Cinderella by Jane Ray

Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406377842
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Diorama, Theatre, Classic tale, Fairytale. A three dimensional representation of the classic tale of Cinderella is offered within the covers of this book in six pop up dioramas. Each double page presents a scene from the fairy tale, with side flaps giving the story, and the central offering a diorama of the action presented in the text. In the first diorama, we hear of Cinderella and her two lazy stepsisters. We see Cinderella sweeping in the kitchen while her stepmother and stepsisters lounge about, in an adjacent room preening, drinking tea and eating cake. They are magnificently dressed, whereas Cinderella is dirty and disheveled. The page is cut out so that the action stands out from the background. Through the cut out foreground we can see into the garden beyond.
Each double page is full of interest, and children will read the text eagerly looking at the picture presented, searching out the details of the story.
The book is subtitled, A Three-dimensional Fairy-tale Theatre, and the side flaps are like curtains opening on the scene presented, making the viewer's eyes focus on the opening of the stage curtain and what is then revealed.
A different outing for the classic tale will be eagerly used by young careful readers.
Fran Knight