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Cinder Edna
Cinder Edna, who lived next door to Cinderella, also had a wicked stepmother and stepsisters, but, in this delightfully colorful tale, Edna proves strong, indomitable, and full of good jokes, managing in her own way to live happily ever after.
32 pages, Library Binding
First published April 29, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 380 reviews
August 21, 2019
I didn't particularly like the silliness of the plot with two side-by-side Cinderellas, it didn't make much in terms of plot besides trying to use an "ugly" counterpart for the heroine for the purposes of being preachy.
August 4, 2019
A humorous fractured fairy tale! Please add this book to your Cinderella picture book collection!
January 7, 2012
This was given to me as a gift. I wanted to like it, but I don't. The lessons to be learned from it are:
*Frumpiness is a virtue called "practicality"; showing up under-dressed to a formal ball is NOT a sign of ineptitude, contrary to popular belief.
*Good-looking people are obviously stupid.
*Marrying someone after knowing her for only one evening is shallow if based on mutual physical attraction. Marrying someone after knowing her for only one evening is advisable if based on mutual unattractiveness and sense of humor.
*It is okay to say rude things to a shallow, unintelligent brother, even though his "amazingly stupid" plan gets results sooner.
*If one finds one's self enslaved, one is expected not to mind it. (Didn't we hear this already in the antebellum South?)
*Even after doing a day's worth of slave labor, a good slave should have a side business. Is the author by chance a Tea Partier?
*A good host collects guests' paper cups for recycling before they are done with them so they will have to waste another paper cup. (Forget practicality.)
This book grates on me because it beats you over the head with its moral lessons about beauty and recycling while ignoring other important lessons like speaking kindly or sympathizing with those who are in trouble. I tend toward frumpiness myself, so it bothers me to be represented by this voice claiming the superiority of a lazy inattention to appearance and glorification of comfort. With its denouncement of beauty, it stereotypes all us plainer girls as bitter and jealous of the prettier girls.
It can be argued that this book is an answer to the over-representation of beauty in literature. The number of stunningly beautiful protagonists is ridiculous. However, if this book falls into the same trap of polarizing the beautiful and the plain/ugly against each other, it only repeats the offense.
*Frumpiness is a virtue called "practicality"; showing up under-dressed to a formal ball is NOT a sign of ineptitude, contrary to popular belief.
*Good-looking people are obviously stupid.
*Marrying someone after knowing her for only one evening is shallow if based on mutual physical attraction. Marrying someone after knowing her for only one evening is advisable if based on mutual unattractiveness and sense of humor.
*It is okay to say rude things to a shallow, unintelligent brother, even though his "amazingly stupid" plan gets results sooner.
*If one finds one's self enslaved, one is expected not to mind it. (Didn't we hear this already in the antebellum South?)
*Even after doing a day's worth of slave labor, a good slave should have a side business. Is the author by chance a Tea Partier?
*A good host collects guests' paper cups for recycling before they are done with them so they will have to waste another paper cup. (Forget practicality.)
This book grates on me because it beats you over the head with its moral lessons about beauty and recycling while ignoring other important lessons like speaking kindly or sympathizing with those who are in trouble. I tend toward frumpiness myself, so it bothers me to be represented by this voice claiming the superiority of a lazy inattention to appearance and glorification of comfort. With its denouncement of beauty, it stereotypes all us plainer girls as bitter and jealous of the prettier girls.
It can be argued that this book is an answer to the over-representation of beauty in literature. The number of stunningly beautiful protagonists is ridiculous. However, if this book falls into the same trap of polarizing the beautiful and the plain/ugly against each other, it only repeats the offense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2017
Cinder Edna I'm afraid I didn't love this. If it had just been a variation of the Cinderella story with "Cinder Edna" being her plucky, intelligent, outgoing self and the Prince being a bit more quirky and dynamic than fairytale princes are traditionally allowed to be, I probably would have enjoyed it. (Though I'm not a big fan of this style of illustration.) But the foil with the traditional Cinderella and Prince really didn't sit well with me. I didn't like how cynical the "Cinder Edna" retelling was. just really didn't like that the book seemed to thumb its nose at Cinderella and the crown prince's duties as a royal and that Edna and her prince weren't even that nice to them.
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I'm all for modern retellings of fairytales with "girl power" but I don't really enjoy mocking traditional fairy tales. After all, they are tales from the past and, once upon a time, girls didn't have any power, and most girls were not educated, could not hold property, etc. -- the best they could do was marry well. And being in power over ones own behavior, being kind, being generous, even with those who are "less than" you (animals, for example) was, in most circumstances, the most one could do toward controlling her happiness. Cinderella was kind and patient in difficult circumstances--and she was rewarded by marrying as well as any woman could hope to do (marriage usually being the only opportunity for a woman to change her circumstances) and she was granted a "happy ever after." I'm very glad that we have so many modern tales full of strong females who use their brains and hearts to the full extent and embrace their liberty with gusto. I'm very glad we have true stories about women who made history by breaking boundaries. I'm very glad I'm a woman of the 21st century. But I hope that I will not look down my nose on my sisters of long ago who could not do much beyond their sphere of domesticity--carrying ones burdens with a happy, kind heart is enough to make one a heroine in my book. I know this got a bit beyond a review of the book (and I know it is supposed to be a more modern version of the story--so if Edna can take a bus and get paid for working odd jobs then Cinderella had other avenues for self-improvement, too) I guess it just touched a nerve ;-)
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I'm all for modern retellings of fairytales with "girl power" but I don't really enjoy mocking traditional fairy tales. After all, they are tales from the past and, once upon a time, girls didn't have any power, and most girls were not educated, could not hold property, etc. -- the best they could do was marry well. And being in power over ones own behavior, being kind, being generous, even with those who are "less than" you (animals, for example) was, in most circumstances, the most one could do toward controlling her happiness. Cinderella was kind and patient in difficult circumstances--and she was rewarded by marrying as well as any woman could hope to do (marriage usually being the only opportunity for a woman to change her circumstances) and she was granted a "happy ever after." I'm very glad that we have so many modern tales full of strong females who use their brains and hearts to the full extent and embrace their liberty with gusto. I'm very glad we have true stories about women who made history by breaking boundaries. I'm very glad I'm a woman of the 21st century. But I hope that I will not look down my nose on my sisters of long ago who could not do much beyond their sphere of domesticity--carrying ones burdens with a happy, kind heart is enough to make one a heroine in my book. I know this got a bit beyond a review of the book (and I know it is supposed to be a more modern version of the story--so if Edna can take a bus and get paid for working odd jobs then Cinderella had other avenues for self-improvement, too) I guess it just touched a nerve ;-)
March 7, 2020
While I have to a certain and pretty small point enjoyed Cinder Edna (it is indeed rather clever, often humorous, and while I have found Kevin O'Malley's accompanying illustrations much too gaudy, garish and annoyingly cartoon-caricature like for my personal aesthetics, I do have to admit that they work well enough in conjunction with author Ellen Jackson's reimagined, modern-day Cinderella type text), the overt and in-one's-face preachiness does tend to absolutely and majorly stick in my craw (and wear frustratingly thin). For I generally speaking and actually even absolutely do not really enjoy (and in any way appreciate) in no uncertain terms and with a lack of any nuance whatsoever categorically being told (either orally or in written format) what I am supposed to like and whom I am supposed to admire or imitate.
And therefore, even though I would naturally in fact and indeed actually tend to much admire both Edna and Rupert as individuals and cheer their happily ever after of dressing sensibly, of caring about and for the environment, and yes, even their consumption of plain food choices such as tuna casseroles (out of mere principle and because that is the kind of person I happen to be), by having the author, by having Ellen Jackson with her printed words, with the presented narrative of Cinder Edna basically tell me as reader unilaterally and even (in my opinion) with a bit of moral indignation and outrage that Edna and Rupert are oh so much preferable and worthy of being feted and admired than Ella and Randolph, I have to admit that when I finished reading Cinder Edna, I for one actually ended up starting to rebel and so massively chafe at the preachiness and overt authorial messaging that I have left Cinder Edna both a bit personally annoyed at Edna and Rupert and really actually even somewhat preferring Ella and Randolph as characters, as a couple, and even their life of comparative societal ease (kind of an epic fail on the part of the author and in my opinion, this personal feeling with regard to the ending of Cinder Edna has materialised ONLY due to Ellen Jackson's constant and rather heavy-duty sermonising and overt messages regarding society, culture and the like).
And therefore, even though I would naturally in fact and indeed actually tend to much admire both Edna and Rupert as individuals and cheer their happily ever after of dressing sensibly, of caring about and for the environment, and yes, even their consumption of plain food choices such as tuna casseroles (out of mere principle and because that is the kind of person I happen to be), by having the author, by having Ellen Jackson with her printed words, with the presented narrative of Cinder Edna basically tell me as reader unilaterally and even (in my opinion) with a bit of moral indignation and outrage that Edna and Rupert are oh so much preferable and worthy of being feted and admired than Ella and Randolph, I have to admit that when I finished reading Cinder Edna, I for one actually ended up starting to rebel and so massively chafe at the preachiness and overt authorial messaging that I have left Cinder Edna both a bit personally annoyed at Edna and Rupert and really actually even somewhat preferring Ella and Randolph as characters, as a couple, and even their life of comparative societal ease (kind of an epic fail on the part of the author and in my opinion, this personal feeling with regard to the ending of Cinder Edna has materialised ONLY due to Ellen Jackson's constant and rather heavy-duty sermonising and overt messages regarding society, culture and the like).
May 3, 2010
This little fable about Cinderella's plain but hard-working neighbor Edna is cute but annoyingly obvious and preachy in a way that I had shoved down my throat all my school-years. I'm sure anyone over age 5 would guess from the beginning that our sympathies are meant to be with with the upbeat Edna as she mows lawns and cleans birdcages (Cinderella cleans all day too, but because she feels sorry for herself I guess we don't have to). We're supposed to admire Edna and her prince, Rupert, because they care about the environment and dress sensibly. Personally, their "happily ever after" of eating tuna noodle casserole, studying waste disposal engineering, and playing the accordion sounded like even less fun than Ella and Randolph's life of being well-dressed and going to formal functions. Plus, Rupert had a creepy resemblance to Woody Allen. But they do seem to suit each other, which I guess is a good point to make to the sort of little girls who ask for "princess" books: mutual interests are more important than beauty and prestige. Also, there were cute details in the illustrations, even if they didn't otherwise wow me. My favorite was Edna taking the bus to the ball, reading a book about "woofers and tweeters" with the little kid next to her.
November 8, 2022
Well, what a way to jack hammer that glass slipper into dust. Someone obviously doesn't like Cinderella. *eye roll* Not every princess is a blonde, just look at the European monarchy and not every commoner a brunette, just look around. Royalty are not leaches, they are constantly working in service of the people. And not every girl has to be completely independent and self reliant to have a happily ever after. Some girls do get a prince charming that saves them from the cruel world and become their husband's princess. There is no reason to destroy this most beloved fairy tale.
March 18, 2017
I still love the story on this, um, 4th or 5th reread. I don't know that I find it particularly funny, exactly, but I do love the lesson that our own attitude determines our happiness, at least in the modern world. And I have a crush on Rupert myself....
As far as it dissing Edna's neighbor, Ella, well, I don't think it did so in a mean way, just strongly enough to make it plain how wrong it is to value beauty so highly over all else. And that is a lesson we're all trying to teach our daughters, so they don't become anorexics or Mean Girls, right?
As far as it dissing Edna's neighbor, Ella, well, I don't think it did so in a mean way, just strongly enough to make it plain how wrong it is to value beauty so highly over all else. And that is a lesson we're all trying to teach our daughters, so they don't become anorexics or Mean Girls, right?
September 26, 2015
I absolutely adore this book. Ellen Jackson spins the classic tale of Cinderella to a more critical view when she adds in Cinder Edna, the next-door neighbor. The story we all know is changed completely as we watch Cinderella become the kind of stuck-up princess that her step-sisters were painted as initially. Cinder Edna works for her evil family members as well, but she is so much more down to earth and modern. Jackson has created a double story here where a character from our time mixes with the magical, and unrealistic, life of the princess Cinderella. I have read this book to my little cousins and some of the kids I babysit and it is so fun to watch how they reach to Jackson calling out their favorite princess on her shortcomings! At one point in the book, Jackson writes that Cinderella can only, "sway a bit to the music," at the royal ball, because, "she was afraid of mussing her hair, and she knew those fragile glass slippers would break if she danced too hard." The kids always light up at that part of the story and start making connections about how if they had glass slippers their mom would tell them they had to be very careful or could not wear them at all! The characters are drawn to reflect their personalities, with Cinderella looking prissy and rich, her fairy godmother looking annoyed, Cinder Edna appearing completely normal with her scuffed- up loafers, Prince Charming as a pompous prince more than a charming one, and a new character, Prince Rupert (Charming's brother and Edna's love) portrayed in the light of a lovable dork with a focus on saving kittens and recycling. This book is the perfect way to connect the stories you teach in class with life today. The kids will appreciate the reality shown in the story because sometimes fairytales feel untruthful, this points that out and gives them an answer to why they shouldn't always just accept what they hear. Fairytales are wonderful ways to pass down old tales through the centuries, however, at some point kids need to transition into real life and leave the pumpkin chariots behind. Cinder Edna is there to help them through that.
January 17, 2018
Eh. I'm sure uber feminists who hate fairy tales would love this. It runs parallel with Cinderella's story, but shows Ella in a materialistic, ditzy, helpless role. Meanwhile, Edna is shown to be "smart", resourceful, and practical.
It does the same thing with the Prince and his brother who falls for Edna. Rupert makes fun of the prince, Randolph (although we all know Rupert is the prince, just ask Rodgers and Hammerstein) for not asking Cinderella's name, because, duh. He got Edna's. But yet, Rupert still doesn't recognize Edna when he finds her again after the shoe search.
♫♫♫♫♫ His Royal Highness, Christopher Rupert Windermere Vladimir Carl
Alexander Francois Reginald Lancelot Herman ♫♫♫♫♫
Anywho, historical context is important, and this story was set in the somewhat present. Meaning, there are buses for public transport. But Cinderella was only "helpless" because she was a female in the 1800s at the latest (if you use the Grimm version).
This came across as cynical and harpy. Go away.
It does the same thing with the Prince and his brother who falls for Edna. Rupert makes fun of the prince, Randolph (although we all know Rupert is the prince, just ask Rodgers and Hammerstein) for not asking Cinderella's name, because, duh. He got Edna's. But yet, Rupert still doesn't recognize Edna when he finds her again after the shoe search.
♫♫♫♫♫ His Royal Highness, Christopher Rupert Windermere Vladimir Carl
Alexander Francois Reginald Lancelot Herman ♫♫♫♫♫
Anywho, historical context is important, and this story was set in the somewhat present. Meaning, there are buses for public transport. But Cinderella was only "helpless" because she was a female in the 1800s at the latest (if you use the Grimm version).
This came across as cynical and harpy. Go away.
January 18, 2018
This was cute, but a bit snarky for my tastes. I liked the overall idea of it and I loved the way Cinder Edna's relationship with her spouse is depicted. But, unfortunately a lot of it was sort of 'mean girl' snarky in feeling.
I really wanted to like this one because I love that Cinder Edna is an individual happy to walk to her own beat. HOWEVER, I think that you can be an individual and make your own choices without bashing the choices of someone else.
Overall, it's still a good book, but I felt like it was necessary to remind my daughter that Cinderella may have been perfectly happy with her choice because people's interests and likes/dislikes vary.
I really wanted to like this one because I love that Cinder Edna is an individual happy to walk to her own beat. HOWEVER, I think that you can be an individual and make your own choices without bashing the choices of someone else.
Overall, it's still a good book, but I felt like it was necessary to remind my daughter that Cinderella may have been perfectly happy with her choice because people's interests and likes/dislikes vary.
October 12, 2009
Summary/A Thoughtful Review:
This book, fit for all ages, tells the humorous story of two next-door-neighbors, over-worked, somewhat helpless, Cinderella, and self-motivated, down-to-Earth, Cinder Enda. Cinderella, forced to work for her evil step-sisters and step-mother, is characterized as somewhat of a damsel in distress, sitting among the cinders, wishing to go to the ball, and needing a fairy godmother's help to provide a coach, gown, and glass slippers to get there. Cinder Enda, on the other hand, doesn't believe in fairy godmothers, mows the lawn, cleans parrot cages for $1.50/hr, and taught herself to play the accordian. SHE uses her extra money to "put a dress on layaway for just these kind of occasions," decides her comfortable loafers would be perfect for dancing, and takes the public bus to the ball.
At the ball, Cinderella and Cinder Enda meet Randolph, the proper, yet highly conceited prince who "turned his head so [she:] could see how handsome his chin look from the right side" and Rupert, Randolph's younger brother who "lives in a cottage in the back and runs the recycling plant and a home for orphaned kittens." Since Cinderella is afraid of messing up her hair and her glass slippers are too uncomfortable to dance in, she watches as Enda and Rupert "bust a move" on the dance floor. When the clock strikes midnight, Cinderella must leave before everything magical changes to its original state, and Cinder Enda must catch the last bus. So which of the two finds her prince charming and lives "happily ever after?" You'll just have to read and find out!
This story DEFINITELY challenges the original tale's stereotypical role of woman, with Cinder Enda characterized as a strong, self-motivated woman, who is looking to take care of herself, but also find a true love...without living in a fantasy world.
This book, fit for all ages, tells the humorous story of two next-door-neighbors, over-worked, somewhat helpless, Cinderella, and self-motivated, down-to-Earth, Cinder Enda. Cinderella, forced to work for her evil step-sisters and step-mother, is characterized as somewhat of a damsel in distress, sitting among the cinders, wishing to go to the ball, and needing a fairy godmother's help to provide a coach, gown, and glass slippers to get there. Cinder Enda, on the other hand, doesn't believe in fairy godmothers, mows the lawn, cleans parrot cages for $1.50/hr, and taught herself to play the accordian. SHE uses her extra money to "put a dress on layaway for just these kind of occasions," decides her comfortable loafers would be perfect for dancing, and takes the public bus to the ball.
At the ball, Cinderella and Cinder Enda meet Randolph, the proper, yet highly conceited prince who "turned his head so [she:] could see how handsome his chin look from the right side" and Rupert, Randolph's younger brother who "lives in a cottage in the back and runs the recycling plant and a home for orphaned kittens." Since Cinderella is afraid of messing up her hair and her glass slippers are too uncomfortable to dance in, she watches as Enda and Rupert "bust a move" on the dance floor. When the clock strikes midnight, Cinderella must leave before everything magical changes to its original state, and Cinder Enda must catch the last bus. So which of the two finds her prince charming and lives "happily ever after?" You'll just have to read and find out!
This story DEFINITELY challenges the original tale's stereotypical role of woman, with Cinder Enda characterized as a strong, self-motivated woman, who is looking to take care of herself, but also find a true love...without living in a fantasy world.
April 19, 2018
An alternative version to Cinderella with a 'Great Gatsby' type setting. "And the girl who had been known as Cinder Edna ended up in a small cottage with solar heating. During the day she studied waste disposal engineering and cared for orphaned kittens." She can name fifteeen kinds of tuna casserole and tell jokes about kangaroos from Kalamzoo.
As far as 'plucky' and 'hard working' poor goes, the original Cinderella slaved all day from morning to night and slept in the ashes by the fireplace to stay warm because her inheritance had been stolen. She was hardly bourgeoise! This fractured fairy tale was just too try hard!
As far as 'plucky' and 'hard working' poor goes, the original Cinderella slaved all day from morning to night and slept in the ashes by the fireplace to stay warm because her inheritance had been stolen. She was hardly bourgeoise! This fractured fairy tale was just too try hard!
October 30, 2011
I read this when I was learning English. This book is cute and I am surprised I still remember this.
February 28, 2015
Lame modern parody.
Read
November 28, 2017Summary
Cinderella and Cinder Edna are next store neighbors with similar lives. They both work for their step mother's and step sister's all day long. However, they have different mindsets when it comes to their life. Cinderella can't wait for her fairy godmother to come and take care of her and to get married to a man that will take care of her as well. Cinder Edna takes life by the horns and makes her own destiny. They both go to the ball where the prince and his brother are looking for a wife. Eventually, they each marry one of the princes and go on to lead very different lives.
Evaluation
This book was too cute and funny. I loved the different sides of Cinderella. There is the poor, helpless Cinderella we all know, and Cinder Edna who isn't afraid to take care of herself. They each want to get married to a prince, but Cinder Edna is looking for a life partner while Cinderella is looking for a man who will take care of her. I think older students in elementary school would enjoy this because of the humor in the story.
Teaching Point
I would use this book when teaching comparing and contrasting. We would read the book whole group and compare Cinderella and Cinder Edna. We would compare their physical appearances and moral values. We could enrich the activity by comparing the princes as well. Another enrichment activity would be having the students write an extended ending to the story or they could have Cinderella write a letter to Cinder Edna or vice versa.
Cinderella and Cinder Edna are next store neighbors with similar lives. They both work for their step mother's and step sister's all day long. However, they have different mindsets when it comes to their life. Cinderella can't wait for her fairy godmother to come and take care of her and to get married to a man that will take care of her as well. Cinder Edna takes life by the horns and makes her own destiny. They both go to the ball where the prince and his brother are looking for a wife. Eventually, they each marry one of the princes and go on to lead very different lives.
Evaluation
This book was too cute and funny. I loved the different sides of Cinderella. There is the poor, helpless Cinderella we all know, and Cinder Edna who isn't afraid to take care of herself. They each want to get married to a prince, but Cinder Edna is looking for a life partner while Cinderella is looking for a man who will take care of her. I think older students in elementary school would enjoy this because of the humor in the story.
Teaching Point
I would use this book when teaching comparing and contrasting. We would read the book whole group and compare Cinderella and Cinder Edna. We would compare their physical appearances and moral values. We could enrich the activity by comparing the princes as well. Another enrichment activity would be having the students write an extended ending to the story or they could have Cinderella write a letter to Cinder Edna or vice versa.
February 17, 2020
Cinder Edna is written by Ellen Jackson and illustrated by Kevin O’Malley. I listened to this book as a read aloud on YouTube. The video did not show the words, which I think showing the words would have made it easier to follow along. I found this title on Good Reads popular traditional literature book list. This is a story about Cinderella and Cinder Edna. They both have different experiences about attending a ball and meeting their true love. Cinderella’s experience is most like the traditional story of Cinderella. Cinder Enda also wants to attend the ball, so she buys a dress with her work money, unlike Cinderella who has a fairy godmother. Cinder Edna takes the bus to the palace, while Cinderella takes a carriage that her fairy godmother gave to her. Edna meets a prince, who runs a recycling plant and a home for orphaned kittens. He is not the typical prince that oversees troops and sits on a throne all day. After attending a ball, Edna must leave because the buses stop running at midnight. She loses her comfortable loafer on her way to the bus. The prince is determined to find Edna, his true love. He goes on the search for Edna, but without using the loafer. Only Edna will be able to answer the question that the prince will ask.
The illustrations are colorful and reflect what the text says, which assists younger students with comprehension. The text is frequently only on one page, while illustrations take up the rest of the page and the page next to it.
A diverse perspective is minimal in this book, but this book has some realistic aspects to it. For example, taking the bus, wearing comfortable shoes, and working. This book could be used for K through 6th as a read aloud and/or mentor text. An instructional opportunity for this would be to focus the comprehension strategy compare and contrast. Also, this book could be a mentor text for story structure.
The illustrations are colorful and reflect what the text says, which assists younger students with comprehension. The text is frequently only on one page, while illustrations take up the rest of the page and the page next to it.
A diverse perspective is minimal in this book, but this book has some realistic aspects to it. For example, taking the bus, wearing comfortable shoes, and working. This book could be used for K through 6th as a read aloud and/or mentor text. An instructional opportunity for this would be to focus the comprehension strategy compare and contrast. Also, this book could be a mentor text for story structure.
November 16, 2018
Annotated Bibliography Entry: Cinder Edna by Ellen Jackson
Summary:
This is a fragmented tale of Cinderella. It is basically the classic Cinderella with a few twists: Cinderella is not as one-dimensional as the classic and there is Cinder Edna, a girl who lives the same type of lifestyle as Cinderella, but has a more positive outlook on life and love and actually knows how to do stuff on her own. She is independent, buys her own dress for the ball and takes the bus, rather than relying on a fairy godmother. Both Cinderella and Cinder Edna attend the same ball, but both have different experiences. Cinderella meets a handsome prince and is smitten with him, while Edna thinks his lifestyle is rather boring since he just sits on his throne all day talking politics. Instead she meets Rupert, the prince's brother who is much more of a go-getter than his brother. Once the clock strikes 12 both the ladies leave and the lovers try to find them. In the end, both find their perspective brides and marry them in a double ceremony. However, it is not a happy ending for all of them. Ella is bored by her husband's lifestyle and Edna has a happy marriage with a husband who is her best friend. GIRL POWER!
Personal Response:
As I mentioned before: GIRL POWER! I love how this book treated women as independent, rather than someone who has to rely on others for help. I love that the characters in this book even Cinderella are not one-dimensional like the typical story that most kids watch from Disney. In a lot of ways it is more realistic (especially Cinder Edna) and I think kids will connect more with that. Edna is just like everyone else, she is average and not just some fantasy character. This book still has though fantasy elements, but is much more realistic. I also liked the not so happy ending for some of the characters. Very realistic, which I think is refreshing. I remember my teachers reading this book to us in elementary school and I remember liking it so it was nice to explore and read it once again from a teacher's perspective.
Descriptions of Illustrations:
Pictures are very fantastical and fits the concept of a fairy tale. The colors work well. It is not as vibrant as other illustrations I have seen, but the pictures really do convey that it is a fairy tale of sorts that we are reading. I like that and find the pictures overall to be quite enjoyable and appealing.
Classroom Connections:
There are a lot of different things teachers could do with this book. For starters, a lot of kids are familiar with Disney's Cinderella and I think it would be nice to make a venn diagram and have the students compare and contrast the two stories finding what is similar and what is different about it. Since this book represents characters in a more multi-dimensional way, teachers could have the students pick out character traits for each of the main characters in the story (this doesn't just have to be Ella or Edna). Teachers could also have students describe each of the character's personality, encouraging them to use descriptive words, which will help with the character traits. As a writing activity, teachers could have students write about which character they liked and why. Did they like Cinderella or did they like Cinder Edna? I am sure the students could give a variety of different answers as to which character they liked better. I think it would be nice to see!
Summary:
This is a fragmented tale of Cinderella. It is basically the classic Cinderella with a few twists: Cinderella is not as one-dimensional as the classic and there is Cinder Edna, a girl who lives the same type of lifestyle as Cinderella, but has a more positive outlook on life and love and actually knows how to do stuff on her own. She is independent, buys her own dress for the ball and takes the bus, rather than relying on a fairy godmother. Both Cinderella and Cinder Edna attend the same ball, but both have different experiences. Cinderella meets a handsome prince and is smitten with him, while Edna thinks his lifestyle is rather boring since he just sits on his throne all day talking politics. Instead she meets Rupert, the prince's brother who is much more of a go-getter than his brother. Once the clock strikes 12 both the ladies leave and the lovers try to find them. In the end, both find their perspective brides and marry them in a double ceremony. However, it is not a happy ending for all of them. Ella is bored by her husband's lifestyle and Edna has a happy marriage with a husband who is her best friend. GIRL POWER!
Personal Response:
As I mentioned before: GIRL POWER! I love how this book treated women as independent, rather than someone who has to rely on others for help. I love that the characters in this book even Cinderella are not one-dimensional like the typical story that most kids watch from Disney. In a lot of ways it is more realistic (especially Cinder Edna) and I think kids will connect more with that. Edna is just like everyone else, she is average and not just some fantasy character. This book still has though fantasy elements, but is much more realistic. I also liked the not so happy ending for some of the characters. Very realistic, which I think is refreshing. I remember my teachers reading this book to us in elementary school and I remember liking it so it was nice to explore and read it once again from a teacher's perspective.
Descriptions of Illustrations:
Pictures are very fantastical and fits the concept of a fairy tale. The colors work well. It is not as vibrant as other illustrations I have seen, but the pictures really do convey that it is a fairy tale of sorts that we are reading. I like that and find the pictures overall to be quite enjoyable and appealing.
Classroom Connections:
There are a lot of different things teachers could do with this book. For starters, a lot of kids are familiar with Disney's Cinderella and I think it would be nice to make a venn diagram and have the students compare and contrast the two stories finding what is similar and what is different about it. Since this book represents characters in a more multi-dimensional way, teachers could have the students pick out character traits for each of the main characters in the story (this doesn't just have to be Ella or Edna). Teachers could also have students describe each of the character's personality, encouraging them to use descriptive words, which will help with the character traits. As a writing activity, teachers could have students write about which character they liked and why. Did they like Cinderella or did they like Cinder Edna? I am sure the students could give a variety of different answers as to which character they liked better. I think it would be nice to see!
May 19, 2019
I had never heard of this story before, but it is so cute and hilarious! The story follows Cinderella and Edna. The story flip flops between the two telling the traditional story of Cinderella, and then a more realistic version of how things would actually happen through Edna. For example, Cinderella shares she has to leave before the clock strikes midnight because her Fairy Godmother's spell would run out and Edna responds that she has to leave by midnight because that's when the buses stop running. Edna ends up falling in love with the prince's brother and instead of finding her by going to all of the houses and seeing which women the shoe fits, he searches all the Edna's in the area and asks them a specific question about a topic they had spoken about the night before at the ball. It is definitely a funny story to read with children who are familiar with the classic Cinderella story because it takes those magical elements and discusses how they would play out in real life.
March 5, 2020
Cinder Edna is the less beautiful, more practical, doesn't feel sorry for herself counterpart to Cinderella. It sounds good in theory, but it kind of turns into a treatise on how Edna is so much better than Ella and her choices are somehow morally superior. I'm more of a to each their own kind of person. It does have some funny parts, though.
February 5, 2021
I adore this book! Cinder Edna discovers that "true love" is about friendship and laughter and shared interests, while Cinder Ella has to rely on a fairy godmother because she can't figure out anything for herself.
January 21, 2025
Fun Cinderella retelling
February 18, 2020
We all know the classic story of Cinderella, but have you heard the story of her neighbor, Cinder Edna, who was much more content doing chores and work? Cinder Edna knew how to cook, clean, find true happiness despite the challenges of living with a wicked stepmother and stepsisters. When Cinderella and Cinder Edna attend the fancy ball, they will both find love, and promptly have to return home by midnight for very different reasons. Their new loves then set out to find them based on their unique traits.
In this version of Cinderella, Cinder Edna presents an alternate version of the classic fairytale that explodes some of the myths perpetuated by Cinderella and other fairytales. The main character does not seek a fairy godmother to solve her problems, she happily learns tricks of the trade when it comes to housework and cooking, and she falls in love with a man who has more character than clout. For Cinder Edna, happiness and love are not superficial, but rather, they are goals to be earned through a healthy perspective.
The illustrations in Cinder Edna are colorful, bright, and depict the expressive and contrasting personalities of the characters in the book. However, the illustrator depicts Cinder Edna and her world in the same brightness and clarity as one would expect from Cinderella. This shows that Cinder Edna is capable of as much or more happiness than the mythical princess for whom the story is based upon.
In this version of Cinderella, Cinder Edna presents an alternate version of the classic fairytale that explodes some of the myths perpetuated by Cinderella and other fairytales. The main character does not seek a fairy godmother to solve her problems, she happily learns tricks of the trade when it comes to housework and cooking, and she falls in love with a man who has more character than clout. For Cinder Edna, happiness and love are not superficial, but rather, they are goals to be earned through a healthy perspective.
The illustrations in Cinder Edna are colorful, bright, and depict the expressive and contrasting personalities of the characters in the book. However, the illustrator depicts Cinder Edna and her world in the same brightness and clarity as one would expect from Cinderella. This shows that Cinder Edna is capable of as much or more happiness than the mythical princess for whom the story is based upon.
March 14, 2020
I liked reading this book. It has the differences between Cinderella and Cinder Edna. I can see myself using this book to talk about comparing and contrasting the characters in the story. The students can use a graphic organizer to tell me what the same about the characters and what is different about the characters. Also I read Cinderhazel and it also could be used to talk about different versions of the same fairy tale that students are use too. Also I could bring in the different versions of this fairy tale in order to show the students that different writers can take the same tale and make it fit the needs that they are writing about. I would really like to get these books in order to complete this activity with the students.
November 6, 2022
I found this version of Cinderella at my local library. This version has one narrative of the Cinderella story we all know and love, and another narrative of Edna who is poor and has to work like Cinderella but has a different outlook on life. She doesn't have a fancy dress or magical carriage, but is completely herself. Cinderella finds her prince and Edna finds the princes brother. I love the message in this book about not trying to be "perfect" for anyone else and just being yourself will find you the right match. This is perfect for boys and girls of all ages, but I think first and second graders would be the best fit as some pages have lots of words on them.
January 9, 2019
I know and understand what was trying to be accomplished in this book, and I love the concept. However, this book just didn't do it for me. This fractured fairy tale takes the story of an abused woman who had everything taken from her but still managed to be kind and thoughtful, and paints her as selfish, helpless, materialistic brat.
The heroes of the story, Edna and Rupert, are snarky toward the other characters, and of so Politically Correct (solar powered cottage and orphaned kittens). The Prince and Ella's lives as monarchs are mocked and both are portrayed as foolish and vain.
Cinderella is a classic and a product of it's time. Taking the historical context into consideration shows Ella as a feminist character with a kind heart. Disney's live action Cinderella remake did an AMAZING job in my opinion adding depth to the story and showing Ella as a more "strong independent woman".
Cinder Edna however drives home the idea that asking for or receiving help makes you weak. This story leaves out the parts of Cinderella where she was kind, worked from dusk until dawn, and MADE her own dress for the ball that was then ruined by her step family. A convenient omission in my opinion. Furthermore, at the time the story was written there was no public transit. Ella did not have a way to get to the ball, and if Ella has no money she can't take the bus in this modern retelling anyway.
There are a lot of flaws in this story. I get what it's trying to do, and I like a good fractured fairy tale as much as the next person. I'm also a big believer of strong female characters and feminist stories. However, Cinder Edna fell short in too many ways for me. I don't believe that tearing down or diminishing another woman is they way to make another woman feel empowered.
The heroes of the story, Edna and Rupert, are snarky toward the other characters, and of so Politically Correct (solar powered cottage and orphaned kittens). The Prince and Ella's lives as monarchs are mocked and both are portrayed as foolish and vain.
Cinderella is a classic and a product of it's time. Taking the historical context into consideration shows Ella as a feminist character with a kind heart. Disney's live action Cinderella remake did an AMAZING job in my opinion adding depth to the story and showing Ella as a more "strong independent woman".
Cinder Edna however drives home the idea that asking for or receiving help makes you weak. This story leaves out the parts of Cinderella where she was kind, worked from dusk until dawn, and MADE her own dress for the ball that was then ruined by her step family. A convenient omission in my opinion. Furthermore, at the time the story was written there was no public transit. Ella did not have a way to get to the ball, and if Ella has no money she can't take the bus in this modern retelling anyway.
There are a lot of flaws in this story. I get what it's trying to do, and I like a good fractured fairy tale as much as the next person. I'm also a big believer of strong female characters and feminist stories. However, Cinder Edna fell short in too many ways for me. I don't believe that tearing down or diminishing another woman is they way to make another woman feel empowered.
October 25, 2012
Cinder Edna, in my opinion, is a great modern day look at the fairy tale Cinderella. In this picturebook Cinderella lives next door to Cinder Edna and both have similar duties while working for their step mothers and step sisters. However, Edna finds the good things in life while Cinderella sits by the cinders and mopes. When it comes time for the ball Cinderella is hopeless and relies on her fairy godmother for everything while Cinder Edna had a dress on layaway and took the bus to the ball. Edna talked and danced with the Prince's brother and had a wonderful time, but Cinderella merely swayed with the actual Prince. Both fell in love, but had to leave before midnight. Cinderella because her dress and carriage would turn back to pumpkins and rags and Cinder Edna because the buses stopped running at midnight. In the end both men found their women and Edna and the brother lived happily ever after while raising orphaned kittens and running a recycling plant while their counter parts lived a very conceited and boring life. I think this shows the reality of love and superficiality in the world. It brings a little more real life into the fairy tale to show children that fairy tales are just that: fairy tales. Tall tales. The illustrations along with the metaphors in this book create a very fun and amused air to the book and I think that children of all ages would love this nice spin on a classic.
April 10, 2017
This book reminds me of a quote by Marjorie Pay Hinckley that I like: "“The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache.”
Cinderella and Cinder Edna both have evil stepmothers and stepsisters that force them to work. But when Cinderella is done, she sits by the cinders and feels sorry for herself. Cinder Edna goes out to mow lawns and clean cages to earn money for herself. When the princes hold a ball, Cinderella's fairy godmother helps her prepare. CinderEdna gets the dress she bought with her lawnmowing money and wears an old, comfortable pair of shoes. Both meet a prince and dance and fall in love with princes who are just as different as the two girls are. And of course, Cinder Edna lives happily ever after.
I like this because it shows that while you can't choose your circumstances, you can choose your response, your attitude. Now I am in no way showing a lack of empathy for those who face very difficult circumstances. I know that there are many people who have limited resources, limited choices and difficult lives. I don't mean, in any way, to make light of that. However, hard work, perseverance and a good attitude can help almost anyone make their circumstances better.
Cinderella and Cinder Edna both have evil stepmothers and stepsisters that force them to work. But when Cinderella is done, she sits by the cinders and feels sorry for herself. Cinder Edna goes out to mow lawns and clean cages to earn money for herself. When the princes hold a ball, Cinderella's fairy godmother helps her prepare. CinderEdna gets the dress she bought with her lawnmowing money and wears an old, comfortable pair of shoes. Both meet a prince and dance and fall in love with princes who are just as different as the two girls are. And of course, Cinder Edna lives happily ever after.
I like this because it shows that while you can't choose your circumstances, you can choose your response, your attitude. Now I am in no way showing a lack of empathy for those who face very difficult circumstances. I know that there are many people who have limited resources, limited choices and difficult lives. I don't mean, in any way, to make light of that. However, hard work, perseverance and a good attitude can help almost anyone make their circumstances better.
March 16, 2018
I would have liked this book better if it had not been a side by side comparison with a positive and a negative Cinderella. Making Cinderella lazy, unimaginative, and vain pissed me off. If you read ANY traditional Cinderella, in any culture Cinderella possesses the qualities of hard worker, kind, and imaginative.
Cinder Edna was portrayed as better than Cinderella because she was self sufficient (she didn’t need help), always practical (wore loafers to the ball)and saw beyond a handsome face and crown. 1st there is nothing wrong with asking/receiving help. In fact, no one can get a long in life completely a lone. 2nd sometimes it is fun to get dressed up in very silly, impractical, and uncomfortable outfits (six inch stilettos). Nothing wrong with that. In fact the refusal to do so, Cinder Edna I’m talking to you, comes off as haute, uppity, and gives off an I’m-better-than-you vibe. Cinderella would never be too proud to ask for help nor would she have to be practical to prove something.
The only characteristic Cinder Edna had that I found praiseworthy was her lack of awe for the superficial.
Cinder Edna’s author needs to reread/watch her fairy tale and then do some research on it (the glass slipper was a mistranslation by Perrault or a predecessor, the shoe is usually a typical shoe, just small, or fur, sliver or gold).
Cinder Edna was portrayed as better than Cinderella because she was self sufficient (she didn’t need help), always practical (wore loafers to the ball)and saw beyond a handsome face and crown. 1st there is nothing wrong with asking/receiving help. In fact, no one can get a long in life completely a lone. 2nd sometimes it is fun to get dressed up in very silly, impractical, and uncomfortable outfits (six inch stilettos). Nothing wrong with that. In fact the refusal to do so, Cinder Edna I’m talking to you, comes off as haute, uppity, and gives off an I’m-better-than-you vibe. Cinderella would never be too proud to ask for help nor would she have to be practical to prove something.
The only characteristic Cinder Edna had that I found praiseworthy was her lack of awe for the superficial.
Cinder Edna’s author needs to reread/watch her fairy tale and then do some research on it (the glass slipper was a mistranslation by Perrault or a predecessor, the shoe is usually a typical shoe, just small, or fur, sliver or gold).
March 26, 2020
Cinder Edna lives next door to Cinderella. She's stuck in the same pickle too, with a wicked stepmother and sisters. But rather than resorting to magic as her counterpart does, Cinder Edna gets things done just a little more, shall we say, resourcefully.
If you can handle your Cinderella looking just a little silly and a bit shallow, and are prepared to like a hard-working, practical, tuna-casserole loving, recycling girl, than this is the witty story for you!
Ages: 5 - 9
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If you can handle your Cinderella looking just a little silly and a bit shallow, and are prepared to like a hard-working, practical, tuna-casserole loving, recycling girl, than this is the witty story for you!
Ages: 5 - 9
Cleanliness: Someone says "Gee."
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
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