Book Review: Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal (2007)
Once upon a time, in Mexico…in Iran…in Indonesia…in Zimbabwe…
First Book, the organization I work for, got a bunch of sample books from publishers this Wednesday to support our Mind in the Making initiative, and a beautiful book called “Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal” caught my eye immediately. It’s the classic Cinderella fairy tale woven from international versions of the story, taking audiences from Zimbabwe to Laos to Japan to Mexico.
The text, while unsurprising in characters and theme, has enough new twists that readers familiar with the Western version (which we learn originated in France) will be engaged: Cinderella chides herself for picking “up the scorpion with my own hand” because she encouraged her father to marry her wicked stepmother, and guests at the fairy tale wedding feast on “magoes and melons, rice seasoned with almonds, beef stew and lamb stew, anise cookies and custards.”
However, it’s the illustrations by Julie Paschkis that make this book really noteworthy. Each page is awash in vibrant colors and designs that frame the story’s illustrations of the international (and therefore rather ambiguous) Cinderella. Paschkis was inspired by each country’s traditional fabrics to incorporate the patterns and hues into her pictures. It’s the best-illustrated Cinderella story I’ve ever seen, right down to the golden sandal from Iraq’s version of events.
Author: Paul Fleischman
Illustrator: Julie Paschkis
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, 2007
Best for Ages: 4–10 years old
My Rating: 6/10
