CinderElla — Susan Meredith

Gram's Fairy Tales presents a series of illustrated chapter books that retain the heart and characters, but not the violence, of the original Grimm tales. The stories are lyrical with touching and funny twists that make them as interesting for the adult reader as they are for children.

This “kinder, gentler retelling” of CinderElla, is the story of a search for perfect pairs: a young lady searching for the prince of her heart and an enchanted dancing shoe that seeks to be reunited with its fox-trotting partner.

Along the way, Ella loses a mother but gains a stepmother who is kind and twin stepsisters who are materialistic and demanding. Their demands escalate as the Royal Ball approaches and they leave CinderElla behind with her wishes. As her wishes come true, CinderElla, with the help of her enchanted dancing shoes, becomes the favored dance partner of the Prince. Dawn approaches and CinderElla races from the palace leaving behind one shoe that won't stop dancing. Sadly, she and the remaining shoe trudge home and wonder if they will ever see their perfect partners again.

Other books currently in the series include Little Red Riding Hood, and Rumpelstiltskin.