This delightful retelling of Cinderella begins at an earlier and happier time--when Cinderella's mother was still alive--than the traditional story. Young readers are certain to be enchanted anew by this oldest rags-to-riches story, now in a romantic Venetian setting magically painted by the author. Full color.

Ella, loses her mother when she is 16. Her father remarries a mean women who has two daughters. Her new stepmother and stepsisters abuse her, and make her their maid. Cinderella is forced to cook, clean, and even sleep on the floor by the fire. The cinder covers her and her stepsisters tease her, calling her "Cinderella." Duke Fidelio throws an extravagant masquerade and invites everyone in the town. Cinderella's step mother gives her extra work to keep her from attending. Cinderella's tears being her a magical fairy mother who turns her rags to a beautiful gown, and a pumpkin into a gondola to take her to the ball. At the ball Cinderella and the Duke fall in love. I love that this version of Cinderella has a Venetian setting. I also loved the beautiful illustrations done by David Delamare. ( )

In this Italian account of Cinderella, David Delamare, changes the traditional setting Venice. Cinderella is in a much happier place in her life, with her father and her mother, at the beginning of the book. Although she grows up with her father gone most of the time, she at least has her mother until her late teens. After her mother passes away, the traditional Cinderella story unfolds with Cinderella taking her place as her new stepmother and stepsisters' maid. The text is beautifully written with great word choice. Although the reading level may be too high for K-3 students, I do believe they could understand it in a read aloud. With the main themes embodying wealth and love, many are able to relate to the story as the American dream often involves the both of these. Loneliness is another theme in the book that children, with parents who are away often, can relate to. Altogether, Delamare created a wonderful version of the classic Cinderella story that I found to be very enjoyable. ( )

This is another retelling of Cinderella. This version starts off with Cinderalla's mother still alive. She is very happy until she dies and her father finds a new wife. After that the story sticks pretty close to the others. I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book. ( )

This traditional tale of Cinderella is told with the western world's version; however, the story seems to be set in Venice as the characters commute along water ways on Gondolas. This version of the story Cinderella lives with her mother and longs for her father is always away on his boat traveling. Her mother becomes ill and soon passes, and the story proceeds with the traditional tale.

The illustrations of this story are absolutely intriguing. They captivate the reader's attention with images that feel life-like and make the reader feel as though they're in the book with the characters. I would love to use this version with my students as I think its interesting with the Venice setting introducing some culture. ( )