Cendrillon

Sans Souci, Robert D. Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1998.

The author states, "This story is loosely based on the French Creole tale Cendrillon, in Turialt's nineteenth-century Creole Grammar. That version follows the basic outline of Perrault's Cinderella, while incorporating elements of West Indian culture and costume." Cendrillon is beautifully illustrated with colorful etchings which add to its joyful, Caribbean flavor. The story is also unique in that it is told from the point of view of the fairy godmother, who in this story just happens to be Cendrillon's maid. The story begins with an explanation of how the maid inhereted her magic wand, an interesting detail which allows for a new perspective on the age-old tale of Cinderella.