Cinderella: A Pop-Up Fairy Tale

I found this book for my little girl, after discovering a Dinosaur and Shark book for my son. It is so beautiful I sat in awe for about 30 minutes looking at it when I first received it. It's not Disney's Cinderella, so don't look for any comparisons. Instead, it is a beautiful story full of imaginative pop-ups that allow little girls to pretend they are in the story as Cinderella herself. My little girl (2 years) just loves to sit with me and my husband and flip through the story. Even my 3 year old boy loves to look at it!

Matthew Reinhart has created "Cinderella: A Pop-Up Fairy Tale." He studied with, and now works with, Robert Sabuda, the master of the pop-up book. His work doesn't eclipse Sabuda's yet, but it's very nice. The book opens up to reveal a fairy tale cottage with lots of colorful details: a deer hides in the bushes, a rooster pecks the ground behind the house. Among the six main spreads there are lots of mini booklets throughout with additional pop-ups, all telling the story of Cinderella and her mean stepmother and stepsisters. Reinhart based it on the original tale by Charles Perrault rather than on the familiar Disney version. It's magical. Before our eyes, a rat turns into a jolly coachman. Among the pop-ups are an impressive silver coach with six horses, dancers that spin as the pages open, and the most royal of royal palaces. I am in LOVE with this book. I believe Reinhart's plan is to create a whole series of fairy tale pop-ups. Man, I hope so!

Cinderella picture books are everywhere since Cindy is the perennial favorite fairy tale. However, Matthew Reinhart illustrates the tale in a new dimension, the third one, in a way we've never seen Cindy before. He treats us to page after page of animated pop-ups, in the style that has made Robert Sabuda famous, not surprising since they are friends and have colloborated in the past. Cinderella's head peeps from the fireplace, her stepmother's dress tightens as Cinderella pulls on her stays, the carriage sparkles silver with six white horses standing at attention, a black rat changes into a jolly coachman, the couples dance at the ball and Cinderella's finery vanishes at the stroke of midnight all as you turn the page. There's more than can be listed here and each of these intricate pop-ups have to be seen in action to be truly appreciated. I'm still going back and finding new details each time I turn a page. The illustrations are loosely lined so the die cutting sometimes blurs the pictures, but there is too much magic in these pages for this to be a big concern. Of course, the book is not recommended for independent reading for children under five, but this is a book to be shared and loved together. It will be a bedtime favorite for countless little princesses. My own library, overfilled with Cinderella books, doesn't begrudge the space needed to add this edition to its shelves. Hopefully we will get more fairy tales done in this style by Reinhart and/or Sabuda. Don't miss this one!

For ages, people have been enchanted by the story of Cinderella. Told again and again throughout literary history by writers like Charles Perrault, Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm and Walt Disney, this classic tale continually finds its way into the hearts and imaginations of children of all ages. In his latest work, illustrator and paper engineer extraordinaire Matthew Reinhart joins the ranks of these illustrious storytellers by breathing new life and a new kind of magic into a centuries-old story with CINDERELLA: A POP-UP FAIRY TALE. Through Reinhart's painstakingly elaborate pop-up settings constructed on six spreads of the tale's most famous scenes, a whimsical and larger-than-life world unfolds, inviting readers into the fantasy realm of three-dimensional glass slippers and fairy godmothers. Elegant ballroom dancers twirl across their laps and nobles' steeds jump from the pages to create a truly mesmerizing and breathtaking experience. As if these weren't wondrous enough, several mini pop-ups open to reveal even more intricately detailed cardboard cutouts that move along with the pages, adding to the book's charm and appeal. In this beloved fairy tale where good always overcomes evil and true love prevails, Reinhart offers a rich and stunning vision that will captivate and enthrall a whole new generation of readers for years to come. --- Reviewed by Marisa Emralino

Matthew Reinhart's masterful work of art will totally amaze you. Each page is beautifully hand crafted to bring all the favorite scenes to life. The six pages have a fabulous full spread pop-up and small mini books with their own splendid pop-ups containing the very detailed story. It's hard to select a favorite page. A perfect gift giving book for all ages. I highly recommend it!