Cinderella or the Little Glass Slipper

by Charles Perrault, Errol Le Cain (Illustrator)

In her haste to flee the palace before the fairy godmother's magic loses effect, Cinderella leaves behind a glass slipper.

Genres: Picture Books, Fairy Tales, Classics, Childrens, Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

Published February 24, 1977

About the author

Charles Perrault was a French author who laid foundations for a new literary genre, the fairy tale, and whose best known tales, offered as if they were pre-existing folk tales, include: Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Puss in Boots, Cinderella, Bluebeard, Hop o' My Thumb), Diamonds and Toads, Patient Griselda, The Ridiculous Wishes...

Perrault's most famous stories are still in print today and have been made into operas, ballets (e.g., Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty), plays, musicals, and films, both live-action and animation.

The Brothers Grimm retold their own versions of some of Perrault's fairy tales.

Reviews

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this classic fairy tales in the Classics of Children’s Literature (6th Edition) by John W. Griffith and Charles H. Frey. Published by Pearson in Upper Saddle River, NJ in 2005.

Cinderella’s mother is not given much thought but her father takes a second wife and soon Cinderella falls victim to the nasty behavior of a stepmother and two stepsisters. They take her belongings and leave her with nothing but the cinders near the chimney. The King holds a ball and while she is forbidden to go, Cinderella must help her stepsister get ready for the grand event. Cinderella is incredibly kind to her stepsisters despite their mocking and teasing. Once, the stepsisters have left for the ball, Cinderella begins to cry but soon after her fairy godmother appears and turns ordinary objects and creatures into a grand coach and horses and provides her with a beautiful gown, so that she may go to the ball. Cinderella is the most beautiful lady at the ball and wins the attention of the Prince but she must rush off before midnight. Similar events take place on the second night of the ball, only Cinderella leaves behind one glass slipper. The Prince sets out to find the lady whose feet fit into this elegant glass slipper. The two stepsisters try and fail and everyone is quite shocked when Cinderella fits the slipper. She marries the Prince and forgives her stepsisters for their unkind behavior.

Reaction: Perrault focuses heavily on the fashion and external beauty in his version. Cinderella seems to overcome her had life because she is made beautiful not necessarily from her good nature. I prefer the Grimms’ version.

[Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect fairytale read.
This picture book strops the story down to its bare essentials but has a nice redemption for the sisters at the end. However it's the illustrations from Errol Le Cain that really give it that something extra. Like a beautiful medieval tapestry there are so many gorgeous patterns and hidden details that you can help enjoying every single picture.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper, illustrated by Errol Le Cain

The classic French fairy-tale of Cinderella is adapted and illustrated by the fabulous British-Singaporean artist Errol Le Cain in this lovely picture book from the 1970s. The story is the traditional one, with gentle and kindhearted Cinderella mistreated by her haughty stepmother and vain stepsisters, aided in attending the king's ball by her fairy godmother, and sought by her prince with the aid of her glass slipper. The artwork alternates between color scenes and black and white, with full-page illustration on one side of each two-page spread, and text on the other...

I am a great admirer of Le Cain's work, which is unfortunately not always easy to track down, so I was delighted to discover that my local public library owned a copy of his Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper, while searching for retellings of that story for a recent themed reading project. I immediately requested it, and am so glad that I did, as I find it delightful! The telling is engaging, although nothing out of the ordinary—it's the standard Perrault version of this tale—but the artwork is gorgeous, and well worth seeking out, for its own sake. It has a somewhat stylized, surreal feeling to it that is very expressive and quite appealing, the decorative borders (only present in the color spreads) are gorgeous, the black and white scenes are detailed and have the appeal of etchings (a form I love), while the scenes done in color are vibrant and eye-catching. All in all, a treat! Recommended to fellow fans of the artist, and to anyone looking for more vintage picture book retellings of this tale.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A kinder version of the Cinderella tale in which Cinderella marries her two step sisters off to two noblemen at the end. Pictures were comical, almost cartoony and were in full color every other page. I liked the color palette and this lighter tale, but I don't know that I loved the artwork.

[Branwynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a shame the cover artwork isn't available- this was the first book to visually inspire me. So lovely.

[NS-Christine Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite Cinderella books. It is a classic Cinderella story. Both the pictures and the text are beautiful. The detailed illustrations are reminiscent of folk art.

[Amy M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Errol le Cain has quickly become one of my favourite illustrators of all-time. I must find this book! Truly lovely work.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dreamy rendition of the classic tale. It was nice to read a non-Disney translation.

[Lamiaa Lotfy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book the illustrations, were affected by "Art Nouveau", so much ... In my opinion as Specialist, Errol Le Cain illustrations are stronger than the text

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many of the illustrations are very gorgeous.

[Maya · Rating 2 out of 5]

read this in Japanese

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice retelling of Cinderella with gorgeous illustrations by Errol Le Cain.

[Meaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the illustrations. Ended differently than most Cinderellas!