Writer. Contributing Editor at The Discarded Image. Digital Content Strategist. Here's where I publicly explore the books I'm reading, the projects I'm working on, and other current interests. Cinder Edna
My sister has two foster-to-adopt kids and is pregnant, which means hanging out with her now involves trips to Once Upon a Child. I was surprised to find a huge selection of books at the Sylvania, OH store when I stopped in last week with my mom and sister. It took us 20 minutes of bookcase browsing before we ever got to the onesies! Intrigued by the cover illustration of a single penny loafer displayed on a tasseled cushion, Mom snatched up a picture book which would become our favorite find of the day.
Everyone knows Cinderella, but have you met her next door neighbor? You might call Cinder Edna a “parallel fairytale retelling.†(Well, maybe you wouldn’t—that label is a bit of a mouthful, but I bet the joke-loving Edna would appreciate it.) See, neighbors Cinderella and Cinder Edna both work themselves to the bone for their wicked stepfamilies, but while Ella sits wistfully in the soot after hours, Edna uses her downtime to develop tuna casserole recipes and learn to play the accordion. When Ella turns helplessly to her fairy godmother for fashionable digs and ball transportation, Edna buys a dress on layaway and dons her comfy loafers to catch a bus to the castle. While Ella turns googly eyes on the important and well-formed prince, Edna boogies with the prince’s nearsighted brother/kingdom recycling engineer. The next day, romance is in the air as the brothers employ shoe fittings and a telephone book to locate their mysterious dream women.
Cleverly written by Ellen Jackson and hysterically illustrated by Kevin O’Malley, Cinder Edna delights with childlike humor while redefining happiness and teaching the value of problem solving. Lesson for the girls? If you put your hopes in fairy godmothers and cravat-wearing princes, you might end up wishing you were still cleaning fireplaces for a living. Lesson for the boys? If you want to marry a girl who will laugh at your jokes, look deeper than her appearance and learn to choke down tuna casserole with a smile.
