The English version, on the other hand, is grander and includes magic, such as Cinderella’s godmother being a magician and turning a pumpkin into a beautiful and luxurious coach that took the young woman to the ball, the mice into horses, and rats into grooms. The main difference between the two stories is that in Adelita, which is also a fairy tale, there is no prince or princess because Javier was a childhood friend for whom Adelita had the warmest feelings and whom she ended up marrying. This is why the stories were chosen, as their core theme is oppression being substituted by triumph and reward for one’s suffering. ( Picture book.However, in the end, both young women meet the love of their life and meet happily ever after. An enjoyable read-aloud, this is a fine addition to the author’s growing collection of stories set in Mexico. Heartwarming, but not sappy, this version will lead young writers off in many directions as they write their own Cinderella tales in locations of their own choosing. Decorative objects, including religious items, pottery, Mexican crafts, and kitchenware give the illustrations an authentic touch. The endpapers explode with the lively pattern of the all-important rebozo. The rich colors change in tone as sad times, mourning, and great happiness are all depicted in different double-page spreads. The acrylic paintings are handsome and dignified, with borders of Mexican tile and many archways giving a graceful unity to dePaola’s signature characters. Spanish phrases and their translations are used throughout the text and a list providing pronunciations is given at the end. Esperanza, the servant who quietly manages to bring an end to Adelita’s sufferings, brings a cart to take her to the hacienda, not a coach made out of a pumpkin. The human relationships remain the same: the evil stepmother and the selfish stepsisters are depicted here in the usual way, yet kindly Adelita invites them all to her wedding at the end. The dress belonged to Adelita’s mother and instead of the glass slipper, Adelita uses her beautiful rebozo, a shawl covered in birds and flowers, to lead her rich young gentleman back to her after she leaves the fiesta early. The fairy godmother is a faithful servant who has always worked for the Mercado family. There are no magical elements, yet the prolific author-illustrator weaves together a very satisfying tale of the beautiful and good Adelita and her sweet young man, Javier, a childhood friend. 409, etc.) has framed the story in a more realistic vein than usual. Placing this Cinderella variation in upper-class Mexico in the last century, dePaola ( A New Barker in the House, p.
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