Cendrillon

Title: Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella

Author: Robert D. San Souci

Illustrator: Brian Pinkney

Genre: Fairy Tale/Children’s Picture Book

Age Group: Elementary

Rating: 5 stars

            Cendrillon is a beautifully illustrated Caribbean version of the classic Cinderella.  The story is told in the perspective of Cendrillon’s godmother, who serves as a fairy godmother in this story.  The story is quite similar to the original Cinderella, in its use of wands, a ball, a magic slipper, and evil stepsisters.  The story, however, using the occasional Caribbean lingo, helping the reader become more knowledgeable on Caribbean culture.

            The illustrations are vividly colored etchings, which look like they could likely be a result of printmaking.  They are sketched and textured, giving the pages each a unique page of art.  Detailed borders surround the text, and I believe the illustrations alone are reason enough to show this to a class.

            If I become an art teacher, this book would be perfect for teaching a lesson on printmaking or color.  In a regular elementary classroom, I would also find this story to be appropriate and a fun read aloud in a group setting.  This is definitely a book I will keep in mind for use as a future educator.