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Cinderella stories abound throughout the world, transcending cultures and captivating the attention of children throughout the ages. Manna and Mitakidou’s retelling of this classic fairy tale is based on two Greek versions, with a few changes which depict a self-assertive young woman rather than a passive girl.
The story follows the traditional format: a young girl's mother dies and her father remarries an unkind woman with two self-seeking daughters. One day, the prince comes to the church with the intention of finding a bride. The orphan is not invited but instead helps her stepmother and sisters prepare to meet him.
The “Cinderella” character visits her mother’s grave and hears her voice directing the girl to find her key to happiness at home. Mother Nature and her gifts of the Sun, Moon, etc., bestow the gifts of beauty, a wreath, dresses and shoes to the orphan. Her mother’s voice always directs the orphan home, immediately following the church service.
When the prince has his servants place wax on the floor in an attempt to keep her from leaving, the orphan escapes but leaves a shoe behind. When the time comes to try the shoe on all the eligible women, the orphan goes directly to the palace to prove she is the one the prince seeks.
With bright watercolors and entertaining facial expressions, The Orphan is an enjoyable read-aloud. The story is familiar to almost all children, so they will immediately catch on to the differences between this story and the traditional tale. The flowing text is descriptive, and asks questions, keeping the reader actively engaged in the story.
With the spirit of the orphan’s mother embodied in nature, the book connects with the natural, rather than a fantasy world. Recommended for children in grades 1-3 and as a strong addition to any fairy tale collection.
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The Orphan: A Cinderella Story from Greece