Cinder Edna

Ellen Jackson has created a clever retelling of the Cinderella story. In this tale there are two neighboring damsels with wicked stepsisters and stepmothers who handle their fates in two distinctive ways. Cinderella is portrayed as a silly and vacant girl who cannot get to the ball without her stepmother's help. She wears her elegant glass slippers to the ball and meets the handsome yet pompous Prince Randolph. Cinder Edna, on the other hand, saves money earned cleaning parrot cages, buys a dress, and takes a bus to the ball in her sensible shoes. She meets the goofy and kind Prince Rupert, Randolph's brother who lives in a cottage in the back of the palace and runs a recycling plant. When a sensible shoe and an elegant slipper are left behind, only one couple will live happily ever after. This spunky tale about self-reliance and finding your own happiness is a great read.

Flare

This is a seriously cute book, and not just because I was a Classics major. Kallie George has written a lovely book called Flare about a baby Phoenix. He rises out of the ashes singing, "I am tough. I am strong. My name is Flare." Flare is an orphan, but he is lovingly raised by a cloud, the sun, and the wind. Each of these three tries to teach Phoenix it is o.k. to cry. Their attempts fail until the sun shines on an injured and sad baby bird. It is through this experience that the Phoenix is truly able to understand the power and magic of his tears. Ivy was just fascinated by this book. It appears to be a series - I will be ordering the rest today! It is also simple to read for a beginning reader.

I Feel Five

This new book by Bethanie Deeney Murguia speaks to Ivy, who often probably feels five. With the big birthday looming in October, Ivy is often wondering what it will be like to be big. On the eve of Fritz's fifth birthday, Fritz wonders how he will be different the next day. Throughout the course of the day he is disappointed that he still feels four. Each piece of his day is illustrated with dashing water colors, helping the reader to see that perhaps growing up is a gradual process. In the end it is finding friendship with a girl that helps him to feel perhaps a little bit 5. Adorably sweet.

The Most Wonderful Doll in the World

Phyllis McGinley published this book in 1950, but it was still a hit for Ivy. It is about a young girl named Dulcy, who always wanted the next best thing. She adored dolls, but was always asking for more. One day a neighbor gave her a doll named Angela with a box of clothes. Upon losing it the first night, Dulcy proceeded to misremember her doll to the dismay of all of her friends. No doll could compare to the precious Angela. What will happen to Dulcy? Will she ever find Angela? Find out in this beautifully illustrated chapter book for beginner readers.