Product Description

When the Cinders family is invited to a grand ball given by the Duchess of Arc for her handsome son, Ella's vain stepsisters spend hours getting ready but poor Ella is left behind with only the cat for company. But on this very special evening there is more than a little magic in the air.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #383422 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 48 pages

From the Publisher
This Kate Greenaway Medal winner is a spectacular re-telling of Cinderella from one of the world's most popular and best-loved author/illustrators.

From the Back Cover
This spectacular picture book from one of the world's most popular and best-loved authors re-tells the story of Cinderella in a captivating text and glorious, vivid paintings.

Mr Cinders runs a dress shop and people come from far and wide to buy his beautiful clothes. His wife has died, leaving him to bring up their daughter Ella on his own. Mr Cinders loves Ella dearly and they work happily together in the little shop.

Then comes the terrible day that Mr Cinders marries again. Oh dear! His new wife is bossy and proud and, worse, her two beautiful daughters are selfish and spiteful.

One day, the whole family is invited to a fabulous ball given by the Duchess of Arc for her handsome son the Duke. Poor Ella is left behind with only the cat and her friend, the doorman Buttons, for company. But on this very special evening there is more than a little magic in the air..

Set in the 1920's, Shirley's glorious paintings feature her own costume designs, inspired by the great French couturiers of the period. A delightful surprise ending completes this enchanting picture book.

About the Author
Shirely Hughes was born and grew up in West Kirby, near Liverpool. She studied at Liverpool Art School and at the Ruskin School of Art in Oxford, before embarking on a career as a freelance illustrator. At first she worked as an interpretive illustrator, but she began to write and design her own picture books when her children were very young. Her first book, Lucy and Tom's Day, was published in 1960. Now living in London's Notting Hill, Shirley Hughes has illustrated over two hundred children's books and is renowned as a champion of children's literature. She has been the recipient of the Other Award, the Kate Greenaway Medal and the prestigious Eleanor Farjeon Award.

Customer Reviews

Entertaining & Clever Re-write of Cinderella
There are a lot of things to like about this book.

It is set in the 1920's and Ella is a garment maker, in her fathers elegant little dress shop. When her father remarries she gets a horrible new step-mom and two step sisters, suitably nasty.
"His new wife seemed
to pop up from nowhere like
a sharp-eyed, expensively
dressed jack-in-the-box"
Ella has a dear friend named Buttons, who makes life easier for her by keeping her company as she stays up late sewing, making her laugh and singing her songs.

The funny thing about buttons to me is: he looks like he MUST be an Aussie, and uses words like "brainless parakeets" which seems to prove the authors intention. ANyway he looks lik ehe's just fresh from the AU corps, and it's quite amusing. One of the wonderful things the author has done is make this book quirky.

Ella doesn't have a perfect sylph-like figure merely hidden by soot, instead she's redheaded, with corky curls and a plump little body, which when tucked into a more suitable gown, looks just fine.

It's her personality which wins the Duke over and brings him around begging for her hand. And dear Ella takes a good look around her and realises that it's Buttons she really want's, and they take off, and set up their own dress shop.

The illustrations are fantastic, and as written in the back of the book, the ball scenes were inspired by the dance sequences in the R.K.O. Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers movies.
The dresses are Shirley Hughes original designs, inspired by the French couturiers of the 1920's, Doucet, Poiret and Patou.

Just love it. Ages 8+ would most appreciate this book, although certainly any age will happily sit through it.

For you it makes an entertaing bedtime story. For them, the same, and a little twist to the regular fairytale.
Kotori Nov 2004

Gorgeous illustrations
The story of Cinderella with a modern name and modern day twist! This is a lovely story with gorgeous illustrations that you come to expect from Shirley Hughes. I'd definitely recommend this book.