Sheila Hebert Collins

This spin off of the original Cinderella is very similar yet different in comparison. It follows the main story line, while substituting in Cajun elements such as pigeons in place of the mice and crawfish in place of the other animals in the original Cinderella. They serve red beans and rice for dinner and the ball is a Mardi Gras ball. I loved how they included French words in the text, along with their pronunciations and definitions. It made the book so authentic. I enjoy reading classic folktales, so this spin on Cinderella was a very fun read. I love seeing different cultures represented in literature.… (meer)

This version of Cinderella is set in New Orleans with elements of the Cajun culture. The story follows the Cinderella story must are familiar with very closely. Cendrillon is father marries a woman with two daughters and then he dies leaving Cendrillon with her stepmother and stepsisters. they have to move from their beautiful home on St. Charles Avenue to a shotgun house. Her animal friends make her a dress for the Mardi Gras ball, but her stepsister rips the dress apart. Cendrillon fairy marraine helped her get ready for the ball and at the all Cendrillon dances with Rex Ovey Thibeaux. Cendrillon runs away and loses her glass slipper. Rex search for the owner of the slipper, finds Cendrillon, and marries her at the St. Louis Cathedral.

The Cendrillon story stayed so close to the Cinderella story I have always heard I wasn't entertained from reading the book. I did enjoy the elements of New Orleans and the Cajun culture. Since I don't speak French I felt the number of French words used in the book was overwhelming for me personally. The book as the pronunciation and meaning of each word listed on the page the words are used. When every page introduces four to six new French words I found myself wishing they would just use a few French words repeatedly throughout the book. The book has great value because of the use of Cajun-French words and cultures it just wasn't for me.… (meer)