Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Books for Fans of Disney's CINDERELLA / Book Reviews #SummerReading


Summer is a great time to catch up on some of the biggest blockbuster movies that have recently been released either in theaters or to DVD. This week I'm featuring movie tie-in edition books for some of these movies. One of our favorite movies we saw in theaters last year was Disney's Cinderella. Now out on DVD, this movie is one we've enjoyed watching numerous times. One of the things I love about movies, are the books inspired by the movie. Today I'm featuring a few Disney books that are great for fans of Cinderella.


A WISH YOUR HEART MAKES: From The Grimm Brother's Aschenputtel To Disney's Cinderella 

By: Charles Solomon
Published by: Disney Publishing
Released on: February 10th, 2015
Purchase from: Amazon
Add it to Goodreads

"A coach. A glass slipper. A royal ball. A fairy godmother." It's a story of faith, love and kindness overcoming greed, jealousy and rage. Explore the world's most iconic fairy tale in Charles Solomon's A Wish Your Heart Makes. With rare and never-before-seen artwork and images, A Wish You Heart Makes traces the history of Cinderella, from Grimm's fairy tale to Disney's animate film, along with offering readers an all new behind the scenes glimpse into the live action film, which released on March 10th, 2015. 


One of my all time favorite Disney movies is Cinderella. This book is the perfect combination of everything I love about Cinderella. Mixing both the animated and the live action movies, fans see behind the scenes in the making of both movies, and the history. From stills, to drawings, animated sketches and more. Disney has done an amazing job at creating a timeless treasure with book, that Cinderella fans of all ages will enjoy. Definitely a must have for fans of Cinderella!


WALT DISNEY'S CINDERELLA


By: Cynthia Rylant
Illustrated by: Mary Blair
Published by: Disney Press
Ages: 4-8
Released on: January 27th, 2015
Purchase from: Amazon 
Add it to Goodreads

"This is a story about darkness and light, about sorrow and joy, about something lost and something found. This is a story about love."

Cinderella's story has been told over and over, but never has it been touched by the kind of magic created by the contributors of this book. Mary Blair painted the original pictures for Walt Disney's incomparable animated film, and here her elegant art is gathered together as a picture book. Cynthia Rylant's stories about hardscrabble lives have won not only awards and honors, but hearts. Who better to take a young girl from the darkness of her garret room to the light and brilliance of a ballroom? Together these two great artists have created something quite astonishing: a Cinderella that is breathtaking, heartrending, and joyous, both for those who are coming to the tale for the very first time, and for those who think they know it well.

Elegant illustrations give this classic story a timeless feel. Many of these illustrations are also featured in another must have Disney book, A Wish Your Heart Makes (reviewed above). The illustrations in this book are signature to the old timeless Disney illustrations that were used prior to bringing an animated movie to life. This is a book we enjoyed. 


Cinderella (move tie in picture book)

By: Brittany Candau
Illustrated by: Cory Godbey
Published by: Disney Press
Released on: January 27th, 2015
Ages: 4-8
Purchase from: Amazon
Add it to Goodreads

Ella is a special girl--one who cares for every person and animal she comes across; one who values kindness and courage above all else. But her true uniqueness comes from staying compassionate and brave, even when faced with trials and tragedy. From not giving into darkness, even when it seems all hope is lost.


Follow Ella's story in the classic tale told anew--a tale filled with bright pumpkins and glass slippers, with shiny palaces and ringing clock towers, and with the power of kindness and courage.


I love the variety of Cinderella books that are available for readers now days. This one is a fantastic edition to own! This is a beautifully illustrated, easy to read picture book, that is perfect for young fans of the movie. Keeping it short, and sweet, and written so that it rhymes will keep even the youngest of readers engaged. This is a picture book that is worth picking up!


Have Courage, Be Kind, The Tale of Cinderella 
By: Brittany Candau
Illustrated by: Cory Godbey
Published by: Disney Press 
Released on: January 27th, 2015
Ages: 8-12 years old
Purchase it from: Amazon 
Add it to Goodreads

Ella is different than most young women in the kingdom. She can quote any Shakespearean play. She befriends every animal she meets, including the scurrying mice living in the walls. She believes in the power of kindness, in changing customs that are not so kind. Ella has faced unspeakable tragedy and loss, and is at the mercy of her cruel stepfamily. And yet, Ella tries to keep a brave face, no matter how difficult this becomes.

Kit has always been deemed a "dreamer." He values peace above all else. He's never understood the point of certain royal traditions and rituals. He'd rather spend time in his mother's garden than learn to fence or sit for a portrait. And as a prince, this has been somewhat problematic.

This is a story about kindness and courage, about love lost and love found, about the power of names. This is the story of Cinderella.

A fantastic chapter book for middle grade readers! Based on the screenplay by Chris Weitz, this chapter book is perfect for fans of the movie, Cinderella, which was released in 2015. Everything fans loved about the movie, is now in book form. This book is the perfect edition for Cinderella fans of all ages. Also included in this book are the same beautiful illustrations featured in the picture book, which is also based on the movie. I love it when a book reads just like a movie. This is a book we loved, and one we'd highly recommend picking up!

Our favorite quotes from this book: 
"We must simply have courage and be kind, mustn't we?" / "Just because it's what's done, doesn't mean it's what should be done".


Cinderella Junior Novel 


By: Elizabeth Rubnick
Published by: Disney Press
Released on: January 27th, 2015
Ages: 8-12
Purchase it from: Amazon
Add it to Goodreads

Ella's childhood is a happy one: she has loving parents, plenty of fields and meadows to explore, and lots of kind animal friends to play with. A sweet child, Ella warms the hearts of all who meet her. And her home is a wonderful place, the perfect little kingdom for a joyful family.


But when tragedy strikes, Ella's happy home turns into one filled with sadness and cruelty. Will Ella be able to hold onto her kindness and courage through it all?

A great companion to Disney's live action Cinderella movie, this easy to read chapter book is based on the screen play by Chris Weitz. It's a wonderful version to have. I love it when movie ties make you feel like you're reading the movie brought to life in book form. Also featured in the book, are images from the movie. We really enjoyed this one, and would definitely recommend picking it up. This book is great for readers in grades 2nd-4th. 

Disney's Cinderella: A Night At The Ball 
By: Rico Green
Published by: Disney Press
Released on: January 27, 2015
Ages: 4 & up 
Purchase from: Amazon
Add it to Goodreads

Ella hopes that her night at the ball will be a nice evening away from her life as a servant for her cruel stepfamily. Little does Ella know that this night will prove to be extraordinary, one filled with magic, adventure, and love!

A captivating storybook that is based on the live action movie, Cinderella. This is a book that young fans of the movie will love. Based on Chris Weitz's screen play for the movie, this book is filled with images from the movie. Each page is beautiful and tells the story of Cinderella's night at the ball. These images will make readers wish they too could dress up like Cinderella and attend the ball. This story is simply told, making it just right length for holding short attention-spans. We enjoyed reading it. 

* Each of the book reviewed were provided by the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.  

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I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~ Anna Quindlen

Good children's literature appeals not only to
the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child.
~ Anonymous ~