Age: 4-8y

In Cinder Edna , Ellen Jackson and Kevin O'Malley team up to bring young readers the delightful story of what can be done without the help of a fairy godmother.

Everyone knows the story of Cinderella, but what about that of her neighbor Cinder Edna? Like her more famous cohort, Cinder Edna has a wicked stepmother and is forced to do many chores. But instead of lamenting that fact, Cinder Edna uses it as a way to teach herself to try and do many things. When it's time for the royal ball, she makes her own dress and meets a younger prince who is interested in all the things she knows and likes, not just the way she looks. When it comes time to marry, Cinderella is quickly bored with her royal life of doing nothing, while Cinder Edna and her prince choose to make themselves busy with many hobbies and tasks.

This is a lovely twist on the traditional fairy tale of rags to riches. It inspires girls (and boys) to care more about abilities and attitude than about beauty and luck. The text is on the lengthy side and familiarity with the Cinderella story is recommended, so this book would probably be best for older elementary school-age children. The illustrations complement the text nicely. ( )

This is a hilarious twist on Cinderella fairytale! In the book, next door to Cinderella lives Cinder Edna, who is not as pretty, but smarter and spunkier than her neighbor. They both clean up after their stepmothers and step sisters, but Cinder Edna works on the side, learns to cook different dishes (16 kinds of casserole), learns how to play accordion and how to tell jokes. When the time comes for the ball, Edna uses her own money for the dress, while Cinderella gets her god mother make her one magically, along with a carriage. Edna takes a bus. At the ball Edna gets bored with the prince but falls in love with his younger brother, who is just as kind, funny, goofy and corky as she is. They hit it off and talk, dance and laugh all night; he loves casserole. After girls run off at 12, the princes look for them across their land. When they finally find their loves, they bring them back to palace, and both coupes get married. Cinderella ends up having a boring and miserable life just sitting around with her husband who loves showing odd his chin, while Edna has the best time of her life and a true "happily ever after". I absolutely love this book. It is very inspiring and empowering for girls. It teaches that it is not all about looks, but about your effort and attitude. And that it is better to find someone who shares same interest and fun, then a handsome prince who only cares about how he looks. I would read it to my daughter if I had one! ( )

Cinder Edna is a modern spin on the classic Cinderella fairy tale. Cinder Edna lives right next door to Cinderella, and although they live very similarly, their outlook on life is drastically different. As their stories run parallel, they both find their prince but only one has a happily ever after.
Personally, I was not a huge fan of this book. Although I understand the author’s aim, I believe it could have been portrayed in a less cynical manner. It seemed rather preachy as it shoved, rather than suggested what the reader should think about the two “Cinder” women. The story had potential to be a humorous twist on the classic fairy tale, yet it felt like a sermon on what’s the “right” and “wrong” choices to make in life. The portrayal of Cinder Edna as independent and individualistic is great for young girls and boys alike to relate to. However, I believe that being yourself means allowing others the same courtesy and not belittling those choices. I can truly appreciate the sentiment but think it could have been delivered in a more convincing, less snarky storyline. ( )