With the recent release of Disney's new motion-action film version of Cinderella, little girls everywhere are all aflutter with dreams of glass slippers, courage, and kindness.
Let them imagine the story from a variety of perspectives with our picks for the best picture books about Cinderella (in alphabetical order).
Written and Illustrated by Tomie dePaola
This bilingual book is set in the heart of Mexico and follows the plight of the kind-hearted and beautiful Adelita. The emphasis is less on supernatural magic and more on the magic that love can create. The "fairy godmother" is an elderly grandmother figure, the dress is tucked away in a trunk of Adelita's deceased mother, and there are no glass slippers. Still, the happily ever after motif remains.
Illustrated by KY Craft
Adapted from several well-known retellings of the Cinderella story, this book stays very true to the familiar story of magic and romance that little girls everywhere love. Illustrator Kinuko Craft draws her artistic inspiration from 17th and 18th century France - and her enchanting paintings reflect this tone. The prince, for example, wears long blonde locks, heels, and tights. The book's dedication is "for all dreamers" - which seems exactly right. The cover itself is hard to resist.
Written and Illustrated by Shirley Hughes
This delightful take on a traditional fairy tales features Ella - a kind and intelligent redhead who is a skilled seamstress in her father's dress shop. When her father remarries and her stepsisters move in, business booms - while Ella's life takes a turn for the worse. When the Duchess of Arc invites them to a grand ball to meet her son (the Duke), you can imagine how the story unfolds...except that THIS tale doesn't end quite as expected. A sweet and surprising conclusion. You'll be pulled in to Hughes' jazzy illustrations and cheering for her unlikely heroine.
Written by Laura Numeroff and Nate Evans; Illustrated by Lynn Musinger
In this version of the classic fairy tale, the main character is a mistreated white pony. With the help of her fairy godmare, she is whisked away to the Grand Royal Pony Championship - where she is admired and adored by a little girl named Princess Penelope. When the clock strikes twelve, ponyella darts out of the arena...leaving behind only a diamond horseshoe. You can guess what happens next.
Written by Judy Sierra; Illustrated by Reynold Ruffins
Set in the Spice Islands, "where clove and nutmeg trees grow," this Cinderella rendition features a young heroine named Damura. When her mother dies, she is mistreated by her new stepmother and stepsister. With the help of Grandmother Crocodile, she is able to dance at the palace and win the affections of the prince. Captivating illustrations bring to life the culture and landscape of Indonesia - ox carts, sarongs, and native animals.
Adapted by Jane Werner; Illustrated by Retta Scott Worcester
If there is one thing we've come to know about the Walt Disney company, it is that they know how to tell a good story! This wholesome Little Golden Book is no exception. Originally published in 1950, you won't want to miss the lovely illustrations centered around "the sweetest girl in the world" - Cinderella.
What are your favorite picture books about Cinderella? We’ll update our list as other treasures are discovered, always keeping our list to the very BEST children’s books.
