The Persian Cinderella

Author: Shirley Climo
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Copyright: 1999
Genre: Picture/Fiction/Fairytale
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Ages 5 to 9 (Barnes and Noble)
Summary: Settareh's mother died when she was born and she rarely sees her father but lives in the women's part of the house with her step-mother, step-sisters and aunts and many other women. The prince decides to have a party for the No Ruz or New Year. Settareh's father gives each of the women a gold coin to buy new clothes to wear. He tells Settareh to choose wisely what she will spend her money on. First she buys some roasted almonds because she doesn't get much to eat so she is very hungry. Then a beggar woman asks her for some money and she gives some to her saying that the woman has greater need of new clothes than she did. With her last three silver coins she buys a broken but beautiful jug which she finds out later, has a fairy in it. It grants her what she wishes for. Eventually she wishes for new clothes to wear to the princes party. The new outfit includes diamond-studded anklets. She loses one at the party on the way home and the prince wants to meet whoever the anklet belonged to. His mother, the queen, sets out to find the girl for him. When they find Settareh the princes says that the star birthmark on her cheek is a sign from the stars that they are to be married. The wedding day comes and the step-sisters steal the jug and wish for a way to get rid of Settareh because they are jealous. They drop and break the jar but in it are six hairpins. When they put them in Settareh's hair, she turns into a turtledove. When she is nowhere to be found the prince will see no one and doesn't eat. He gets lonely and the turtledove keeps him company. One day, he pets its head and feels bumps. He pulls out the hairpins and breaks the spell. They are married and the step-sisters are so enraged and jealous that their hearts burst and that is the end of them and the beginning for the Persian Cinderella.
Who would you recommend this book to? I would recommend this book to young girls.
Potential problems or conflicts: Cinderella syndrome as with all Cinderella fairytales.
My reaction: I love to read different versions of Cinderella stories so I loved this book! The pictures were gorgeous and the story was really good!