Review of Cinderlla Spinderella by Mark Binder

Cinderella Spinderella

Amazon Summery:

The classic story of Cinderella has been modernized and urbanized in this beautifully illustrated edition, written with delightful humor and a surprising twist. 

Cinderella Spinderella uses ebook technology to allow readers to choose how Cinderella looks. Is she Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, or from the Indian subcontinent? 

You can pick. 

Mark Binder’s Cinderella Spinderella began its life as a spoken-word story told to very different audiences— groups of inner city youngsters and their parents and campers with severe physical disabilities. 

The ebook Cinderella Spinderella, connects with any reader, offering 25 different combinations, so that every youngster can see herself or himself reflected in the story. 
This is Cinderella who powerfully chooses her identity! 

The classic story is modernized in this beautifully illustrated edition, written with delightful humor and a surprising twist. 

My Review:

In advance, I'd like to say that I didn't read the e-version of this book, I read the print copy. However I did give an e-version to a friend of mine to read with her daughter and I was able to get their feedback on it for this review. 

I really liked the idea behind Cinderella Spinderella, which is one of the reasons I agreed to review it. I liked the fact that the reader would get to choose different Cinderellas and different princes for the story. The print version I received to review was the Autumn Cinderella and Prince, but the e-version allows for the reader to choose any season Cinderella and any season prince. I was so intrigued by this that I sent a copy to my friend Crystal to read with her daughter Gabby before I even got a chance to read the book. I'm very glad I did, but I will get to their thoughts in a sec. To see all the different variations check out the Cinderella Spinderella website.

I have to say the print copy was absolutely delightful. Let's start with the story itself.

I love the way the author rewrote Cinderella. The modern spin is nice and, while I really dislike the wicked step-sisters, I did get a kick out of their bickering. I also liked their final punishment. I liked how Eleanor finally overcame her sisters and their horrible treatment.   I have to say though my favorite part of the story is when Cinderella meets her fairy godmother. I love her line about the glass slippers.  

As for the artwork. I love the vibrant colors and how the pictures take up the page but don't distract from the story. They really are wonderful and fun.  In the beginning of the book it showed some of the different pictures that would normally be shown in the e-version.  A lot of work went into this book and the pictures are proof.

Gabby and her mom loved the e-version as well. Gabby suffers from Rett's Syndrome and is confined to a

wheelchair, among other physical issues, but she really got involved with the story. She liked picking out her Cinderella and her prince and even helped her mom turn the pages. Crystal liked how the book was truthful in how people treat people with disabilities and didn't try to sugar coat it, but how in the end Cinderella was able to show them how wrong they were. To directly quote her:

" It made me angry [the treatment of Cinderella]. But also hopeful that kids can see that children/people in wheelchairs can be every bit as much of a princess as anyone else, just like my Gabbers."

To elaborate a bit more on the angry part, she said it only made her angry because she sees people, even her own Gabby, treated this way everyday. Overall she thinks it's a great book and hopes that everyone would get the chance to read it.

I'm really glad that I was able to get this book for Gabby. I'm glad she enjoyed it. I'm also glad that it gives kids a heroine they can relate to. I want to say thank you to Gabby and her mom for letting me know how much they enjoyed the book. Click on the links to find out more about Gabby and/or Rett's Syndrome.

I have to say I really admire the author as well. Not only for creating Cinderella Spinderella, but he has also started a Pay It Forward program to help get print copies of the book to kids who might otherwise not be able to afford it. Please go check it out. Even if you can't donate, at least share the program to help get the word out. Also be sure to check back soon, Mark Binder was nice enough to agree to come do a guest post here at AimeeKay's Reviews. Scroll down a bit to find out more about him.

****

Mark Binder
is an award-winning author and story performer. His work uses laughter and language to teach children tolerance and bridge ethnic and ability differences. Over the past twenty years, he has shared his Bed Time Story Book series with a hundred-thousand plus readers and listeners around the world in print, in person, and in audio recordings. Cinderella Spinderella is his most recent book

****

The fine print:

I was given a print copy of Cinderella Spinderella in exchange for an honest review. Yes, I bought a copy for my friend and her daughter and she let me know what she thought of it, she was also nice enough to let me use a picture of her and Gabby with the book for my review. But I bought the book solely based on what I saw when I went to check out the book on Amazon before agreeing to review it. I'm just really glad that they enjoyed it as much as I did.