Book Review: Cinderella from around the world

Wilson, Barbara Ker (retold by). WISHBONES: A FOLK TALE FROM CHINA. Ill. By Meilo So. New York: Bradbury Press, 1993. ISBN 0027931250.

According to the book jacket, this story is the oldest version of Cinderella. It has a motherless girl, a clueless but loving father, a wicked stepmother and stepsister, and a magical being that sends the heroine, Yeh Hsien, to the Cave Festival after her stepmother has made sure she stayed home. There is a lost slipper and a young king who searches for the slipper’s owner in order to marry her. Since this is an Oriental tale, though, the story varies slightly from the European version. The magical being that sends our heroine to the Cave Festival is not alive. Instead, it is the bones of Yeh Hsien’s pet fish which the stepmother killed for dinner, and Yeh Hsien fished out of the dungheap and wished upon (the “Wishbones” of the title). There is also an extra twist at the end. Instead of living happily ever after, Yeh Hsien’s husband uses up all the magic and the Wishbones stop granting wishes. Yeh Hsien and her husband bury the Wishbones in the beach where they are washed away into the sea, and the formulaic ending is “They have never been found to this day.”

From the very first lines, we know that this story took place “thousands of years ago,” and this is driven home when we learn that the people live in caves. The text and illustrations show a primitive society, with water drawn from “a mountain pool,” and Yeh Hsien being sent off “into the hills to gather herbs.” Transportation is by horse and wagon, even if the horses are decked out in finery. At the Cave Festival, Yeh Hsien is blinded by “the lights of a hundred lanterns.” All of these add up to a long ago time and place.

Meilo So’s illustrations add depth to the story, as we view the cave in which the family lives and the fine clothes of the stepmother and stepsister vs. the heroine’s patched and ragged jacket. So’s pictures of the magic Wishbones occur over and over, and in brilliant red and blue colors that jump off the page at us. On the very last page, not only does the text tell us that the Wishbones have lost their magic, but they have also lost their bright colors - the skeleton is only bleached white now.

This version of the age-old dispute between daughters and stepmothers has its normal assortment of archetypes. We have the innocent child, symbol of all that is good. We have the bully, symbol of all that holds us back from what we want or desire. Finally, we have the magical being, the Angel archetype, who answers our prayers or wishes (Meta Religion).

The story of Cinderella/Yeh Hsien has a global theme. If we live a good life, we will earn our reward despite what obstacles or people try to stop us. This universal theme is why so many diverse cultures have their own versions of a Cinderella story.

Reviews:
Dr. Judy Rowen (Children's Literature)

A Chinese folk tale, this is one of the oldest versions of the Cinderella story. Vibrant, colorful paintings enhance the story.

Jan Lieberman (Children's Literature)

This is a picture book version of the Chinese Cinderella. The title refers to the magic fish who is cruelly killed by Yeh Hsien's stepmother but the girl discovers that those bones will grant her every wish. The illustrations depict the text yet provide room for children's imagination. This is a good version for primary grades.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, 1993)With the help of magic fishbones, Yeh Hsien, the Chinese Cinderella, dresses herself in finery to attend the Cave Festival. The inadvertent loss of her slipper results in her marrying the king. Rich in color, humor, and authentic details, So's brilliant illustrations give the old tale a refreshing and effective interpretation.

Connections:

Show your students some other international versions of Cinderella. See if they can identify the common characters and elements in each story. Keep a chart or write their answers on the board for them to see as they go through the different versions.

Sources:

Meta Religion. 2007. “A Gallery of Archetypes.” Accessed June 27, 2009 from http://meta-religion.com/Psychiatry/Analytical_psychology/a_gallery_of_archetypes.htm

Book Review – creators of children’s picture books

Talking With Artists by Pat Cummings

1. Bibliographic information: Cummings, Pat. 1992. TALKING WITH ARTISTS. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0027242455.

2. Plot: Cummings interviews 14 children's book artists. Following a "My Story" written by each artist, she then asks each artist the same 8 questions. Each artist presents him or herself in a totally unique style, just like their artwork. There are samples of childhood works and illustrations from their adult careers. At the end of the book is a glossary of art and publishing terms and a list of books by the artists.

3. Critical analysis: As an illustrator of children’s books herself, Pat Cummings understands the lifestyle of creating picture book illustrations. In her introduction she mentions that she visits elementary schools. She knows what kind of questions children ask, and these are the questions she poses to the artists interviewed. Readers of this book learn that it’s possible to enjoy your adult career, and make a living off a hobby (even obsession) to these artists since their childhood.

Each chapter is organized the same – first the artist speaks, in a 2 page article titled “My Story.” There are photos of the artist as both child and adult, then Cummings asks each artist 8 questions:

Where do you get your ideas from?
What is a normal day like for you?
Where do you work?
Do you have any children? Any pets?
What do you enjoy drawing the most?
Do you ever put people you know in your pictures?
What do you use to make your pictures?
How did you get to do your first book?

Interspersed throughout the 8 questions and their answers are childhood artistic creations and adult artistic creations.

Since each artist has his or her own style, each chapter is a different style. The artists' persoanlities come though, especialy Lane Smith, whose very tongue-in-cheek answers and illustrations drawn especialy for his "My Story" section are hilariously funny. Check out the drawing of 'this thing' that Smith says all children go through as a stage in their drawing, on page 73.

4. Awards and Review Excerpts:

ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award 1993 - Winner Non-Fiction United States.

Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children. 1993 Honor Book United States

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, 1992)

Fourteen well-known children's book illustrators respond to questions about their lives and work in a lively interchange of ideas.... An inspired concept, executed with class.

Betsy Hearne (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, April 1992 (Vol. 45, No. 8))

As inspiration for building artists or information for reports, this will make a natural companion to picture books by the award-winning subjects...

5. Connections: Any of this series would make a perfect gift to an art teacher or budding young artist. Give a set of paints, brushes, pastels, and paper along with the book.