Cinder EdnaBibliography:
Jackson, Ellen.  1994. Cinder Edna. Ill. by Kevin O’Malley. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard. ISBN: 0688123228.

Plot Summary:
Everybody knows the classic story of Cinderella, but few have heard the story of her neighbor, Cinder Edna, who was much more content doing chores and work.  Cinder Edna knew how to cook, clean, find true happiness despite the challenges of living with a wicked stepmother and stepsisters.  When Cinderella and Cinder Edna attend the fancy ball, they will both find love, and promptly have to return home by midnight for very different reasons.  Their new loves then set out to find them based on their unique traits.

Critical Analysis:
Cinder Edna presents an alternate version of the classic fairytale that explodes some of the myths perpetuated by Cinderella and other fairytales.  The title character does not seek a fairy godmother to solve her problems, she happily learns tricks of the trade when it comes to housework and cooking, and she falls in love with a man who has more character than clout.  For Cinder Edna, happiness and love are not superficial, but rather, they are goals to be earned through a healthy perspective.

The illustrations in Cinder Edna are colorful, bright, and depict the expressive and contrasting personalities of the characters in the book.  However, the illustrator depicts Cinder Edna and her world in the same brightness and clarity as one would expect from Cinderella.  This shows that Cinder Edna is capable of as much or more happiness than the mythical princess for whom the story is based upon. 

Jackson is an award-winning author and has listed the commendations for this book on her website:
Featured in Great Books For Girls by Kathleen Odean.
Chosen as a “children’s favorite” by the children of Seattle,1997.
Children’s Book Award Nominee in South Carolina and Colorado for 1996-97.
Children’s Book Award Nominee in Nevada for 1997-98 and Pennsylvania for 1998-99.
Mentoring USA, Recommended Reading List.
Combined Awards-Recognized Standards Literature List, Indiana, 2000.

Review Excerpts:
Booklist: “There’s fun in the literal reduction of the fantasy as well as in the transformed role models.” – Hazel Rochman
School Library Journal: “O’Malley’s full-page, full-color illustrations are exuberant and funny.” – Susan Hepler

Connections:

  • Discuss with children what made Cinder Edna different from Cinderella.  For older kids (those in later elementary), this would be an excellent time to discuss important values such as self-esteem.  Point out that Cinder Edna was happy because of her attitude and how she didn’t expect others to grant all of her wishes.
  • Compare this title with other Cinderella variations such as Chickerella,