1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lowell, Susan. 2000. Cindy Ellen: A Western Cinderella. Ill. by Jane Manning. New York, NY: Harper Collins. ISBN 0060274476
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Susan Lowell has written a western parody of Cinderella called Cindy Ellen. In the book Cindy Ellen’s rancher dad marries his second wife who comes with two daughters and a need to wear the pants in the family. Cindy Ellen is forced to mend the fences and tend to the cows. Cindy’s sad fortune changes when the biggest Cattle King for miles around invites all neighbors to a wild and woolly rodeo fandango. Her fairy god mother arrives, and bing! bang!...Cindy Ellen receives gumption and is sent high tailing off to the rodeo to lasso the prince.
3. CRITICAL ANAYLIS
Susan Lowell has written a parody of the classic Cinderella traditional tale. The conflict between characters follows the classic account with a western flavor. In this story the protagonist is forced into hard ranch labor and the servant hood of her newly acquired family. The dialect used assures you that you are in the west. For instance, the wicked step mother is denoted as, “meaner than a rattlesnake with two daughters who were her spitting image.” Her story was a galloping, rip roaring, thunderous pleasure to read.
Lowell, Susan. 2000. Cindy Ellen: A Western Cinderella. Ill. by Jane Manning. New York, NY: Harper Collins. ISBN 0060274476
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Susan Lowell has written a western parody of Cinderella called Cindy Ellen. In the book Cindy Ellen’s rancher dad marries his second wife who comes with two daughters and a need to wear the pants in the family. Cindy Ellen is forced to mend the fences and tend to the cows. Cindy’s sad fortune changes when the biggest Cattle King for miles around invites all neighbors to a wild and woolly rodeo fandango. Her fairy god mother arrives, and bing! bang!...Cindy Ellen receives gumption and is sent high tailing off to the rodeo to lasso the prince.
3. CRITICAL ANAYLIS
Susan Lowell has written a parody of the classic Cinderella traditional tale. The conflict between characters follows the classic account with a western flavor. In this story the protagonist is forced into hard ranch labor and the servant hood of her newly acquired family. The dialect used assures you that you are in the west. For instance, the wicked step mother is denoted as, “meaner than a rattlesnake with two daughters who were her spitting image.” Her story was a galloping, rip roaring, thunderous pleasure to read.
Jan Manning’s illustrations are colorful and endearing. I personally enjoyed the way she illustrated the evil step mother with a tall strong manly presence. The fairy godmother was a comical old lady with spectacles and a gold six-gun. The setting is dry and dusty with cactus, jack rabbits, and clear blue skies. Manning’s illustrations help set the mood for and guarantee side splitting bronco riding adventure.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist: With a yee-haw and a do-si-do, the everlasting Cinderella story blooms again.
Horn Book: Expressive regional turns of phrase and exuberant full color comic illustrations…
Publishers Weekly: Savory slang adds punch to this tale which stresses the fairy godmother’s message that “magic is plumb worthless without gumption.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*Discuss the Fairy Godmothers words “magic is plumb worthless without gumption.” Elaborate on the meaning and how they can apply that to their lives.
*Have children compare and contrast Cindy Ellen to the Disney Cinderella story.
*Have children write a new chapter to the story from where the story ends with Cindy and Joe Prince getting hitched and living in a ranch house full of love and rodeo trophies.
*Other related books:
Sierra, Judy. The Gift of the Crocodile: A Cinderella Story. ISBN 0689821883
Schroeder, Alan. Smoky Mountain Rose: An Appalachian Cinderella. ISBN 0140566732
Souci, Robert. Little Gold Star: A Spanish American Cinderella Tale. ISBN 0688147801
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist: With a yee-haw and a do-si-do, the everlasting Cinderella story blooms again.
Horn Book: Expressive regional turns of phrase and exuberant full color comic illustrations…
Publishers Weekly: Savory slang adds punch to this tale which stresses the fairy godmother’s message that “magic is plumb worthless without gumption.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*Discuss the Fairy Godmothers words “magic is plumb worthless without gumption.” Elaborate on the meaning and how they can apply that to their lives.
*Have children compare and contrast Cindy Ellen to the Disney Cinderella story.
*Have children write a new chapter to the story from where the story ends with Cindy and Joe Prince getting hitched and living in a ranch house full of love and rodeo trophies.
*Other related books:
Sierra, Judy. The Gift of the Crocodile: A Cinderella Story. ISBN 0689821883
Schroeder, Alan. Smoky Mountain Rose: An Appalachian Cinderella. ISBN 0140566732
Souci, Robert. Little Gold Star: A Spanish American Cinderella Tale. ISBN 0688147801
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