LS 5603 LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS

Review of CINDERLILY

A. Bibliographic Information:

Tagg, Christine. CINDERLILY: A FLORAL FAIRY TALE IN THREE ACTS. David Ellwand, illustrator. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press, 2003.



B. Plot Summary
This is almost a typical Cinderella as far as storyline and action. It is presented as a play in three acts. From the billing on the pumpkin orange stage curtain we begin to see how the layout and form are going to be used in this modern edition to the Cinderella International gathering!

Small differences such as rather than a Prince we are told “The Sultan” is giving a dance to find a bride. Cinderlily’s two sisters are made of pansies and cockscomb and sure enough they are the mean and bossy types, “Then she (Cinderlily) hears her sisters calling: “You must help us look our best. Then surely at the Sultan’s Ball, we’ll stand out from the rest.”

Act II opens and we realize that these are really verses with a rhyming meter rather than paragraphs of prose. “Suddenly a light appears—a fairy hovers near. “Cinderlilly don’t despair” she cries, “now that I am here. My magic will transform you-- with the Sultan you shall dance. But mind, be back by MIDNIGHT, or that’s the end of the romance.”

In Act III the missing flower petal matches Cinderlily and sure enough it is happily ever after.

C. Critical analysis including cultural markers and standards of literary merit.

CINDERLILY is an interesting book to look at! The fairy Godmother is a Stargazer Lily and the Sultan is a Dutch Iris flower. The concept was an interesting one and from the very 1st page we see interesting things.

Almost the entire book is illustrated like a play bill. The type style is unusual and someone has placed the word

If I were asked if I would suggest purchasing a copy of this title for a public library or public library media center I would predicate my decision based on how many Cinderella variants you already had in your collection.

The artwork is unusual with flower photos on each page. There is one double page spread that is far better than any other to me. Cinderlily’s coach arrives. It is a homegrown bright orange pumpkin which is rather short and broad. Three windows have been cut out of the pumpkin carriage and a dutch iris of purple and yellow form the curtain. A tiny, tiny, daisy wildflower is put in all 4 corners of each window. The wheels look very oversized for the size of the pumpkin carriage but the wheels are large, voluptuous yellow Gerbera daisies. The adjoining page has moths and butterflies pulling Cinderlily’s coach by string. There is a monarch butterfly, a swallowtail butterfly I believe it is. Three of the strings are being pulled by the most unusual type of butterfly. These three have iridescent shaded aqua blue wings and fuchsia bodies.

Overall I think the strength is the novel artwork but it sacrifices an easy to follow and smooth story for some nice photos. I feel this is a experimental book that will not stand the test of time despite the timeless story.


D. Review Excerpts:

School Library Journal opines, “In this visually intriguing twist on the traditional tale, Ellwand has replaced the human protagonists with flowers. Using Adobe Photoshop, he has arranged lilies, pansies, tulips, roses, and other petals in graceful poses against stark black backgrounds. While the pictures are technically well executed, it is unlikely they will engender other than a passing interest in children. Tagg's text, written in reasonably well-rhymed couplets, is thin on plot, character development, and imagery. In addition, the alterations she makes in the original tale are incongruous. The prince has become a Sultan, but nonetheless the "band strikes up a waltz" at his Royal Autumn Ball. The fonts, which change frequently in an apparent attempt to match the action of the story, are often hard to read, particularly when placed against those black backgrounds.”

Amazon dot com announces, “With singular vision, humor, and a touch of computer magic, David Ellwand directs a delightfully expressive cast of flowers in a breathtaking production sure to enchant lovers of fairy tales - and lovers of flowers, too.



E. Reviews accessed from:

http://www.amazon.com/Cinderlily-Floral-Fairy-David-Ellwand/dp/0763623288/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-7575722-4136600?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191039170&sr=1-1

F. Connections:

For a well done story using fruits and vegetables as characters I prefer Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffer's How Are You Peeling? Foods with Moods. A fairy tale whose action and artwork has a bit of the same whimsy as CINDERLILY try PEEPING BEAUTY by Mary Jane Auch.