A swirling surfeit of pink, purple and gold is draped around this crisp retelling of the traditional tale, as Cinderella attends three balls with her handsome prince before her glass slipper falls. Before she meets her beloved, blond, fair and willowy Cinderella suffers in servitude as her stepfamily prepares for the prince’s ball. Once alone, the fairy godmother clothes the young lady in blue and sapphire attire, and she meets her prince; midnight fades her godmother’s magic, and Cinderella returns without her identity revealed. The ball is repeated twice more with similar results: Cinderella dons silver and gold ensembles and briefly reunites with her love, leaving that slipper behind at the end. Strong pacing dances Cinderella toward her traditional destiny as the prince matches her slipper with the rightful owner, and her once-oblivious father is redeemed. While the cast of characters is not exactly diverse, Sharkey’s slim lines and striking angles enhance her whimsical oil illustrations. However, the superfluity of shimmering pink hearts in the design skews this version toward the saccharine. (Picture book/fairy tale. 3-7)
