Customer Reviews
It's good? Really? 
2008-09-13
Wow, I really am missing why this book is so good. I actually had to go back & read the book again when I saw all the good reviews. Well, ying & yang I guess. I didn't like this book at all and I was up for a silly twist on the whole story, but I felt it just didn't get it right. It missed the mark on telling a story of a witch/girl who'd want to be the dirtiest and grossest. I didn't think it spoke to what kids would find gross and funny at the same time. The art was, well you can see the cover. I guess that plays into how she wants to be dirty, but I found it more creepy than yuckie. We even like the art of the "No David" books that some people dislike. Sadly, this book was read once -- maybe twice, but that's it. Not a favorite at all. Of course we've got lots of books that we don't read often; I guess honestly, I can't stand this book and so far with all the books we've got, I can only say that about this book and those terrible "Froggy" books. So, the wonderfulness of this book was lost on me. Not recommended. THe story could have been better & the art is just super unpleasant to look at.
Given as a gift... 
2008-08-11
I got this for my 6-year old niece, and she really liked it. My sister, her mother, liked the book as well. Both said it was funny and the pictures were pleasing.
Attitude, it's all attitude! 
2008-05-14
This is the story of two neighbors, both overworked sisters to mean, wicked, old step-sisters. Cinderella is the pretty one who sits in the cinders and daydreams after she finishes her chores. Next door Cinder Edna, the spunky one but not so pretty, sings while she works. She doesn't like sitting in cinders--gets her clothes sooty--so she takes on extra chores from the neighbors who pay her, enabling her to put a lovely dress on lay-away, her just-in-case dress.
One day the two princes announce a big ball and invite all the women of the kingdom to attend. The six wicked sisters ready themselves through the help of the abused step-sisters. Cinderella's fairy godmother comes along to poof the pretty lass ready. Cinderella's lack of imagination, lack of spunk, lack of proper attitude cannot see a way to the ball. GM has to turn a pumpkin, you know the rest.
Meanwhile, Cinder Edna gets her dress off lay-away, decides to wear her comfortable loafers to dance in, and takes the bus to the ball. There is no effort except her own good attitude. At the ball she finds the handsome prince too stuffed full of himself. Boring, she decides of him. Then she meets Rupert, the younger prince, head of waste recycling and keeper of orphaned kittens and master joke teller. She is known to tell a joke or two herself. They dance the night away.
All good stories must come to an end. The usual hunt for the right foot for the glass slipper, and a woman who can recite 17 tuna casserole recipes play a major role. There is a double wedding (surely this is not a spoiler!). But the big question is: Which couple lives happily ever after?
great 2008-05-01
i think my teacher read this book to me in grade 3 or 4. its the cinderella story, but 'cinderella' doesn't wait around for prince charming doing nothing. she goes through the cinderella story but finds practical solutions to problems cinderella does nothing about or complains about. i can't remember if cinderella is in the book or not as a foil for cinderedna, but it was an amusing read and a enjoyed it at the time. it thankfully isn't a bra burning approach to feminism, but a 'you can do things on your own' book. its cinderella without the idealism. of course we all love the idealism, that's why such stories as cinderella exist, but for every cinderella there must be a cinderedna... because a person can't be entirely practical or entirely idealistic, but a balance of both must be achieved. unfortunately there aren't as many 'cinderenda' books on the market as there should be for young girls, so i guess this one is good!
A Classic Tale Recycled into Something New...and Wonderful! 2008-02-15
This adaptation of the classic children's fairytale Cinderella brings something of a mixture of the classic story elements (princes, castles, and fancy dress balls) with modern, contemporary settings (the city bus, penny loafers, and recycling plants)...Cinder Edna is Cinderella's more self-reliant, self-sufficient neighbor who just doesn't have time (or see the point of) sitting around in the fireplace cinders feeling sorry for oneself. She gets out and about doing for herself and enjoying life...she even knows 16 different ways to make tuna casserole (and that's quite spectacular, don't ya know)! While Cinderella needs her fairy godmother to get her a dress, a ride to the ball and snazzy glass slippers, Edna gets her dress off layaway, puts on her comfortable penny loafers and takes the city buss to the ball. In the end each girls get her man...Cinderella gets her prince charming and Edna falls for charming's somewhat dorky younger brother Rupert. This story, like the classic, portrays a happy ending for all...the somewhat ditzy and bubble-headed Cinderella spends her days in luxury and self-absorption (and is perfectly happy), Cinder Edna winds up in an ecologically friendly soar-heated cottage with her recycling prince...and she also lives happily ever after (in a life that looks to be infinitely more interesting and full of fun than that of Cinderella and her boorish, snobby prince). I enjoyed reading this as did my 7 year old. I got a kick out of the artwork, which goes along so very well with the message of this particular adaptation (that living happily ever after is in the eye of the beholder...and getting there doesn't necessarily involve fairy godmothers and magic...you CAN make your own happily ever after)! I give Cinder Edna 5 stars and two thumbs up...it made me smile deeply and often and even had a few laugh out loud moments that really made my day! I'd recommend it as a read aloud for ages 5-7, though it's a picture book I don't think that he length of the text makes for ideal reading for younger children (3-5). I also think it would be well received by children transitioning to independent reading, as this would provide a "new story" with some familiarity and the amount of text is just about right for emerging independent readers (6-8).
Happily Ever After, by Mariah Krauel 2007-11-10
The famous Cinderella and her neighbor Cinder Edna each worked sunup to sundown for their wicked stepmother and stepsisters. But while Cinderella had the good fortune to be rescued by her fairy godmother, Edna was strong, self-reliant, spunky--and she lived happier ever after! "Nicely executed....This Cinderella send-up is full of kid-pleasing jokes."--Publisher's Weekly.
Excellent role model for girls 2007-10-02
Can't recommend this book highly enough for females of all ages. Cinder Edna is an incentive to become an actor in life, taking joy in doing, being, and sharing. The Cinderella story, on the other hand, emphasizes the superficial, and her value is obtained by being picked as the most beautiful by a prince. There's nothing wrong with beauty, but that's not where one will find happiness. I want my daughter and granddaughter to live their lives to the fullest, and Cinder Edna is a excellent role model of that. An inspiration for little girls and an awakening for women who have spent their whole lives wishing to be Cinderella.
Finally, a fairy tale with values, and verve. 2007-03-11
Wihtout giving too much away, Cinder Edna is the cleverest Cinderella story of them all. This story is a subtle compare and contrast of two overworked, underappreciated heroines, Cinderella, and Cinder Edna.
Cinderella's story is true to form but Cinder Edna is a new bread of heroine who makes her own luck. Less emphasis is placed on her aesthetics and much more on her ingenuity. Cinder Edna is all personality as she charms a near-sighted prince.
By the way, little boys like Cinder Edna too - its just that good.
This is a really fun book to read with girls of all ages. And its never too early to teach your daughters how to spot a prince, or that happily ever after is relative.
Send a copy to your still single sister on her 30th, 40th or 50th birthday. Bring it to the bridal shower for a funny little read aloud, or put in the goodie bag for your daughter's sweet sixteen party.
Warm-hearted, witty, and reminiscent of the Paper-bag princess 2007-02-02
I Loved this book, and so did my two pre-schoolers. It is a great retelling of Cinderella with a modern slant. Cinder Edna and Cinderella are neighbours. While Cinderella pines away and sleeps in the Cinders to keep warm, Edna finds it too dirty and so after she does the work for HER wicked step-mother and step sisters she goes out and cleans bird cages and mows lawns.
Cinder Edna is a spunky, fun character - while Cinderella can't get to the ball without her fairy god-mother's help Cinder Edna has organised a dress on Layaway and catches the bus and while there have been discussions I see on here about feminist overtones and environmental issues (all of which are here) the thing I liked most about this is that people really need to earn what they get. We end up rewarded for what we put in. So Cinder Edna and Cinderella really end up with exactly what they put in. I like the concept of consequences and planning.
Anyway, this book makes me laugh. some of the lines are priceless - and my kids adore the story so it works well on both adult and child level
The illustrations are quite neat - I think they much be pastel, and they have a wonderful 50's kitsch feel about them - the step-mother and step-sisters are extraodinary!
I would really recommend this book, it left me with the same feeling the PaperBag Princess did - A real spunky heroine who can look after herself.
There are some utterly classic lines in this book
clever 2007-01-19
clever and unexpected --- a brilliant book. I wish there were more children's books like this. A feminist fairytal is possible.
