cover image Cinderella

Cinderella

Chloe Perkins, illus. by Sandra Equihua. Little Simon, $8.99 (24p) ISBN 978-1-4814-7915-8

In one of two board books kicking off the Once Upon a World series, Perkins transplants the story of Cinderella to Mexico, though in only the most superficial of ways. Mexican illustrator Equihua embraces the setting in her digital cartoons, from the tiled floor of Cinderella’s home to the layered white gown she wears to the ball. But with no real attempt made to integrate Mexican life into the retelling (not a word of Spanish is used, and the ball is thrown by the king, despite the nation’s brief history with monarchy), the overall effect is that of cultural window-dressing. Snow White, set in Japan, is available simultaneously. Ages 2–4. (Sept.)