Cinder-Elly

by Frances Minters, G. Brian Karas (Illustrator)

Evil sisters, chores, and fairy godmothers may never change - but Cinderella does! When today's girl wants to find Prince Charming, she may need the help of a trash can, a copy machine, or even a glass sneaker. Will she still live happily ever after?

Genres: Picture Books, Fairy Tales, Cinderella, Childrens, Poetry, Folklore, Fiction

Library Binding

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cinder- Elly is a very engaging modern version of the fairy tale Cinderella. Like the classic version, Cinder-Elly takes care of all the chores while her sisters sit back and relax. When Cinder-Elly and her sisters win tickets to a basketball game, her sisters tell her she can’t go because she doesn’t have anything to wear. She is upset until she gets a visit from her godmother. The rhymes in this book keep the reader engaged. I really enjoyed reading this modern version of Cinderella. Unlike the original version of Cinderella, I feel like the boys in a class would really enjoy reading Cinder- Elly . This book was recommended in my course readings.
I was able to find one copy of this book at my local library. I was also able to find this book as a read aloud online.
Students in elementary school would enjoy reading Cinder- Elly as they explore fairy tales. Students could compare and contrast the story elements in Cinder- Elly to the original retelling of Cinderella.

[Juan Figueroa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cinder-Elly is book that gives a modern twist to Cinderella. Cinder-Elly is girl that lives in New York City with her family. On day they receive a note about attending a basketball game. Unfortunately, she did not have any nice clothes to wear to the game and godmother came to visit and gave her some new clothes along with some glass sneakers. In the game she met a Prince and you can fill in out what happened next in the story. This story helps make Cinderella more modern and it can use a great book to do an comparison and contrast with the original story. I would recommend this book for 3rd grade and above.

[RLL22018_Jorge Ortiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have to say I somewhat enjoyed this book. I think it would be a great book for kids to read out loud and have fun with the rhymes. This book uses rhyme throughout the story. It is what I feel is a modern version of Cinderella. Being the little sister or younger sibling can always lead to feeling excluded from the older kids. In this story, Cinder-Elly was not allowed to go to the game however magic made her urge a reality. It can be a good book for the primary grades. It has a few lessons we can teach students, like being kind to others or even poetry.

[Katie Gomez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cinder-Elly is a modern twist on the classic fairy tale of Cinderella. El lives in New York city with her sisters where they are invited to attend a basketball game. In true Cinderella fashion she has to stay home while her sisters attend the game, that is until a visit from her godmother. This zany tale includes glass sneakers, trash cans being turned into bikes, and basketball players as princes. I think it is sure to intrigue young readers with the smart and funny rhyming scheme and colorful illustrations.

In the classroom I would use this story when discussing fantasy and fairy tale genres. Although it is less extravagant than the original tale, this story still includes the elements of magic and the changing of reality. I think introducing students to alternative versions of a classic tale is a great way to start character conversations as well as comparing and contrasting story elements. It can also help struggling readers because they can pull from prior versions to aid in their comprehension. Lastly, this book would be great for getting students excited about poetry and rhyming in story telling.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2**

[Rebecca Muller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This poetic tale is quite creative
Although the clothes seem a little outdated

As many can relate
Being the youngest child isn’t so great

Cinder Elly’s older sister are rude
They take advantage of her cleanliness and need to improve

Once tickets to the basketball game are won
Cinder Elly want to join in the fun

This is the point where the poem is to oddly unfold
Who ever heard of a basketball game with a dress code?!

Why is a girl going to date a player much older than her?
I’m not sure I disagree with the older sister.

However, the rhymes are fun and illustrations and gritty
I’m happy to see kindness in New York City.

3/5 stars. Appropriate for readers grades 2-5.

[Amanda Woo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This classic take on a Cinderella story is taken in more of a modern time frame. Cinder-Elly lives with her Mom, Dad and two sisters in New York City. Her sisters, Sue and Nelly are mean to El by making her serve iced tea and leaving her out when playing video games. One day, Cinder-Elly and her sisters, receive a note stating they won free tickets to a basketball game. They were so excited, but El couldn’t go because she had nothing to wear. Her mother only had money to buy clothes for her sisters. So after Sue and Nelly left for the game, Cinder-Elly’s godmother came to visit. She miraculously used her cane and “poof” gave her some new clothes along with some cool glass sneakers. At the game, El meets the pro basketball player Prince Charming. He asks her out for pizza but time runs out and she has to rush back home with her old clothes. Will Prince Charming find Cinder-Elly?

In Cinder-Elly, Frances Minters gives an urban/pop-rock version of Cinderella. Set in fast-paced New York City, Cinder-Elly offers a different flavor by presenting the classic story in a rhyming, urban fairy tale. Minters uses a rhyming style to capture the attention of a young audience. “She worked so hard/It was a pity/She had no fun/In New York City.” Intermingled between the text, is drawings of little people making little comments throughout the story, such as “poor Cinder-Elly and “you look great, El!” Illustrator, Karas, accurately captures the urban setting with watercolor paintings. This modern Cinderella tale is set in present day New York City. Minters updates this version by including things like Cinder-Elly living with her Mom, Dad and real sisters. Instead of glass slippers she wears glass sneakers. She meets Prince Charming at a basketball game instead of a ball. Her godmother is her actual godmother that she hasn’t seen since she was about two years old. This story on Cinderella would be a good book for young readers to compare and contrast to other Cinderella stories and even help them start to craft their own version of Cinderella or any other fairy tale. This would also be a great book to present with a poetry unit!

[Katie Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the modern application of the Cinderella story in this book. Minters did a nice job of characterizing Cinder-Elly into a modern day girl in New York City. Winning tickets to a basketball game rather than a ball, wearing a red miniskirt rather than a gown and turning a trash can into a bike rather than a pumpkin into a carriage all make this story relatable to current readers. I felt that the modernizations were done well without stereotypes or prejudices.
I particularly liked that the last line's "happily ever after" was updated into "and everyone lived, forever happy."

[Channel]

Cinder-Elly was a great children's book. The story resembled the traditional cinderella fairytale but with a twist. Cinder- Elly setting took place in New York city. The sister get invited to a basketball game instead of a ball. The price was a star basketball player and the carriage was a bike. The words in the book rhyme and the pictures are great for children.

[Brittany B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Traditional Literature-Fairy Tale
Awards: None
Audience: Grades 3-5

A) Cinder-Elly is the main character of the book. She lives with her Mom, Dad, and two sisters, Sue and Nelly. The two sisters are much older and are very mean to Cinder-Elly. They never wanted to play with her and would ruin her cleaning by sliding across the floor right after she had mopped. When Elly, Nelly, and Sue all get invited to a basketball game, the two older sisters tell her that she cannot go because she is too young and has nothing to wear. When Elly says she will shop, the sisters tell her she is too broke, and her Mom agrees and tells her to let her sisters go instead because they are older. Elly's version of a fairy godmother is her godmother, who she refers to as Godma. Her Godma uses her magical cane to transform Elly's clothes and to transform a trash can into a bike that Elly uses for transportation. The last character introduced is Prince Charming, who is the best basketball player in her whole school! Prince Charming knocks the ball into Elly's hand and thus begins their happily ever after. Her older sisters are jealous, because they too are in love with Prince Charming and wanted to catch the ball instead.

B) This story is a fractured fairy tale, as it tells the traditional story of Cinderella with a contemporary and modern twist. The main character's name, Cinder-Elly, is a play off of Cinderella's name, and rather than living in a castle, Cinder-Elly lives in modern day New York. In Cinderella, Cinderella has two older step-sisters who are extremely rude to Cinderella and do not appreciate any of her hard work. In Cinder-Elly, her two older sisters are rude to Cinder-Elly as well, and do not let her go to the basketball game with them, just as Cinderella's step-sisters did not let her attend the ball. Cinderella and Cinder-Elly both have the same job in the house; to clean, although Cinderella does this because she is the maid and Cinder-Elly cleans because that is how she chooses to spend her time. In Cinderella, the step-mother does not let Cinderella go to the ball, just as Cinder-Elly's mother does not let her go to the basketball game. Since the setting takes place in New York, Cinder-Elly is invited to her school's basketball game rather than a grand ball, but there is one thing the two stories share: a Prince Charming. The only difference is that in Cinder-Elly, the Prince Charming plays on the school's basketball team. However, in both stories, the two fall in love and the step-sisters and sisters are incredibly jealous of Cinderella and Cinder-Elly. Finally, the fairy godmother's are similar in both stories. In Cinderella, the fairy godmother uses her magic wand to turn the pumpkins into a carriage, the mice into horse, and Cinderella's tampered clothes into a beautiful ballgown dress, complete with glass slippers. In Cinder-Elly, her fairy godmother is her Godma, who uses her magic cane to turn a trash can into a bike and her clothes into an outfit for the game, complete with glass sneakers. The general plot of the two stories is the same, but the execution of the plot along with the setting, characters, and details are all a play off of those in Cinderella.

C) I would use this story for storytelling to a group of children because it is based off of a book I am very familiar with. I also think the book is enjoyable, and the basic plot and characters are easily remembered, so telling the story from memory would not be hard. I could tell the story of Cinderella in my sleep, so changing the names and the details wouldn't be difficult for me to re-tell. I think the children would like this book because of the fact that it is related to such a common children's book and one that they are most likely familiar with. I also think it would be a good book to use for storytelling because it is set in modern-day and relates to more modern-day ideas, such as going to a basketball game instead of a ball. Overall, it is a super cute story and I enjoyed reading it a lot, so I'm sure children would as well!

D) Question: Explain why Cinder-Elly's sisters might not have wanted Cinder-Elly to go to the game with them?
Answer: Because they did not want Cinder-Elly to catch Prince Charming's eye instead of them.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cinder-Elly by Frances Minters was one version of Cinderella that was recommended in Children’s Books in Children’s Hands. This adaptation features Elly, a young girl who lives in New York City with her step-family. Like in the classic tale, Elly’s step-sisters force her to do their chores. Then one day, a note arrives inviting the girls to their school’s basketball game! Elly is ecstatic, until her step-family tells her that she can’t go. They only have enough money for the two step-sisters to go shopping for new outfits. Once her step-family leaves for the basketball game, Elly’s godmother arrives. The godmother waves her cane in the air, giving Elly a cute new outfit and glass sneakers. But how is she going to get to the game? Well a garbage can should do the trick! With a wave of her hand, the godmother turns the garbage cans into a bike. Once she gets to the game, the most popular player Prince Charming comes out. He loses the ball, but Elly catches it! The Prince asks Elly out for pizza after the game. Before she’s able to meet him, her time is up. Her clothes change back, so she runs away leaving a glass sneaker behind. Will Prince Charming be able to find Elly? Will Elly be able to escape her terrible step-family?

The characters in Cinder-Elly all have different skin colors. One of the step-sisters is blonde and white, while the other step-sister is African American. Prince Charming appears to be African American as well. The godmother is depicted as Asian American. While Elly’s race or culture are never stated, she is drawn with a light olive skin tone. Cinder-Elly is written in poetic form. Every once in a while, the rhyming lines will pause as a side commentator adds their thoughts about the story. For example, “So that’s the famous Prince Charming!” When these side comments are on a page, there is a small illustration of the person saying it. Just like the main characters in the story, these side commentators are also multicultural. While I liked how there are different races portrayed, I think that they could have been more naturally included. For instance, it felt strange that the step-sisters were of different races when they are supposed to be related. However, the multicultural aspects of the story felt natural for the urban setting. I watched a recording of this book read on Youtube. While most of the story was read fluently, there were times where the reader had to pause and remind themselves where they were at in the story. This took me out of the story at times.

I would use this book in the classroom to compare and contrast different adaptations of the Cinderella story. This story closely aligns with the story structure of the classic tale with a few twists based on the urban location. This could also lead into a discussion on setting and how it impacts a story. Since this book is written in poetic form, it could also be used to teach patterns in rhyming words. For instance, students could study the common endings of ‘fast’ and ‘past’, then come up with other words that follow that spelling pattern! This book is recommended for ages 2 - 5, but I think that it could be used in the primary grades for these purposes.

[Victoria (Tori) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went a little crazy and read four different versions of Cinderella. Out of those four, this was one of my favorites. I was able to listen to it as a read aloud on Youtube. I found it on GoodReads, and it sparked my interest because it was an urban setting and many of the reviews called it an a modern twist. Scholastic also commented on its "rap" like features, which intrigued me as well

In this version, Cinder Elly lives in New York city with her mother and evil sisters, Sue and Nelly. Cinder Elly is constantly being put last and left out of the fun until one day her fairy God Mother grants her tickets to a basketball game that her sisters would not allow her to attend and turns a garbage can into a carriage as her transportation. At the game, she catches Prince Charming’s attention, the famous basketball player, when she catches one of his shots in the stands. After leaving her sneaker behind in a hurry, the basketball playing prince goes out of his way to find the lovely lady that caught his shot. Like in all good fairy tales, they live happily ever after.

This book is so much fun to read with students because it rhymes. It would be an excellent text to read with primary students as a simple phonemic awareness activity of identifying rhyming words. In the older grades, you could also study rhyme, but they could write their own versions of Cinderella using their own rhyming words, or they could write their own versions of a different fairy tale, still copying the rhyming pattern found in Cinder Elly. I also like that this version takes place in the city because it is a mirror for our students who live in urban settings. While the traditional elements of the story are all there, this is an engaging modern twist.

[Stephanie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Cinderella story based in New York City. Cinder-Elly, El for short, lives with her parents and her two sisters, Sue and Nelly. El's sisters never let her do anything with them since she is the youngest and is always stuck cleaning. One day, the girls receive three free basketball game tickets and El is not allowed to go. Her sisters leave, and El is upset until her godmother shows up. She changes El's clothes and shoes and gives her a bike to get to the game. While at the game, she gets the attention from Prince Charming (a basketball player) who gets distracted and loses the ball during the game. They plan to hangout after the game, but the clock is about to strike 10pm and El has to be back. She looses her glass shoe and Prince hangs up signs around the city looking for her. At the end, Sue and Nelly contact Prince, but he soon finds out that El was the girl he was looking for. El and Prince go on a date and El's sisters swear to be nicer to her. This is a good story to use when introducing different types of Cinderella stories with students. It is good for elementary aged students.

[Lucy Christianson · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a delightful rhyme scheme that would engage any student from the lower to upper elementary Cinder-Elly takes the fairy tale of Cinderella and modernizes it with New York City as the backdrop. With two sisters that aren't exactly evil but much more relatable as uninterested in their younger sister following them around and a mother who is mostly uninvolved Cinder-Elly must use her own spunk for tidiness and fashion to get to the basketball game and meet the Prince. Along with the help of her godmother who she hasn't seen in a while she tries to use her street smarts to get the Prince's attention so they can get pizza after the game. This story is much more realistic for kids like mine who live in the city and love the relatability of older siblings casting them aside, wanting the coolest outfit to impress a crush, and not knowing how to fit in quite yet. I would use this book in a third or fourth grade class in order to reteach some standards related to fairy tales such as making inferences and allow students to study fashion from the seventies since they might not understand the significance of Cinder-Elly, Prince Charming, and other character's clothing. I read this book using a youtube read aloud link because I often like to use those for students in order for everyone to be able to access the story visually and auditorially along with being able to rewind if there is something in they don't understand or have questions about.

[Grace Ramseur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Traditional Literature- Fairy Tale
Awards: None
Audience: Ages 6-8
A. The main characters are described as fairly flat and either mean or nice characters. The sisters are rude and do not include the younger sister, and that is clearly seen. Cinder-Elly is characterized as young, not as fancy or pretty as her older sisters, and forgotten.
B. I am familiar with many different versions of Cinderella. From one based in a Halloween town where the characters are skeletons, to a version based in Africa. This story can be universal and changed to be adapted to any culture or society.
C. I would use this story to read to children. This book would be good to show the different ways to tell the same story and how characters can be different but the same story is told.
D. Was Cinder-Elly invited to join her sisters at the ball? No.

[Emily Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinder-Elly is a charming story based on the classic tale of Cinderella. The book revolves around a young girl named Elly and her older sisters. They win free tickets to a basketball game, but Elly's sisters won't let her go with them. When sitting at home, her godmother arrives and gives her new clothes and glass sneakers, sending her off on a bike with a trash can attached. She attends the game and rushes home before ten, losing a sneaker in the process. Prince charming puts up posters and goes around, letting girls try on the shoes to see who they fit. The vibrant and detailed illustrations draw in readers attention and help to show the events taking place throughout the story. I think this book would be good for either independent reading or read aloud activities. This book would be well suited for students in kindergarten to 3rd grade.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cinder-Elly by Frances Minters is a fun spin on the traditional fairy tale, Cinderella. While it follows the traditional plot, the setting takes place in New York City where Prince Charming is on the basketball team instead of at the Ball. I think this story would be enjoyed by younger readers because of it's rhythm and rhyme. This version would be relate-able to kids living in an urban setting. Overall, I appreciated the style of writing along with the illustrations.

[Allison Stoltz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not sure I liked this version of Cinderella. However, I like the illustrations by Brian Karas. He did a good job of illustrating the story that Frances Minters the author was telling. The story just felt forced to me. I liked the fact that she stayed true to the two sisters that were mean and sort of a half mean mother. Other than that I don't have much to say for this book.

[Allie Outhouse · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoyed the contemporary New York spin with a rhyming narration on the classic tale and children's interjections of my favorite fairytale but the illustration style murdered this book. That simplistic style of child art just doesn't appeal to me.

[Citlalli Canete]

This book is like cinderella but modern times. This book is more relatable than the classical story everyone has read and seen. Students can relate to this book because just like Elly there might be times you can' attend a basketball game even though you really want to.

[Holly Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this spin-off of Cinderella, and I think it was a fun way to make the original fairytale seem more realistic to young readers! I think this book would be fun to do a read aloud in class with and have the students compare this version to the original tale of Cinderella.

[Madelyn Chandler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cinder-Elly is a spin off of Cinderella but it takes place in NY. She has two sisters Sue and Nelly who are not the nicest to her. The three sisters live with their parents where Sue and Nelly leave her out from activities. It is a good book but I am a big fan of the original Cinderella.

[Josie Arndts · Rating 4 out of 5]

A modern day Cinderella. It is so interesting comparing the story to the original. She has glass sneakers instead of a glass slipper. She goes to a basketball game instead of a ball. Such a cute concept.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modern Cinderella variant. NYC.

[Rida · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the rhyming in the book. That was totally original. The style was different and very 'modern' sort to speak.

[GardeniaPearl]

The rhymes were pretty good, nice pictures. Liked that in this high school retelling, there was no mention of marriage, just dating.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Children’s, Folktale

Summary:

In this slightly altered retelling of the Cinderella tale, Cinder-Elly is the main character suffering at the hands of her two sisters. Set in a modern time, Cinder-Elly wishes to attend a basketball game rather than the ball. All of her accoutrement match the current setting, a house in the city, a glass sneaker, and the “prince” as a star basketball player.

Using rhyme to tell the tale, each page moves with a cadence that is familiar and conducive to reading. Narrators set in the margins interject thoughts and insights similar to those the reader might have him or herself. The running side dialogue personalizes the tale and invites readers to form opinions and make comments themselves.

Positives/Negatives:

The rhythm of the text and the rhyming of the second and fourth sentences lend themselves to readers intuiting the words, particularly given the fact that the words often have similar roots. The sentences are short enough to allow a still developing reader to decode most of the words and determine the rest with relative ease.

The variety in the backgrounds and drawing styles lends a sense of whimsy to the illustrations and keeps the story feeling more like a fairytale. With the details in the margins contributing to the flow of the story, the drawings found there are simple and childlike, further enhancing the feeling of the story.

Examples:

In a pivotal moment in the story, Cinder-Elly loses her glass shoe. Although the language is simple, it communicates the message quite effectively. “She got up and ran, It’s sad, but it’s true, a lace came undone and she lost a glass shoe.”

The humor of the narrators adds an extra element of perspective to the story not in the original tellings. “But she couldn’t stop now so she hurried on. All she saw was a trash can – her bike was gone.” “I was afraid this would happen” comments the narrator, voicing the same concern the reader might hold.

Curriculum Connection:

Retelling this classic fairytale in a modern setting provides a wonderful example or the way in which literature can be rewritten for a different purpose. Allowing the children to select a favorite fairytale and then helping them to rewrite it in an alternate setting provides a literary exercise that develops both writing skill and language arts awareness.

The modifications in this version also provide a wonderful opportunity to compare the similarities and differences between the classic tale and this modern tale. In looking at the details of each version, the children will begin to appreciate the small aspects that make the tale what it is. This can be conducted before the writing exercise to allow their awareness of what details make each version unique and how to modify them for their own story.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cinder-elly is an updated version of Cinderella. Elly lives in New York City with her mother, father, and two mean sisters. One day all three sisters received free tickets to a basketball game. The two older sisters went and told Elly she could not go because she was too young and had nothing to wear. The mother agreed and said they only had enough money for two of the girls to go. After her sisters left Elly was visited by her godmother. Her godmother changed her clothes into hip clothes, changed a trash can into a bike for her to ride to the game, and glass sneakers. Godmother told Elly to get home by 10 o’clock before her clothes and bike changed back. When Elly got to the game she found her seat and Prince Charming ran onto the court. Prince Charming is the best basketball player at Elly’s school. During the game a ball flew into the stands and Elly caught the ball. Prince Charming went over to Elly to get the ball. He asked her to meet him for pizza after the game. Elly waited for Prince Charming until 9:58. She ran home but not before her glass show fell off. Prince Charming came out to find Elly’s glass shoe. The next morning Prince Charming posted a flyer on every lamppost saying “If you lost a sneaker call me.” Elly’s sisters saw the poster and went home to call Prince Charming. Prince Charming came over to their house to try on the show. Both of the sisters tried on the shoe but it did not fit. Elly walked out of the kitchen with the other glass shoe. Her godmother shows up and changes Elly back into the clothes she wore that night. Godmother then gave her two mean sisters a scolding. Elly’s sisters apologized to her. Elly and Prince Charming lived forever happy.

The age group I would recommend for this book would be primary. The book is an easy ready. The book has a great flow and rhymes, which makes the book fun.
The book has natural rich rhymes. The book reflects the cultural of early re-telling. This version of Cinderella is a more modern, New York style story. It also explores significant universal themes. For example people who live in large city can relate to this re-telling of Cinderella. The illustrations complement the narrative very well. You are able to imagine what some of the pictures do not show. They are also authentic cultural illustrations because they shed light on the New York theme. The conflict is identified early, that Elly cannot go to the basketball game.

This book is a great adaptation of Cinderella. I like the way the book was adapted to the city life. It is interesting, fun, and a great read for children. I would recommend this book for people/children interested in reading different versions of Cinderella.

[Helaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cinder-elly is a cute and contemporary adaptation of the ageless classic, Cinderella. In this creative and urban post-modern rendition, Cinder-elly lives in New York with her parents and two mean sisters. The situation is as follows; there's a basketball game that Cinder-elly's mother permits only two sisters to attend. The entire rest of the plot is essentially true to the original including: a fairy Godmother, Prince Charming, and a glass "sneaker". You can guess that this version ends with a very happy ending, and you'd be right. In regards to the illustration component, the structure of the artwork shifts between full-sized, dialogue-lacking images and text on the left side. What I really appreciated about the art was that there are pages where there are floating pictures of characters that are conveyed to be "audience" and they give off their comments. In addition, the variety of backgrounds and alternating drawing styles really made the story feel much like a fairytale. I found this to be a very enhancing element that. Another thing I noticed about the art was that the borders sort of promote the feeling that you are a looking through a window, first class experiencing the unfolding story. In regards to the text, it is told in a rhythmic poem format, with every page containing four rhyming line stanzas. Overall, this book did not completely astound me, the plot and variations were not exceptionally fresh in my opinion. The plot was simply not additive. In my opinion, it did not offer an incredibly new unique and amazing perspective on the classic tale BUT it certainly does a good job of promoting creativity in younger readers. However, I still enjoyed this modern adaptation because of how well the illustrator created the atmosphere on every page which made the book engaging.

[Ch13_julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Cinder-Elly" is the New York City version of the classic fairy tale. The story setting is urban and is told in a rhythmic poem format. Each page is filled with four line stanzas that rhyme. For the most part the story follows a similar plot as the original, but instead of a ball the girls go to a basketball game. Elly's godmother gives her glass sneakers for the game instead of slippers. She also turns a garbage can into a bike, rather than the carriage. One important difference to note is that the sisters agree to be nice once they realize she was the girl from the basketball game. Another notable difference is the absence of the step mother character. In this version it is Elly's mother and she is not pictured in the book and plays a very small role.

The illustrations are fun, but also a bit cluttered. The illustrator uses a variety of diversity within the characters pictured. Elly and her sisters look as if they could all be from different families. I imagine this was done to try to represent the diversity that exists in an urban setting. However, I would classify this as a culturally generic book. The diverse characters could be played by anyone of any race.

This book would be best to use with students between the ages of preschool-second grade. It could be used for a number of purposes in the classroom including a unit on fairy tales and the many different variations that exist within traditional literature. Based on the format that this book was written, teachers could also use this book when teaching about poetry.

This book is a fun twist on Cinderella and worth reading, but not quite the best of its kind. With so many versions of Cinderella, I am not sure that this would be at the top of my list of recommendations.