The Wicked Stepmother Helps Out

After Happily Ever After

by Tony Bradman, Sarah Warburton (Illustrations)

Now she's no longer being wicked, the Wicked Stepmother is bored! She wants to help people, but it's not as easy as she'd hoped. Can Cinderella help her come up with a bright idea?

Genres: Childrens, Fairy Tales

56 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2010

About the author

TONY BRADMAN graduated from Cambridge University and worked in journalism for many years as an editor and reviewer. Now a full-time author, he has produced several successful anthologies for young readers for Random House Children's Books, including three focusing exclusively on football: the FOOTBALL FEVER titles.

Reviews

[Georgina Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable tale of redemption for wicked stepmother

This funny little tale offers a glimpse of what happens to the stepmother after Cinderella and her prince marry and live happily ever after. What does a former villain do when the fairy tale is over or is this just the beginning of a new story? The wicked stepmother begins to grow into a better person as she struggles to figure out a new purpose in life. Fortunately, Cinderella has forgiven her and the two stepsisters get redemption as well. An unexpected visitor gives the stepmother some inspiration on how she can help others achieve their happy endings. Some of the supporting fairytale characters in this book work in jobs, which offers a great lesson to children about finding work that supports their interests and develop their strengths. Please read the book yourself if you enjoy villain redemption stories. I promise you will enjoy it! A great lesson for children teaching them that sometimes bad people can change for the better if they choose to believe in themselves and make new friends.

[Heydi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many people I would like to give this book to. The tale is about a the wicked stepmother who has changed her ways but now needs a way to occupy her time.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My niece found these and loves them as she is getting reading down. She is also super expressive and may be the next Jim Dale.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Gail Gauthier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read some of the books in the After Happily Ever After series in the past. I didn't find The Wicked Stepmother Helps Out as entertaining as some of the earlier books. The improving, instructive aspect of the story bothered me more.

However, I have read recently about librarians and reading teachers being interested in short books for reluctant or weaker readers. For them, being able to read an entire book at a sitting, or at least relatively rapidly (for them), is hugely rewarding. The fact that this book builds on a story idea (Cinderella) that most children are going to be familiar with, should help them grasp what's going on quickly.

Who knows? Young readers may be so taken with this quick read and its clever twists on Cinderella that they may not even notice the instructive bad people can go good theme.

[Emily Morgan Matekovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute

It is a great selection for kids. I recommend that kids should read book. It has vivid detail and makes sense

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to my daughters, ages 5 and 7. It was a clever way to make a sequel to Cinderella. Fellow social workers, you will find this one amusing!

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are hilarious. They kind of remind me of politically correct fairytales.