Cinder Edna - Ellen Jackson

by Tristi Pinkston | More from this Blogger

16 Jan 2007 11:56 AM

We've all heard the story of Cinderella. But did you know that she had a next door neighbor? That girl's name was Cinder Edna, and she was pretty much in the same boat. All day long, both girls worked hard scrubbing, cleaning, and cooking. (What's up with their neighborhood?) But there was one significant difference between them. When Cinderella's work was done, she would sit near the fireplace to keep warm, thinking about her troubles, while Cinder Edna sang while she worked and took advantage of her situation to learn all she could about cooking and housework.

Edna had tried sitting by the fireplace, but it seemed like a waste of time. Besides, it made her clothes all black and sooty. Instead, she decided to keep warm by mowing the lawn for the neighbors and cleaning out their birdcages for some pocket money. She also learned how to play the accordion and how to tell jokes. She wasn't as pretty as Cinderella, but she had spunk.

One day the King held a royal ball and invited all eligible young women to come. Both houses were in uproar as the sisters got ready and then drove away, leaving Cinderella and Cinder Edna behind to clean up the mess. Cinderella wished for a fairy godmother to come, and she did. But Edna didn't believe in fairy godmothers. She had saved up her cage cleaning money and used it to buy a dress. And her loafers would do just fine.

Meanwhile, Cinderella asks her fairy godmother how she would get to the ball. The godmother was a bit perturbed that Cinderella couldn't figure out at least part of this by herself, but she created a coach anyway. (This is the best illustration in the book - the look on the godmother's face is priceless.) Cinder Edna took the bus.

When both girls arrived at the ball, Edna found Randolph, the prince, to be very boring. Sure, he was good looking, but he was a terrible conversationalist.

But who was this? Rupert, the prince's younger brother, asking for Edna's cup so he can recycle it. As it turns out, he runs an orphanage for kittens, he loves tuna casserole, and he plays the concertina! He and Edna had a wonderful time dancing together.

Suddenly the clock strikes midnight. Cinderella dashes out, knowing that her spell will end soon, and Edna takes off too, knowing that's when the buses stop running. Rupert berates Randolph for not asking Cinderella her name. "My girl's name is Edna," he says.

But Randolph is much too taken with his own idea. Both girls left behind a shoe. He insists that they try the shoes on every girl in the land. Rupert thinks it's the stupidest idea he's ever heard, but what are you gonna do?

So both young princes head out on their quest, each in their own way. They find the right girls, and get married, and live happily ever after, but each with their own style of happiness. Not everyone needs huge crowns full of jewels to be happy.

(This book was published in 1994 by William Morrow and Company, and was illustrated by Kevin O'Malley.)

Related Blogs:

Chickerella

The Myth of Cinderella

Best Folktale and Fairytale books

Learn more about Tristi Pinkston

I've been a blogger for Families.com since August of 2006.

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Jaime Egan (2178) 17 Jan 2007 05:17 AM

That sounds like a great book! I am going to have to check this one out.

Tristi Pinkston (10839) 17 Jan 2007 10:27 AM

Hello, Jaime!! Yes, it's a great book. You'll enjoy it.

danyellef (16) 19 Jan 2007 10:46 AM

This is one of my six year old's favorite books! So glad you reviewed it. I love the theme and how "Happily Ever After" isn't the same for everyone.

Tristi Pinkston (10839) 19 Jan 2007 06:27 PM

I'm glad you've enjoyed it too, Danyelle. It's true that what makes one person happy isn't what's going to work for another.