#interstellar cinderella

[lostinthestacks]

JOMP BPC | August 12: Retelling

[ginabiggs]

Interstellar Cinderella. Turns out the artist, Meg Hunt, is a fellow Portland, OR resident! I just have to fangirl at her a bit! This is my daughter’s favorite book. She had me come read it to her kindergarten class today and THEY all loved it. I drew this as a fun worksheet for her to color in and write down what she dreams of becoming one day.

[lostinthestacks]

JOMP BPC February 17

Fairy Tales

[starminesister]

Started (and finished) this morning: Interstellar Cinderella, written by Deborah Underwood with illustrations by Meg Hunt

Over the years I've accumulated a number of children's picture books (mostly from thrift stores) because the subject matter and/or the art looked interesting. I've decided that instead of hoarding them here where no actual child will be able to access them, I should actually read them and then pass them along to the intended audience in some way (little free library, etc.). I could honestly use the shelf space as well.

[blogtor-whonews]

Video of the Day - Bedtime Stories, 2020 - Blogtor Who

[fairytalesinred]

artwork by Meg Hunt

[kidlit]

Interstellar Cinderella

Story by Deborah Underwood, Artwork by Meg Hunt

The first thing I noticed (and LOVED) about this book, is it simply assumes girls will be interested in mechanical engineering and fixing spaceships. The message doesn’t seem to be “some people think girls can’t do technical jobs but screw them! Here’s a book to prove them wrong!” but more “girls are intelligent and capable. Here’s a story about one.” 

It’s a very refreshing way to approach the girl power trope; it’s not that Cinderella is some special “not-like-other-girls” girl, it’s just a story about her happening upon a (POC!) prince and offering to help him fix his rocket. Simple!

The illustrations are vibrant and layered; young readers will love looking at all the aspects while listening to the lilting, rhyming verse. 

The other major thing I noticed was the treatment of boys. I often find, in “girl power books,” the lesson seems to be boys are oppressive, unnecessary, or stupid. That is not the case here; the story doesn’t end with a marriage, but it’s because Cinderella is too young and not because she’s “an independent girl who don’t need no boy.” 

The two treat each other with respect and are allowed to simply interact and converse in a casual, natural way. Hooray for not romanticizing children!

This book is very, very cute and I very, very highly recommend it if only for the (UTTERLY ADORABLE) Halloween costume potential:

(Image courtesy of A Mighty Girl -- click the link for a post full of adorable role model costumes. So awesome!)

Buy Interstellar Cinderella (in Canada) here >

[ntlibrary]

Happy Fiction Friday!  The 28th was Children’s Picture Book Day and April 2nd is International Children’s Book Day (picture books get two days because they’re so amazing), so we’re highlighting some of our favorite newer picture books that are good reads no matter how old you are.

The Princess and the Pony ~by Kate Beaton: We love the derpy little pony in this story, as well as the tough warriors in sweaters.  And then there’s the brofisting horse/prince duo.  Really, we just love the whole thing.

Bunny Days ~by Tao Nyeu:  These little bunnies seem to attract trouble, getting all muddy, clogging a vacuum cleaner, and losing their tails in a hedge-trimming accident.  Good thing Bear is there.  Oh, and the illustrations?  They are aww-inducing adorable.

It’s a Book ~by Lane Smith:  A book about the value of books.  Of course we love it!  Plus, it’s hilarious; The last line deserves to be read aloud.  

Interstellar Cinderella ~by Deborah Underwood:  A Cinderella who saves the day with her mechanical skills, a prince who wants to talk about rocket ships, and a helpful robot mouse? Sign us up!  Even if we didn’t love fairy tales, we’d love the expressive illustrations.