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Prince Cinders
In this delightful retelling of the classic fairy tale, Prince Cinders sets out on an adventure, aided by his very own fairy godmother.
Great for ages 4 and up.
“Take a classic story, substitute a few ingredients, season freely with silliness and imagination, dress it all up in jaunty illustrations, what have you got? In the case of Cole’s Prince Cinders , an outrageously funny romp of a picture book. . . . A madcap, highly entertaining spoof.”— Publishers Weekly
“Would bring giggles to any age.”— School Library Journal
Great for ages 4 and up.
“Take a classic story, substitute a few ingredients, season freely with silliness and imagination, dress it all up in jaunty illustrations, what have you got? In the case of Cole’s Prince Cinders , an outrageously funny romp of a picture book. . . . A madcap, highly entertaining spoof.”— Publishers Weekly
“Would bring giggles to any age.”— School Library Journal
32 pages, Paperback
First published October 26, 1987
4 people are currently reading
489 people want to read
About the author
Babette Cole
109 books76 followersBabette Cole was a British children's author and illustrator. Born on the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands in 1949, she attended the Canterbury College of Art (now the University for the Creative Arts) and received first-class BA Honors. She worked on such children's programmes as Bagpuss (working with Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin) and Jackanory for BBC television.
As a children's writer, Cole created more than 150 picture books. Her best-seller Doctor Dog has been adapted as a successful children's cartoon series. Much of her work is earthy comedy, having titles like The Smelly Book, The Hairy Book, The Slimy Book and The Silly Book.
She spent her time writing, visiting schools and traveling. After a short illness she died on 15 January 2017, aged 66.
As a children's writer, Cole created more than 150 picture books. Her best-seller Doctor Dog has been adapted as a successful children's cartoon series. Much of her work is earthy comedy, having titles like The Smelly Book, The Hairy Book, The Slimy Book and The Silly Book.
She spent her time writing, visiting schools and traveling. After a short illness she died on 15 January 2017, aged 66.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
November 17, 2022
How do you feel about the story of "Cinderella"? Do you fall into a dream-like swoon? Or do you conversely feel a great yawn coming on at the prospect?
"Cinderella" is one of the worlds best known fairy tales, with its origins lost in antiquity, although the modern version as we broadly know it was first transcribed by Charles Perrault in 1697. The picture book of Prince Cinders is different again. Based on Charles Perrault's "Little Glass Slipper", it twists the story, providing the reader with a revision which qualifies as a fractured tale, rather than a parody. The cover alone gives you a big clue as to its feel. Prince Cinders is our hero, and in the scene shown he is not losing his glass slipper, but his trousers. The book is hilarious, very silly, and takes only a few minutes to read. I love it!
The book opens with,
“Prince Cinders was not much of a prince. He was small, spotty, scruffy and skinny.”
And indeed he is. Here he is on the first page, looking rather self-conscious and embarrassed. The next page intoduces his three big hairy brothers, who are “always teasing him about his looks”, and the accompanying illustration is of their three fatuous, self-satisfied, grinning faces in close-up. True to the original's ugly sisters, all this trio of bullies ever do is live the high life, whilst poor Prince Cinders cleans and scrubs and tidies up after them. But he has his dreams ...
One Saturday night, a small dirty fairy falls down the chimney and promises Prince Cinders that all his wishes will come true. Unfortunately, although she is well-meaning, she is rather inept (and grubby to boot) and the mistakes she makes with her spells to transform him have most unexpected results. Prince Cinders ends up looking like a big hairy monkey, although when he looks in the mirror he views himself rather differently. We see through his eyes that the reflection shows a suave and dashing fine figure of a man,
“He thought he looked pretty good.”
The story follows Prince Cinders to the Royal Rave up, and his encounter with a pretty princess (clad in leopard-skin lycra disco wear) whom he inadvertently frightens in his monkey guise, at a bus stop. Disaster ensues when the clock strikes midnight, and he reverts to his spotty, lanky self. Very embarrassed, he flees the scene, losing his tatty old trousers into the bargain. However,
“The princess was none other than the rich and beautiful Princess Lovelypenny,”
(Of course she was! This is a fairy story.) Princess Lovelypenny determined to search far and wide to find her hero, whom she thought had frightened away the big hairy monkey.
We then get lovely pictures of various dignitaries from far and wide, all standing in their underpants, waiting to try to squeeze themselves into a pair of skinny trousers.
The denouement is exactly as you would expect, and true to the original happy ending. The three hairy brothers sneer as Prince Cinders tries the famous trousers on, but oh joy! They fit, and Princess Lovelypenny “proposes immediately”.
There is added spice provided by the final image of the three hairy brothers, looking very grumpy indeed, as they have been transformed into hairy-legged house fairies, flitting around the palace and “doing the housework for ever and ever”. If this ridiculous illustration does not make your heart skip for joy, and any tiny tot you may read it to, shout with laughter, then in my opinion neither of you can have an inner child!
This book is still a minor contemporary masterpiece, although it originally dates from 1987. Its English author Babette Cole had already written and illustrated other children's books, and continues to write a series about a "Princess Smartypants". She produces animated storyboards for the BBC, as well as illustrating greetings cards and books by other authors. To date she has written more than 70 picture books. In 1993 Prince Cinders was made into an animated film.
A large part of this book's charm does lie with the illustrations, which match the text perfectly in terms of mood and humour. They are lively, varied and colourful. The characters are so exaggerated and delineated as to be cartoons, set against watercolour backgrounds. Sometimes the pages have borders; sometimes the print surrounds the design; sometimes the colour bleeds to the edge of the page, and in these the mood is paramount. The sheer variation and switching about keeps our interest, as does the unpredictability and incongruity of the situations. The whole is a delight.
It also manages to convey a serious message in a fun way, without appearing to. Bullying is bad. Any child will be aware of that, and be on Prince Cinders's side from the start. And attempting to be anyone other than yourself is ultimately a fool’s errand. We see Prince Cinders at the beginning looking sadly at his puny arms and comparing himself with a picture of a big, muscular bodybuilder in a magazine. We see him sweeping up after his brothers' mess, which includes beer cans, "Macho Magazine" and a carton labelled "Nasty Cigs". There is an implied connection here with undesirability - but the author does not preach. On the contrary the book bubbles with fun. Babette Cole has the knack of making serious points, but entertaining and amusing us as she does it.
As time goes on we seems to fall even more prey to the princess complex. It is not only in previous generations that fussy female characters such as Violet Elizabeth Bott abounded. (I always identified with Richmal Crompton's "Just William" myself, as did many readers probably.) Nor are their passive dreary counterparts confined to history. In the Famous Five series, Enid Blyton's Anne always seemed to stay behind to help mother, or tidy up the cave when the others went off to catch the smugglers. At least we had the example of "George" (Georgina) who had a bit more about her. But decades later, we still have an abundance of passive female characters, idiotic, saccharine and even more self-obsessedly pretty in pink, waiting to be rescued by a handsome prince (whether metaphoric or literal). Sometimes it seems as if the pinkness pushed by publishers is swamping the market. You have to look hard to find little gems like this.
Do yourself and your little ones a favour, whether girls or boys. Escape into this book for a few minutes. The world may well seem a slightly better and more fun place afterwards. If they know the story of "Cinderella", they will enjoy it even more. A parody would have mocked the tale - and possibly the genre as a whole - without any underlying purpose. Only an adult with a more jaded view of the world would appreciate a parody; a child would probably be confused or bored.
But this is a fractured fairy story. It gleefully updates the story, and provides a new social and moral message. It is clear and direct - and can be enjoyed by everybody. It really is a feel-good book.
"Cinderella" is one of the worlds best known fairy tales, with its origins lost in antiquity, although the modern version as we broadly know it was first transcribed by Charles Perrault in 1697. The picture book of Prince Cinders is different again. Based on Charles Perrault's "Little Glass Slipper", it twists the story, providing the reader with a revision which qualifies as a fractured tale, rather than a parody. The cover alone gives you a big clue as to its feel. Prince Cinders is our hero, and in the scene shown he is not losing his glass slipper, but his trousers. The book is hilarious, very silly, and takes only a few minutes to read. I love it!
The book opens with,
“Prince Cinders was not much of a prince. He was small, spotty, scruffy and skinny.”
And indeed he is. Here he is on the first page, looking rather self-conscious and embarrassed. The next page intoduces his three big hairy brothers, who are “always teasing him about his looks”, and the accompanying illustration is of their three fatuous, self-satisfied, grinning faces in close-up. True to the original's ugly sisters, all this trio of bullies ever do is live the high life, whilst poor Prince Cinders cleans and scrubs and tidies up after them. But he has his dreams ...
One Saturday night, a small dirty fairy falls down the chimney and promises Prince Cinders that all his wishes will come true. Unfortunately, although she is well-meaning, she is rather inept (and grubby to boot) and the mistakes she makes with her spells to transform him have most unexpected results. Prince Cinders ends up looking like a big hairy monkey, although when he looks in the mirror he views himself rather differently. We see through his eyes that the reflection shows a suave and dashing fine figure of a man,
“He thought he looked pretty good.”
The story follows Prince Cinders to the Royal Rave up, and his encounter with a pretty princess (clad in leopard-skin lycra disco wear) whom he inadvertently frightens in his monkey guise, at a bus stop. Disaster ensues when the clock strikes midnight, and he reverts to his spotty, lanky self. Very embarrassed, he flees the scene, losing his tatty old trousers into the bargain. However,
“The princess was none other than the rich and beautiful Princess Lovelypenny,”
(Of course she was! This is a fairy story.) Princess Lovelypenny determined to search far and wide to find her hero, whom she thought had frightened away the big hairy monkey.
We then get lovely pictures of various dignitaries from far and wide, all standing in their underpants, waiting to try to squeeze themselves into a pair of skinny trousers.
The denouement is exactly as you would expect, and true to the original happy ending. The three hairy brothers sneer as Prince Cinders tries the famous trousers on, but oh joy! They fit, and Princess Lovelypenny “proposes immediately”.
There is added spice provided by the final image of the three hairy brothers, looking very grumpy indeed, as they have been transformed into hairy-legged house fairies, flitting around the palace and “doing the housework for ever and ever”. If this ridiculous illustration does not make your heart skip for joy, and any tiny tot you may read it to, shout with laughter, then in my opinion neither of you can have an inner child!
This book is still a minor contemporary masterpiece, although it originally dates from 1987. Its English author Babette Cole had already written and illustrated other children's books, and continues to write a series about a "Princess Smartypants". She produces animated storyboards for the BBC, as well as illustrating greetings cards and books by other authors. To date she has written more than 70 picture books. In 1993 Prince Cinders was made into an animated film.
A large part of this book's charm does lie with the illustrations, which match the text perfectly in terms of mood and humour. They are lively, varied and colourful. The characters are so exaggerated and delineated as to be cartoons, set against watercolour backgrounds. Sometimes the pages have borders; sometimes the print surrounds the design; sometimes the colour bleeds to the edge of the page, and in these the mood is paramount. The sheer variation and switching about keeps our interest, as does the unpredictability and incongruity of the situations. The whole is a delight.
It also manages to convey a serious message in a fun way, without appearing to. Bullying is bad. Any child will be aware of that, and be on Prince Cinders's side from the start. And attempting to be anyone other than yourself is ultimately a fool’s errand. We see Prince Cinders at the beginning looking sadly at his puny arms and comparing himself with a picture of a big, muscular bodybuilder in a magazine. We see him sweeping up after his brothers' mess, which includes beer cans, "Macho Magazine" and a carton labelled "Nasty Cigs". There is an implied connection here with undesirability - but the author does not preach. On the contrary the book bubbles with fun. Babette Cole has the knack of making serious points, but entertaining and amusing us as she does it.
As time goes on we seems to fall even more prey to the princess complex. It is not only in previous generations that fussy female characters such as Violet Elizabeth Bott abounded. (I always identified with Richmal Crompton's "Just William" myself, as did many readers probably.) Nor are their passive dreary counterparts confined to history. In the Famous Five series, Enid Blyton's Anne always seemed to stay behind to help mother, or tidy up the cave when the others went off to catch the smugglers. At least we had the example of "George" (Georgina) who had a bit more about her. But decades later, we still have an abundance of passive female characters, idiotic, saccharine and even more self-obsessedly pretty in pink, waiting to be rescued by a handsome prince (whether metaphoric or literal). Sometimes it seems as if the pinkness pushed by publishers is swamping the market. You have to look hard to find little gems like this.
Do yourself and your little ones a favour, whether girls or boys. Escape into this book for a few minutes. The world may well seem a slightly better and more fun place afterwards. If they know the story of "Cinderella", they will enjoy it even more. A parody would have mocked the tale - and possibly the genre as a whole - without any underlying purpose. Only an adult with a more jaded view of the world would appreciate a parody; a child would probably be confused or bored.
But this is a fractured fairy story. It gleefully updates the story, and provides a new social and moral message. It is clear and direct - and can be enjoyed by everybody. It really is a feel-good book.
December 20, 2018
This is a really funny version of Cinderella. It is a great way to break social stereotypes.
"In this delightful retelling of the classic fairy tale, Prince Cinders sets out on an adventure, aided by his very own fairy godmother."
"In this delightful retelling of the classic fairy tale, Prince Cinders sets out on an adventure, aided by his very own fairy godmother."
December 6, 2021
Not bad for a gender-bent parody of "Cinderella," that mixes the old with the modern in terms of elements and setting, and has a prince (who loses his trousers and not his shoe). But, like many parodies, it resorts too quickly to easy 'n' lazy farce instead of wit or humour. The "slapstick" humour might have worked better with more aesthetically polished art, as the illustrations were a bit much in the stick-figure and cartoony style.
October 9, 2014
Prince Cinders is a fractured version of the classic story of Cinderella from a prince's point of view. There are humorous key differences between Prince Cinders and the original story of Cinderella. Instead of evil stepsisters, Prince Cinders deals with "big hairy brothers," and instead of losing a glass slipper, Prince Cinders loses his pants. Prince Cinders, like Cinderella, has a fairy to grant his wishes, but his fairy is not as skilled as the Godmother from the traditional tale. After Prince Cinders is transformed into a big hairy monkey, he attends the Rock n Royal Bash and runs into a pretty princess. Due to his shyness, he flees and the princess searches all over town for the prince who fits into the pair of pants left behind.
I was really interested into the idea of Cinderella told from a prince's perspective. I thought the idea was very clever. I also enjoyed the illustrations; the convertibles that the princes ride up to the Palace Disco in give the book a fun, modern feel. The illustrations of the Rock n Royal Bash shows a variety of different princes and princesses, and I liked how each character had something unique about him or her. The only thing I disliked about this book was the author's tone. It was kind of silly, and I was hoping for something a little more serious. Overall, I recommend this book to someone who is looking for a fun and original story.
I was really interested into the idea of Cinderella told from a prince's perspective. I thought the idea was very clever. I also enjoyed the illustrations; the convertibles that the princes ride up to the Palace Disco in give the book a fun, modern feel. The illustrations of the Rock n Royal Bash shows a variety of different princes and princesses, and I liked how each character had something unique about him or her. The only thing I disliked about this book was the author's tone. It was kind of silly, and I was hoping for something a little more serious. Overall, I recommend this book to someone who is looking for a fun and original story.
July 23, 2016
Nothing brilliant or classic, but truly silly. And we all need more silly in our lives. So, yeah, I do recommend it if it's readily available to you. If not, maybe you can find something else by Babette Cole. Or maybe something by William Cole, for example Oh, What Nonsense!... so, are the authors related?
April 29, 2018
Prince Cinders was an interesting story. It was a Cinderella through a male's perspective. Prince Cinders had three older brother who he looked nothing like. He wished to be just like them as he admired them. He came across his fairy godmother who was rather clumsy and turned Prince Cinders into an unlikely creature. Not being aware of the misunderstood magic the Prince went off to enjoy the night at the party. He scared many, but came across love. This book can be used to read to the primary grades. The lesson I would teach my class would be to always be themselves and not try to be someone you're not. There is always something unique and interesting about you that will attract people and those are who matter.
April 18, 2017
Cute and fun and silly. And that would probably be the end of my personal review.
However, as a 3rd grade teacher, I use Lucy Calkin's writing materials and the last unit of the year is a narrative unit where students create their own adaptations of fairy tales. As part of that unit, Calkins has teachers read aloud a traditional version of Cinderella and then students compare it to this adaptation, noticing the differences and trying to answer the question: What changes did the author make and what might have been the author's purpose in making those changes? Then how could noticing what Cole did help me to write my own adaptation. I began this discussion with my students today and just discussing why Cole used a boy rather than a girl, my students thought of these reasons: so Cole wasn't plagiarizing another book, so the story would be more humorous, so boys wouldn't think it was just a story for girls, to show that girls can solve problems and don't need a prince to save them (and I added to break down stereotypes). Calkins mentions some insightful reasons why perhaps the fairy is a dirty fairy. So yes, it is cute and funny...but I love that it can show children that expert authors who write adaptations make changes with specific reasons in mind and that one small change can affect the storyline in multiple ways.
However, as a 3rd grade teacher, I use Lucy Calkin's writing materials and the last unit of the year is a narrative unit where students create their own adaptations of fairy tales. As part of that unit, Calkins has teachers read aloud a traditional version of Cinderella and then students compare it to this adaptation, noticing the differences and trying to answer the question: What changes did the author make and what might have been the author's purpose in making those changes? Then how could noticing what Cole did help me to write my own adaptation. I began this discussion with my students today and just discussing why Cole used a boy rather than a girl, my students thought of these reasons: so Cole wasn't plagiarizing another book, so the story would be more humorous, so boys wouldn't think it was just a story for girls, to show that girls can solve problems and don't need a prince to save them (and I added to break down stereotypes). Calkins mentions some insightful reasons why perhaps the fairy is a dirty fairy. So yes, it is cute and funny...but I love that it can show children that expert authors who write adaptations make changes with specific reasons in mind and that one small change can affect the storyline in multiple ways.
February 2, 2020
My SBT2 Y1 class are using this text within English as part of their 'Castles' topic.
I know they are using it to inspire alternative takes on traditional fairy tales, however, I know there are better quality alternatives available eg. Revolting Rhymes, The Lost Fairy Tales.
I have a real issue with the way a number of characters are represented in this book. The princess is dressed head to toe in leopard print with a feather bower around her neck and stood waiting at a bus stop... This might be humorous to some, but I just find it sexist.
Ethnic minorities are also represented appallingly in the illustrations!
I also really dislike the message presented about Prince Cinders having to be 'big and hairy' like his brothers. He is pictured at one point reading a leaflet about 'Bicepto Cream' and there is a 'Macho Magazine' lying on the floor. Again, humorous to some, but I personally hate those gender stereotypes!
It will be interesting to see how this book is used in class. But I know I won't be using it, ever.
I know they are using it to inspire alternative takes on traditional fairy tales, however, I know there are better quality alternatives available eg. Revolting Rhymes, The Lost Fairy Tales.
I have a real issue with the way a number of characters are represented in this book. The princess is dressed head to toe in leopard print with a feather bower around her neck and stood waiting at a bus stop... This might be humorous to some, but I just find it sexist.
Ethnic minorities are also represented appallingly in the illustrations!
I also really dislike the message presented about Prince Cinders having to be 'big and hairy' like his brothers. He is pictured at one point reading a leaflet about 'Bicepto Cream' and there is a 'Macho Magazine' lying on the floor. Again, humorous to some, but I personally hate those gender stereotypes!
It will be interesting to see how this book is used in class. But I know I won't be using it, ever.
February 17, 2021
Prince Cinders is the male version of Cinderella. I listened to this story on YouTube. I thought this was a really cute and funny version of Cinderella. The pictures of this story were vibrant and helped the reader follow along with the story. Readers will enjoy the similarities to the original Cinderella with the persepective of Prince Cinders. I think this story will appeal to so many students as these traditional tales typically have a princess. I would use this story to compare to the originial or other versions of Cinderella. In addition, I think it would be really fun to find other versions of traditional tales or fairy tales that are told from a male perspective to compare and contrast. I would recommend this book to students in 2nd grade and older.
November 26, 2017
Poor Prince Cinders is small and scrawny, though he'd like to be big and hairy like his three brothers. With the help of a not-very-good-at-her-job-fairy, the prince is turned into a big hairy monkey.
But when he accidentally meets a princess, he loses his trousers in his efforts to run away. And thus, the silly search for the one who can fit the pants begins . . .
Cute retelling of the classic, and Cole's artwork is, as always, delightful!
But when he accidentally meets a princess, he loses his trousers in his efforts to run away. And thus, the silly search for the one who can fit the pants begins . . .
Cute retelling of the classic, and Cole's artwork is, as always, delightful!
March 9, 2021
A retelling of 'Cinderella'. I found this book so funny and think it would be great for breaking stereotypes as it is told through a male perspective - Prince Cinders who has 3 ugly brothers.
I think children would really enjoy this book, not only for the humor but also with spotting differences between this book and the commonly known cinderella tale.
Alongside the English in this book, Urdu is also used which could expose children to different languages. This also means this could be a tool to aid the learning of Urdu.
I think children would really enjoy this book, not only for the humor but also with spotting differences between this book and the commonly known cinderella tale.
Alongside the English in this book, Urdu is also used which could expose children to different languages. This also means this could be a tool to aid the learning of Urdu.
November 4, 2019
Great twist on Cinderella and good approach to challenging gender stereotypes. I thought the storyline was comical and the illustrations were wonderful.
February 19, 2020
Prince Cinders is already a Prince, and a full brother (not step) just not like the others. He's small and thin, his 3 brothers are brawny and brutish. He wants to be like them in looks. and their partying lifestyle and has a poor self image. His brothers take advantage of Prince Cinders passive nature and treat him as a butler. Cinders is gifted with a funny fairy who, being. bang, bongs and gets the spell wrong. turning him into an ape instead of a buff bachelor. The funny part is he doesn't see who he truly is in the mirror and believes himself to be who he's always wanted to become. He Meets the Princess Lovely Penney and she thinks he saved her from the monster. She falls in love with him but he runs leaving something behind. She searches until she finds the one man who fits the item, they marry, and live happily ever after. I would use this story with students to explore self image, and building personal mirrors to reflect how they can be self affirming.
March 27, 2012
Simply from the title you know it is going to be a parody of Cinderella but in a male perspective. And that is exactly what it was. When first looking at the cover you notice that the book is half the size of "normal" sized books, also the title font is done in a charcoal-looking font (to give the appearance it was written from the cinders, i'm guessing) and the illustration is bordered and set right in the middle. Then end pages are just plain white, not drawing any attention to them. When you turn the first page you see a crest like picture that says "Courage in Tesco" which i'm actually not sure what that signifies. The title page has the same font as the cover with the prince depicted underneath with a vacuum. Throughout the book the style of the illustration is the same, looks like some sort of watercolor, but the pictures are formatted differently on each page. Some pages you have the picture being full bleed and taking up both the pages while other illustrations are bordered. What I found interesting is the little details in the pictures, for example; in one of the pictures Prince Cinders is sweeping up after his brothers mess and in the pile of mess is cigarettes and a carton that says "Nasty Cigs." Once I saw that pictures I went back through the book and noticed the cigarettes in a couple different illustrations. I'm not sure why that stuck with me other then you don't really, if ever, will see that in modern books. I thought the story itself was a nice rendition of Cinderella.
March 7, 2012
Like most of the other fairy tale twist stories I have read, I really loved Prince Cinders! Babette Cole did a great job with this story and it is definitely written and illustrated directly for kids. The entire story has an easy and humorous feel to it and is rich with silly things for children to laugh at as they read about the crazy prince. I thought it was such a good idea for a Cinderella twist. Cinderella is one of the classic fairy tales that has the most remodels done with it. What makes this one stand out so much though, is the play on gender roles. It also is very post modern and uses funny things such as the brothers being “toned” and muscle-y and the disco dance in replace of the grand ball. I think that this is a great book because it could also appeal to boys. Since girls are the main audience for fairy tales, it is a nice change when you find one that the boys can enjoy as well. I also really enjoyed the fairy godmother character. Her silly mistakes made me laugh and kept the story interesting. I would definitely use this book in a classroom or even with my own future kids!
April 30, 2013
Author/Illustrator: Babette Cole
First Published: 1987
Babette Cole tickles me. Always. I have yet to find one of her books that doesn't appeal to my humour.
And I love books that take a classic trope and twist it.
"Prince Cinders" ticks my boxes.
A humorous, atypical narrative cleverly illustrated with supportive, colourful, cartoon-like images.
Twisting Cinderella we have a male Prince Cinders, skinny, dull, who stays at home cleaning while his handsome, big, hairy step brothers attend the Palace Disco. Enter the somewhat muddled fairy godmother (pictured as a school girl). Mayhem erupts as Prince Cinders does go to the Royal Rave, meets the Princess, leaves in a hurry, but is ultimately found through an exhaustive hunt.
Clever and funny, but also by playing with the classic trope we can teach important life lessons about difference and stereotypes.
A keeper and a re-reader.
Age:
Read aloud: 4+
Read yourself: 6+
(ISBN 0140555250)
First Published: 1987
Babette Cole tickles me. Always. I have yet to find one of her books that doesn't appeal to my humour.
And I love books that take a classic trope and twist it.
"Prince Cinders" ticks my boxes.
A humorous, atypical narrative cleverly illustrated with supportive, colourful, cartoon-like images.
Twisting Cinderella we have a male Prince Cinders, skinny, dull, who stays at home cleaning while his handsome, big, hairy step brothers attend the Palace Disco. Enter the somewhat muddled fairy godmother (pictured as a school girl). Mayhem erupts as Prince Cinders does go to the Royal Rave, meets the Princess, leaves in a hurry, but is ultimately found through an exhaustive hunt.
Clever and funny, but also by playing with the classic trope we can teach important life lessons about difference and stereotypes.
A keeper and a re-reader.
Age:
Read aloud: 4+
Read yourself: 6+
(ISBN 0140555250)
September 10, 2021
Bizarre but made the kids laugh.
January 17, 2014
I really like this fractured story of Cinderella.It starts out with a boy and how his three brothers would make fun and laugh at the things in which he did not have. The things in which he did not have like his brother was a beard and muscles. Of course it still ends the same, he gets a princess and they live happily ever after. The different point of view from a boy's perspective is quite interesting. I know I can never find the right way to describe the Cinderella story from a boy's point of view. I really liked that the things in which Cinder (the main character of the story) falls short on is the one thing that makes him special. I loved that concept, in how he is describe to be small, spotty, scruffy, and skinny.
February 5, 2017
Prince Cinders is basically a Cinderella story written in the funny way. Instead of having a heroine with miserable life with her step mummy, one will find the character named Prince Cinders who has three hairy brothers. Prince Cinders always wants to be like his brother. He then meets a fairy so he asks the fairy to turn him into a big hairy guy. He does not know that he turns to be a big hairy monkey. That small mistake finally leads him to meet his love life.
I like the book because it is funny, so exhilarating and it puts a big-Cheshire-cat-smile all over my face.
I like the book because it is funny, so exhilarating and it puts a big-Cheshire-cat-smile all over my face.
January 30, 2011
Children love humor and silly things. This book will be a good choice to read to students when you feel like your students need a laugh. I like the fact that Cole took the story Cinderella and made it into the male version. Little boys and girls will enjoy this book of humor. Cole also used a nice selection of vocabulary words such as luxury, proclamation, grunted, proposed etc. I just love books written for children that are rich with vocabulary.
March 11, 2014
E se Cenerentola fosse stata un ragazzo un po’ sfigato? La fata lo avrebbe trasformato in un gorilla, sarebbe andato al ballo con una macchinina giocattolo e non avrebbe perso una scarpa, bensì i pantaloni. Ci sono più idee in queste trentadue pagine che in tanti romanzi ultra pompati dalle case editrice. Non conoscevo Babette Cole e si è rivelata una ventata di freschezza. Piccola fiaba ironica per tutti gli amanti degli albi illustrati.
October 20, 2008
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!! IT IS HILLIARUS!!!!! It is sooo different themn Cinderella yet the same!!! Like he didnt lose a shoe, he lost his pants!!!! So all the men came without there pants to see if they could into cinder's. The book is just too funny!!1!!1! You totally need to read it!!!! You will laugh so much your pants will fall off!!!1!
January 9, 2012
Great book! like Princess smartypants this book breaks gender sterotypes. Its a funny book that is great for group reading at the end of the school day espcially when youve had a long day!
This book would be great for year 1 class who are exploring different versions of fairytales. I would also encourgae them add twists in the storyline too!
Recommend!
This book would be great for year 1 class who are exploring different versions of fairytales. I would also encourgae them add twists in the storyline too!
Recommend!
Read
July 9, 2015My toddler students love this book. They were laughing the whole time while I was reading this book. This is one of humorous book to read during free time. The book also has descriptive words that I can introduce to the students.
April 23, 2024
Author/Illustrator: Babette Cole
ISBN-13: 9780698115545
Summary: Prince Cinders goes on an adventures and he is aided by his fairy godmother. It is a play on Cinderella and features similar ideas and themes.
ISBN-13: 9780698115545
Summary: Prince Cinders goes on an adventures and he is aided by his fairy godmother. It is a play on Cinderella and features similar ideas and themes.
Read
October 4, 2019Summary:
Prince Cinders is the male version of the classic tale, Cinderella. He has 3 hairy step brothers and a fairy godmother who can't get anything right (she accidentally turned him into a big hairy monkey.) He didn't know he was turned into a big monkey and went to the rock n roll dash but he was so big he couldn't get through the door. So he decided to take the bus back home. When he got to the bus stop he met a princess. She was so frightened by his big monkey appearance she passed out and right as he passed out he turned back into a man. When she awoke she fell in love with Prince Cinders because she thought he saved her from the big hairy monkey, but Prince Cinders was running away. While he was running, he lost his trousers! The princess was determined to find him using the trousers he left behind. Princes from all over came to try them on until Prince Cinders tried them on and they fit. The prince and princess then lived happily ever after.
Evaluation:
I really enjoyed reading this book. Babette Cole does a great job of taking a timeless story and telling it from a males point of view. The character development has a good pace and makes the reader feel like they know and connect with Prince Cinders. I think this would be a good book for all ages, so I would recommend this book for K-5th grade.
Teaching Point:
Babette Cole does a great job of using many compound words in her story. Words such as girlfriends, midnight, swimsuit, lovelypenny and housework. The teacher could teach students what a compound word is and why they are important to use in your writing before reading the story to the class. Then while the teacher is reading, every time they hear a compound word they write it down and at the end of the book students have a class discussion about all the words they found. Afterwards, they could then edit a story they have already written and add compound words into it wherever the seem appropriate. This would help students expand their vocabulary and add extra depth to their stories.
Prince Cinders is the male version of the classic tale, Cinderella. He has 3 hairy step brothers and a fairy godmother who can't get anything right (she accidentally turned him into a big hairy monkey.) He didn't know he was turned into a big monkey and went to the rock n roll dash but he was so big he couldn't get through the door. So he decided to take the bus back home. When he got to the bus stop he met a princess. She was so frightened by his big monkey appearance she passed out and right as he passed out he turned back into a man. When she awoke she fell in love with Prince Cinders because she thought he saved her from the big hairy monkey, but Prince Cinders was running away. While he was running, he lost his trousers! The princess was determined to find him using the trousers he left behind. Princes from all over came to try them on until Prince Cinders tried them on and they fit. The prince and princess then lived happily ever after.
Evaluation:
I really enjoyed reading this book. Babette Cole does a great job of taking a timeless story and telling it from a males point of view. The character development has a good pace and makes the reader feel like they know and connect with Prince Cinders. I think this would be a good book for all ages, so I would recommend this book for K-5th grade.
Teaching Point:
Babette Cole does a great job of using many compound words in her story. Words such as girlfriends, midnight, swimsuit, lovelypenny and housework. The teacher could teach students what a compound word is and why they are important to use in your writing before reading the story to the class. Then while the teacher is reading, every time they hear a compound word they write it down and at the end of the book students have a class discussion about all the words they found. Afterwards, they could then edit a story they have already written and add compound words into it wherever the seem appropriate. This would help students expand their vocabulary and add extra depth to their stories.
March 18, 2019
Genre: Traditional Literature - Fairy Tale
Awards: N/A
Grades: 1-3
A. They are all described very dramatically, making the "cinderella" role very small and weak, and making the stepbrothers very evil and mean. They exaggerate their characteristics so that the reader sees the characters the way the author intended.
B. This is a very different version of the classic story of "Cinderella" and I also know a lot of different adaptations of this classic in movies and other short stories.
C. I would definitely use this as a storytelling book for a group of children because it shows a different take on Cinderella and let's the kids see it through a different lens.
D. Why did the princess fall in love with Cinders? Because she thought he saved her from the large beast.
Awards: N/A
Grades: 1-3
A. They are all described very dramatically, making the "cinderella" role very small and weak, and making the stepbrothers very evil and mean. They exaggerate their characteristics so that the reader sees the characters the way the author intended.
B. This is a very different version of the classic story of "Cinderella" and I also know a lot of different adaptations of this classic in movies and other short stories.
C. I would definitely use this as a storytelling book for a group of children because it shows a different take on Cinderella and let's the kids see it through a different lens.
D. Why did the princess fall in love with Cinders? Because she thought he saved her from the large beast.
August 14, 2017
A gender flipped Cinderella, following the same plot, basically, just a bit zanier since all of the characters bumble about is some way or another, and its a fairy tale land with both fairy godmothers and Ferraris.
Also, it is hilarious that the background characters of townsfolk are almost all exclusively royals of all types, which makes for even funnier pictures of background dancers and people walking down the street in all forms of royal accoutrements, of multiple nationalities and eras.
Also, it is hilarious that the background characters of townsfolk are almost all exclusively royals of all types, which makes for even funnier pictures of background dancers and people walking down the street in all forms of royal accoutrements, of multiple nationalities and eras.
October 18, 2017
I found this book to be hilarious! It was a fun and interesting retelling of the cinderella that we all know. Instead of little girl who wishes to be a princess, it is a small prince who is weak without any facial hair or muscles. This funny story puts quite a twist on the fairly tale when the fairy comes to change him, she messes up and the story spirals into something much more. If you have a chance to read this, I would recommend reading it and sharing with young children who would also enjoy it.
February 27, 2024
This was another take on a Cinderella story but from a male perspective and there was a not-so-helpful fairy. He got married because his pants fit the best. I thought this book was very good and had an extremely different approach to the normal Cinderella story. I think this would make a great read aloud and I believe that it is a book that boys and girls would like equally. This would also be great for showing students the differences between cultures.
Author: Babette Cole
Illustrator: Babette Cole
Publisher: Puffin Books April 14, 1997
Author: Babette Cole
Illustrator: Babette Cole
Publisher: Puffin Books April 14, 1997
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