The fairy godmother has spectacles and a bun. The stepsisters aren't ugly, but they are mean. Otherwise, this is very much the traditional Cinderella fairytale, translated here from a Spanish version and told as part of the Bilingual Editions series, with English text on the top half of the page and the Spanish text right below. Without being intrusive, the bilingual format makes it easy for students learning either language, especially since the story is familiar. The full-page color illustrations opposite the text add a lively comic tone as the vain, proud sisters and overdressed, bossy stepmother are brought down by the stern godmother and the heroine who progresses from rags to romance and riches. The clear mixed-media pictures have depth and energy, with lots of circular shapes--from the grand coach in pumpkin colors to the swirling couple at the ball. Then there's the final view of the stepmother and stepsisters rolling over in a faint, feet up in the air, when the glass slipper fits the ragged young outcast.

The beloved fairy tale gets a fresh look in this bilingual edition. The English translation is often better than the Spanish text, which is plagued by repetition and clumsiness. The modernist illustrations, with strong lines and stylized figures, radiate understated humor and carry the weight of the story.