Willard, who previously shed new light on everyone from Blake (A Visit to William Blake’s Inn, 1981) to Bosch (Pish, Posh, Said Hieronymus Bosch, 1991), now turns her lens on Cinderella. While in other versions the young heroine’s ball dress comes by way of mice and godmothers, in this case the dressmakers are none other than two hard-working magpies with a nest full of cast-offs that they turn into everything from wreaths to shoes. Told from the sympathetic birds’ point of view, the traditional story (with a fairy godmother still saving the day) is played out in verse and illustration. Dyer’s art, in a soft translucent wash, fills the pages and children will enjoy seeking out the two magpies and other animals on each page, each in a piece of human clothing. This simply told version, with its rich details of shimmery things will be a lovely addition to any fairytale collection. (Picture book. 4-10)
