Cinderella: (Original Brothers Grimm Version) by Brothers Grimm, Bernadette Watts (Illustrator)
Do you know the story of Cinderella? You probably think you do, but you also probably only know one version of this classic tale. Be it the Disney version or the more famous Charles Perrault version, you have only seen a small bit of the history of this folktale. Now, I had heard about the original version the Grimm Brothers had done, but I mostly forgot about it. If the version you know is this Grimm one, I think you and I had very different childhoods.
Using the Grimm version instead of the usual Perrault version is a nice touch, but since we already know the story, the new pieces are nice but the overall narrative is familiar. It is the fact that the new pieces are dark and unique to the Grimms that makes having “another Cinderella story” out there worth the time to read. Cinderella has the key factors: the passing of the mother, the father remarried, the stepmother and stepsisters. There are the cinders of the fireplace and the cruel acts against her. What is different is that the stepsisters are beautiful, the stepmother gives her a chance to go to the ball the prince is having if she can do certain impossible tasks and instead of a fairy godmother Bibbiding her way through things, we have the forest birds. Yes, there is the magic slipper at the end but add some literally bloody actions taken by the stepsisters.
The illustrations are delightfully artistic and beautifully done and thankfully not showing the cutting off of the toe or the bloodied heel. They show the magical dresses the birds bring to Cinderella. There is no pumpkin coach, just our gal on her feet running off; hiding from the Prince who claims to love her but can’t tell the difference between her and her two stepsisters. (Once, okay, he’s hungover from the night before but twice? Of course the ball does go three days). The colors are whimsical and almost dreamy. The images are busy, detailed and filled with much to see. Things are crowded and not easily read at times, but that just means take your time.
It is the illustrations that drew me to this due later September 2026 book. That cover gives off classic vibes but also has modern ones as well. I read it via an online reader, but will be finding a finished copy. I used to collect non-western editions, but this would make a nice addition to any Cinderella collection or fairytale collection. It has broad appeal for older readers.
