Cinder & Ella
For ages 4+
A beautiful LGBT+ fairy tale love story.
By Barbara Slade, illustrated by Lucia Soto (Owlet Press, 2023)
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What role do YOU play as an adult in 2023 when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation in children’s literature? Are you (1) a ‘hide-it-under-the-rug and perhaps it’ll go away’ kinda person; (2) a person who takes children being seen in the books they read extremely seriously, and ensuring growth of empathy and awareness; are you (3) anti-LGBTQ+ content in children’s literature; or, are you perhaps (4) just a little nervous to go for it? You guys are going to know for sure I’m a (2)!! A special welcome to those who have found my review today through the Owlet Press Blog Tour - so happy to see you here!
Owlet Press is an LGBT, family-run independent children’s books publisher based in the UK. I’m pretty sure you’ll have a copy of, or at least have seen a copy of, their global hit picture book ‘Nen and The Lonely Fisherman’, an LGBT fairy tale based on The Little Mermaid. It’s gone on to sell over 10k copies since publishing in 2021!! Owing to the success of ‘Nen’, Owlet Press have collaborated with the award-winning children’s television writer, Barbara Slade (credits include Angelina Ballerina, Winnie the Pooh, Rugrats) and illustrator Lucia Soto to create a fairy tale love story, this time between two girls, Cinder and Ella.
About the Book
The story of the much-loved Cinderella fairy tale we know today in English was originally written by Charles Perrault from France in 1697. A German Cinderella tale was also written by the Brothers Grimm in the early 1800s. However, readers, I was interested to discover that the earliest recorded version of the Cinderella story comes from Egypt - the oral tale of Rhodopis and Her Little Gilded Sandals depicting a Greek slave girl who eventually marries the king of Egypt - first recorded by a Greek geographer (Strabo) in the first century BCE. Cinderella also happened to be my daughter’s first and much-loved story, film AND Barbie doll. Team Cinderella!
When you first behold either the hardback or the paperback editions of Cinder & Ella (for they publish on the same day and obviously I have to have both, because they are equally beautiful), you are struck by the breathtaking and unforgettable cover artwork with its sparkling gold foil (hardback edition) and a vibrant orange-blue Spanish/Moorish-style decor surrounding two young girls filled with joy riding together upon a midnight-coloured steed through the countryside.
Illustration © Lucia Soto
Would you like to know how the story differs from the familiar?
Cinder in this story is living with her stepmother and two vain older stepbrothers. She spends her days scrubbing the floors, doing chores, cooking and baking for very little thanks and kindness. Her one faithful friend is her horse Midnight. The story states early on that Cinder would never want to marry a man, as she has been in love with Princess Ella since she can remember, as presented in the exquisitely illustrated double spread akin to the balcony scene from Romeo & Juliet. The evil stepmother prevents Cinder from going to the ball, just like the original story. Readers will be all too ready to shout out how unfair it is that Cinder’s family are treating her so poorly. Cinder doesn’t hold out much hope for going to the ball, until she hears her horse speaking to her… her magical horse Midnight who turns a pumpkin into a carriage, dresses her in a stunning outfit and off she goes. All the while, Princess Ella just doesn’t know what to make of this ball to find her a handsome husband, drawing the reader in to empathise with Ella over her unsure feelings; even Ella’s loving parents don’t really understand what’s worrying her either. However, once the ball is underway, and Cinder makes her jaw-dropping entrance, Ella doesn’t feel confused any more, everything falls into place naturally - her true love has arrived… and the rest is her-story… which follows the format of the lost shoe, the search and discovery that Cinder is the real owner, then they marry.
Illustration © Lucia Soto
The writing is top-notch and the story flows extremely well. With enough familiar nods to the original plot and such highly illustrated pages, this fairy tale has the ability to be enjoyed by children who are familiar with LGBT gender characters in picture books and by those who are not. Might you get a comment of surprise by or a question from a child who hasn’t before been read a story with same-sex/gender couples? Yes you might, and that’s happened to me in schools and bookshops, and it’s important to respond in the moment with an appropriate age-related level of information that supports the normalisation of gay relationships. As an LGBTQ+ ally, I see this as paving the way for our future generations to be heard, accepted, inclusive and open-minded, and so should you if you aren't already doing so. Include this book and others like it in your home and school libraries - let children be curious in these safe places where trusted and responsible adults are at hand to answer questions or provide support if needed.
Illustration © Lucia Soto
Cinder & Ella is going to be an important book for many people around the world, of all ages. People who haven’t felt seen or heard before, people who have never seen themselves in a story. This is a lovely book to add to my bookshelves, together with a small number of other quality children’s books that have been published with female couples within the story.
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Created by the wonderful Esther at Mrs Brown’s Book Box in association with Owlet Press.
