a read aloud of this story on YouTube (Allie Kernion). I really enjoyed listening to it in this format. The pictures and text were shown clearly with no shadows or glare and it wasn't blurry. I also liked how the reader read with a lot of expression and had voices for the different characters. She really spoke as Cinderella in a way that made the story somewhat believable and made Cinderella seem a little annoying to me.
Synopsis/Diversity: You think you know the whole story, but this book may change your mind. Told from the point of view of the wicked Stepmother, who may not be so wicked after all, readers get to hear a different side of the Cinderella story and decide for themselves which version of events is the truth. In this story all of the main characters, including the Stepmother, Cinderella, and the stepsisters, as well as Cinderella's dad all appear to be white. Though it is never explicitly mentioned or brought up in any way in the book, the Prince that Cinderella ends up marrying appears to be black or at least a person of color, as evidenced by his skin tone and his hair.
The illustrations in this book are colorful and whimsical, and are highly dramatized, much like the events/text in the story. The pictures add more than the words provide to readers as well. For example, on one page, the Stepmother talks about how annoying Cinderella's stories are. She does not mention plugging her ears, but readers can see the stepsisters with broccoli and sausages in their ears as Cinderella is telling a story, indicating they are annoyed with her stories as well. The facial features of the characters seem exaggerated too. The Stepmother's face seems like she is wicked and annoyed easily. She has thin eyebrows, pursed lips, and a pointy nose. Cinderella on the other hand is portrayed as somewhat dense and annoying and her features aren't as beautiful or refined as her stepsisters. Her hair is messy, her eyes are big and appear innocent, and it looks like she is missing teeth or has buck teeth.
I like that this version was told from a different perspective, giving the traditional story a new take, but I just found that the events didn't make sense, match up to the original version, and didn't help me believe the Stepmother's perspective any more than before. It was actually kind of mean spirited and only made me believe the Stepmother was wicked after all. For example, the Stepmother claims that she kept giving Cinderella chores because she finished them so quickly and she wanted to keep her occupied because she kept telling made up stories that were annoying, so she just wanted her to go away. She also claims she told Cinderella she had to stay home from the ball because she was sick and lost her voice. I just feel like it is unbelievable and still makes the Stepmother seem mean. It doesn't help contribute to the original story in any way either. I realize that this may be intentional and may be the point of the author, to show that the Stepmother really is wicked and isn't to be believed, but I'm not sure.
This story follows the typical pattern of a traditional story. It has an interesting beginning and the typical "happily ever after" ending. It has elements of magic, so it is considered a fairy tale. The characters are not extremely developed, and more emphasis is clearly placed on the plot, though this story feels rushed and not well put-together. The setting is typical of traditional literature, with the story taking place in Cinderella's father's mansion and in a kingdom, with Cinderella moving to a castle at the end of the story.
Though I think this story could have been better, I could see the benefits of using it in the classroom. It is a good introduction into analyzing stories from different perspectives. The author also provides some great discussion/critical thinking questions at the end of the book that I think would be a helpful way to use the book in the classroom. For example, the author writes that students could read this and a classic version of Cinderella and compare/contrast the stories. The author asks students to consider the fact that most versions are told from an invisible narrator's perspective, but this version is different. Students can discuss which point of view they think is more honest and why. Other discussion questions include students deciding which character they would want to be from this version of the story and why, and to think about how different fairy tales would be different if the point of view the story was told in changed.
Synopsis/Diversity: You think you know the whole story, but this book may change your mind. Told from the point of view of the wicked Stepmother, who may not be so wicked after all, readers get to hear a different side of the Cinderella story and decide for themselves which version of events is the truth. In this story all of the main characters, including the Stepmother, Cinderella, and the stepsisters, as well as Cinderella's dad all appear to be white. Though it is never explicitly mentioned or brought up in any way in the book, the Prince that Cinderella ends up marrying appears to be black or at least a person of color, as evidenced by his skin tone and his hair.
The illustrations in this book are colorful and whimsical, and are highly dramatized, much like the events/text in the story. The pictures add more than the words provide to readers as well. For example, on one page, the Stepmother talks about how annoying Cinderella's stories are. She does not mention plugging her ears, but readers can see the stepsisters with broccoli and sausages in their ears as Cinderella is telling a story, indicating they are annoyed with her stories as well. The facial features of the characters seem exaggerated too. The Stepmother's face seems like she is wicked and annoyed easily. She has thin eyebrows, pursed lips, and a pointy nose. Cinderella on the other hand is portrayed as somewhat dense and annoying and her features aren't as beautiful or refined as her stepsisters. Her hair is messy, her eyes are big and appear innocent, and it looks like she is missing teeth or has buck teeth.
I like that this version was told from a different perspective, giving the traditional story a new take, but I just found that the events didn't make sense, match up to the original version, and didn't help me believe the Stepmother's perspective any more than before. It was actually kind of mean spirited and only made me believe the Stepmother was wicked after all. For example, the Stepmother claims that she kept giving Cinderella chores because she finished them so quickly and she wanted to keep her occupied because she kept telling made up stories that were annoying, so she just wanted her to go away. She also claims she told Cinderella she had to stay home from the ball because she was sick and lost her voice. I just feel like it is unbelievable and still makes the Stepmother seem mean. It doesn't help contribute to the original story in any way either. I realize that this may be intentional and may be the point of the author, to show that the Stepmother really is wicked and isn't to be believed, but I'm not sure.
This story follows the typical pattern of a traditional story. It has an interesting beginning and the typical "happily ever after" ending. It has elements of magic, so it is considered a fairy tale. The characters are not extremely developed, and more emphasis is clearly placed on the plot, though this story feels rushed and not well put-together. The setting is typical of traditional literature, with the story taking place in Cinderella's father's mansion and in a kingdom, with Cinderella moving to a castle at the end of the story.
Though I think this story could have been better, I could see the benefits of using it in the classroom. It is a good introduction into analyzing stories from different perspectives. The author also provides some great discussion/critical thinking questions at the end of the book that I think would be a helpful way to use the book in the classroom. For example, the author writes that students could read this and a classic version of Cinderella and compare/contrast the stories. The author asks students to consider the fact that most versions are told from an invisible narrator's perspective, but this version is different. Students can discuss which point of view they think is more honest and why. Other discussion questions include students deciding which character they would want to be from this version of the story and why, and to think about how different fairy tales would be different if the point of view the story was told in changed.
June 25, 2012
was cute, not quite as whimsical as I'd have hoped, but cute
December 21, 2016
Short and silly retelling. We liked it. I was able to get the ebook from Amazon Prime for free.
December 8, 2025
Great for perspective
October 13, 2017
Summary
Have you ever wondered what Cinderella's Wicked Stepmother was thinking? Well this book tells us a story about how living with Cinderella was awful. Sure, Cinderella did all the cooking and the cleaning, but she NEVER STOPPED TALKING! Apparently the animals weren't the only ones Cinderella talked to because as soon as her step family set foot in the house she was telling them stories; crazy unbelievable stories about animals singing, and joking, and washing clothes of all things. Maybe, just maybe, the Wicked Stepmother wasn't so wicked after all.
Activity
Ask 3rd graders to pick their own fairy tale to re-write from a different character's point of view. Would be a great opportunity to introduce point of views, dialog, and other parts of a story. Read all the new fairy tales to the class. Teacher or small group of adults should pick top 5 re-writes that can be acted out and have the class vote on which one they want to perform. Or several different re-writes can be performed to give everyone a chance to be a character. Their should be no limits or minimums set by the teacher for how much work goes into each character. Students should know that they can make or bring a costume or props if they want but they don't have to. Allow the production to lie in the hands of the students and see what they do with it, how they play out the fairy tales.
Citation
Shaskan, T. S., & Guerlais, G. (2014). Seriously, Cinderella is so annoying!: the story of Cinderella as told by the wicked stepmother [Ebook]. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Seriously-Cind... cinderella is so annoying
Have you ever wondered what Cinderella's Wicked Stepmother was thinking? Well this book tells us a story about how living with Cinderella was awful. Sure, Cinderella did all the cooking and the cleaning, but she NEVER STOPPED TALKING! Apparently the animals weren't the only ones Cinderella talked to because as soon as her step family set foot in the house she was telling them stories; crazy unbelievable stories about animals singing, and joking, and washing clothes of all things. Maybe, just maybe, the Wicked Stepmother wasn't so wicked after all.
Activity
Ask 3rd graders to pick their own fairy tale to re-write from a different character's point of view. Would be a great opportunity to introduce point of views, dialog, and other parts of a story. Read all the new fairy tales to the class. Teacher or small group of adults should pick top 5 re-writes that can be acted out and have the class vote on which one they want to perform. Or several different re-writes can be performed to give everyone a chance to be a character. Their should be no limits or minimums set by the teacher for how much work goes into each character. Students should know that they can make or bring a costume or props if they want but they don't have to. Allow the production to lie in the hands of the students and see what they do with it, how they play out the fairy tales.
Citation
Shaskan, T. S., & Guerlais, G. (2014). Seriously, Cinderella is so annoying!: the story of Cinderella as told by the wicked stepmother [Ebook]. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Seriously-Cind... cinderella is so annoying
February 14, 2017
I found Seriously, Cinderella is so Annoying! written by Trisha Speed Shaskan in my school's Library. This story is told by the wicked step mother.
This is a silly story that makes the reader see Cinderella in a whole new light. The story starts off with the wicked step mother and her two daughters walking into the house that has cobwebs and dust all over it. The wicked step mother claims that Cinderella tells a lot of made up stories about talking to animals. The wicked step mother gives her jobs such as cleaning the house and washing the clothes to get her to stop talking to them. One day, an invitation for the Royal Ball comes to the house. However, the day of the Ball Cinderella loses her voice, so the wicked step mother tells Cinderella that she should stay home and get some rest. Cinderella’s fairy godmother comes and makes Cinderella ready for the Royal Ball. Cinderella goes to the Ball and dances with the Prince but does not say a word because she does not have a voice. Cinderella loses her glass slipper on her way out. The Prince looks around for the owner of the shoe. The Prince finds Cinderella and the wicked step mother is happy to get rid of her because the house would finally be quiet.
This book would appeal to younger students because of the colorful pictures, and would also appeal to older students because of the humor. I could see using this story to show a different version of the story and let my students see different perspectives of the characters. I could also use this to compare and contrast the traditional Disney Cinderella with this story's plot and setting.
This is a silly story that makes the reader see Cinderella in a whole new light. The story starts off with the wicked step mother and her two daughters walking into the house that has cobwebs and dust all over it. The wicked step mother claims that Cinderella tells a lot of made up stories about talking to animals. The wicked step mother gives her jobs such as cleaning the house and washing the clothes to get her to stop talking to them. One day, an invitation for the Royal Ball comes to the house. However, the day of the Ball Cinderella loses her voice, so the wicked step mother tells Cinderella that she should stay home and get some rest. Cinderella’s fairy godmother comes and makes Cinderella ready for the Royal Ball. Cinderella goes to the Ball and dances with the Prince but does not say a word because she does not have a voice. Cinderella loses her glass slipper on her way out. The Prince looks around for the owner of the shoe. The Prince finds Cinderella and the wicked step mother is happy to get rid of her because the house would finally be quiet.
This book would appeal to younger students because of the colorful pictures, and would also appeal to older students because of the humor. I could see using this story to show a different version of the story and let my students see different perspectives of the characters. I could also use this to compare and contrast the traditional Disney Cinderella with this story's plot and setting.
October 5, 2018
1.N/A
2.Kindergarten- 5th Grade
3. This an adorable recreation of the classic tale of Cinderella from the viewpoint of the Wicked Stepmother. This comical tales gives perspective on the other side of this story and gives a glimpse that Cinderella wasn’t as angelic as perceived. The stepmother in this story is portrayed as a caring concerned mother to Cinderella and her two daughters. However, Cinderella’s destructive and annoying tendency overshadow the events leading up to the infamous ball. This conclusion of this story leads to two happy endings where Cinderella has her prince, and the Stepmother finally has a peaceful home.
4. Upon reading this story I had a clear bias for the characters in this narrative. This recreated story was a funny realization that Cinderella wasn’t the perfect princess commonly know. This book is a great read to use with students when teaching them a good lesson on people’s point of view. This book will create some interesting commentary as students compare and contrast the original story to this creative spin-off.
5.Cinderella Themed Stories:
Kindergarten- 4th
Elements of a Fairy Tale: Students will use a graphic organizer to describe the setting, good character, evil characters, magical parts, conflict, and conclusion.
Accredited: Kari Maxey
Kindergarten- 4th
If I had a Fairy Godmother: During Writers Workshop students will write a detailed description of what they would do if they had a fairy godmother.
December 5, 2020
Through the take of the classic story- Cinderella- takes a take to another direction from the stepmother's perspective. This perspective doesn't show Cinderella as the quiet and obedient child- servant for her stepfamily. This perspective views Cinderella as a talkative weirdo and seems crazy than magical. This is seen as a pattern with her family getting annoyed by Cinderella and happy to get rid of her. This may seem harsh but the stepmother feels bad for the prince because of how loud Cinderella is even after the story ends with her in a happy ending. The illustrations are simple and bland with some colors being vibrant and cheerful to fit the story.
As a classic, I found the story way more entertaining than its original version or the one that is seen with Disney. There is a consequence when the prince seeks Cinderella and has the reader wonder how long will the prince stay happily ever after. The language used doesn't keep with the oral tradition told from the story and more into the humor that can be seen from the story. The funny parts are more emphasized with how foolish Cinderella is and is seen with how the illustrations are drawn to show this style. I liked the story because it takes a different perspective in the stepmother's story and a much lighter tone than the original story. I would have the students in my class read this book more for pleasure or as a way to start a creative writing activity.
As a classic, I found the story way more entertaining than its original version or the one that is seen with Disney. There is a consequence when the prince seeks Cinderella and has the reader wonder how long will the prince stay happily ever after. The language used doesn't keep with the oral tradition told from the story and more into the humor that can be seen from the story. The funny parts are more emphasized with how foolish Cinderella is and is seen with how the illustrations are drawn to show this style. I liked the story because it takes a different perspective in the stepmother's story and a much lighter tone than the original story. I would have the students in my class read this book more for pleasure or as a way to start a creative writing activity.
November 9, 2025
Cinderella Is So Annoying! is a humorous and creative fractured fairy tale that tells the classic Cinderella story from the stepmother’s point of view. Instead of seeing Cinderella as sweet and kind, the stepmother complains that Cinderella is too perfect, always talking, singing, and smiling. The new perspective turns the traditional story upside down and helps readers see how the point of view can completely change how a story feels.
I enjoy reading fractured tales like this because they give a fresh, playful twist to stories students already know. This book encourages readers to think critically about different perspectives—how each character might see the same event in a new way. Students especially enjoy the humor and irony, and it sparks great discussions about fairness, bias, and empathy.
This story is also excellent for teaching compare and contrast, since students can line up details from the original Cinderella and this new version. The colorful illustrations and exaggerated tone keep readers engaged and laughing while they practice important comprehension skills.
Overall, Cinderella Is So Annoying! is a fun and thoughtful read-aloud that helps students explore voice, perspective, and character point of view while having a lot of fun with a story they already love.
I enjoy reading fractured tales like this because they give a fresh, playful twist to stories students already know. This book encourages readers to think critically about different perspectives—how each character might see the same event in a new way. Students especially enjoy the humor and irony, and it sparks great discussions about fairness, bias, and empathy.
This story is also excellent for teaching compare and contrast, since students can line up details from the original Cinderella and this new version. The colorful illustrations and exaggerated tone keep readers engaged and laughing while they practice important comprehension skills.
Overall, Cinderella Is So Annoying! is a fun and thoughtful read-aloud that helps students explore voice, perspective, and character point of view while having a lot of fun with a story they already love.
February 16, 2021
This book is a fun spin on the traditional fairytale of Cinderella. Told from the perspective of the wicked stepmother. The story elements and characters remain like the original fairytale, but the point of view from which it is told is the biggest difference. Readers will connect with a familiar story line, but find humor along the way as we get a different view of Cinderella. The illustrations in this book are very large, colorful and vivid and kept me engaged. Overall, the story line left much to be desired. I love all the "twisted" fairytale versions out their, but sadly this one just need a bit more depth to the storyline. The title "Seriously, Cinderella is SO Annoying!" made me think I was going to read some awful things about the beloved princess, but sadly I didn't find her that "annoying". This book along with several others in the series is available to read and download to the Kindle app from Amazon Prime Reading.
Overall, I think young elementary aged students, k-2, would find this book interesting and engaging. Students older than this may lose interest in the lack of depth in the story. This book could definitely be used in a fairytale unit to compare and contrast different versions of the same fairytale.
Overall, I think young elementary aged students, k-2, would find this book interesting and engaging. Students older than this may lose interest in the lack of depth in the story. This book could definitely be used in a fairytale unit to compare and contrast different versions of the same fairytale.
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