VERY LITTLE CINDERELLA

Cinderella as played by a very independent preschooler, housecleaning, Fairy Godmother (babysitter), missing yellow boot, and all.

Very Little Cinderella is “cleaning” the house kid-style—as when kids clean and it’s actually dirtier than when they started—when the Ugly Sisters tell her that she needs to clean up. “No!” she declares. “Cleaning all done. Now I have cookie.” Just then, the Fairy Godmother appears, and the sisters tell Very Little Cinderella that they are off to a party. “I go too?” The Ugly Sisters escape just as Very Little Cinderella lets loose. Well, the Fairy Godmother tries to do her thing, but Very Little Cinderella has her own idea of what to wear and how to get to the party—just like a real preschooler. The day after, the crisis du jour is the missing yellow boot. Luckily, a Very Little Prince and his mommy save the day, making things even better with a playdate and a boot trade. In her watercolor-and-ink illustrations, Heap gets Very Little Cinderella’s facial expressions and body language down to a T, from the hug she gives to her found yellow boot to her tantrum. Her resolute baby talk, on the other hand, is likely to polarize adult readers.

Those going through their own independent phases—and their caregivers—may enjoy this take on a favorite fairy tale.