FICTION

Cinderellaphant

by Dianne DE LAS CASAS
illus. by Stefan Jolet. 32p. ebook available. Pelican. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781455619009. LC 2013036409.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2—In this reworking of "Cinderella," the heroine is a "pretty pachyderm" who ends up "hoofily ever after" with a zebra prince. De Las Casas sprinkles her version with plenty of alliteration and wordplay (e.g., Cinderellaphant "often felt irrelephant") but closely follows the traditional plot. Jolet's digital art will appeal to young readers who gravitate toward colorful, modern imagery. His Cinderellaphant has cool teal skin, purple hair, and expressive eyes. Although the illustrations are geared toward primary grade audience, the text is full of cultural references and puns—like a line about "junk in this trunk" and a joke about an "elephant in the room"—that seem more appropriate for older readers. It will be hard to find an appreciative audience for this one.—Nora Clancy, Teachers College Community School, New York City
De Las Casas presents another animal twist on the classic fairy tale (see Emma Dodd's Cinderelephant). Jolet's digital illustrations with amateurish figures in garish colors seem aimed at preschoolers, but the length and tone of the text are better suited to older children. Replete with lame animal puns and modern language designed to make the tale current, this story offers nothing original.
Reviewed by Nora Clancy , Apr 01, 2014

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