We're getting back into our normal routine here, after my little jaunt to the east coast. And part of that normal routine is a trip to our neighborhood library. I've realized lately that though we read books constantly in this house, my children are not that familiar with what I consider classic fairy tales. (I don't know how this happened, except that the fairy tales are kept in their own section at our library, and apparently I don't venture over to that section very often.) So we've been concentrating on the classics this week: Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Bears, etc.
We recently discovered this lovely version of Cinderella, illustrated by the wildly talented Kinoku Y. Craft. Bee thinks this Cinderella is the prettiest princess she has ever laid eyes on. I might have to agree.
Cinderella is so sweet and kind, the kind of girl who stops to help a sick bluebird she finds in the forest (and gets to meet the prince in the process). Later she happily helps her mean step sisters get ready for the ball, even though they won't let her come along.
In this version, it is the bluebird Cinderella helps that transforms into the fairy godmother. As a reward for her kindness, the fairy transforms her rags into a beautiful gown and turns a pumpkin into a fancy carriage.
At the end of the book, when the prince finds Cinderella, he says "How I knew that day in the woods that you were indeed special, but I should have fully recognized that heart whether clothed in rags or regalia." So the nice girl gets the prince.. my kind of story.
Has anyone seen the other fairy tales K. Y. Craft has illustrated, like this version of Sleeping Beauty?