Jewell Reinhart Coburn

Folklorist Jewell Reinhart Coburn, who subsequently retold two other Cinderella variants from different cultures - Angkat: The Cambodian Cinderella and Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican Tradition - began with this version of the story from the Hmong people of Southeast Asia.

Jouanah, whose loving mother had allowed herself to be transformed into a cow, in order to help with the family farming during a time of great need, finds herself relegated to the position of servant when her show more father remarries, and her stepmother and stepsister prove both lazy and cruel. After the death of the cow (engineered by her jealous stepmother), and then of her father, Jouanah's position only worsens, and the gentle girl retreats further and further into silence. But then one day, during the New Year celebration, the spirit of Jouanah's mother provides her with the finery she needs to attend the village festivities, and catch the eye of the village elder's son. Will he be able to find her again, when she must flee, leaving behind only her dainty slippers...?

I think that this may be my favorite, of the three Cinderella variants retold by Coburn, as the contrast between the familiar and unfamiliar elements - the familiar slippers whose loss proves so fateful in reuniting the lovers; the unfamiliar transformation of the true mother into a cow, and her continued role (rather than a fairy-godmother) in Jouanah's life - is particularly pronounced, and makes for a fascinating read! I also greatly enjoyed the illustrations by Anne Sibley O'Brien, whose work I recognized from a number of Tilbury House publications (Who Belongs Here?: An American Story, Moon Watchers: Shirin's Ramadan Miracle, etc.). Her use of color, and her incorporation of Hmong folk motif borders appealed to me greatly. All in all, this lovely Hmong variant of the "persecuted heroine" tale type - a tale type found all over the world - is one that deserves to be better known. I highly recommend it to young fairy-tale lovers, and to anyone interested in Cinderella variants! show less

Taken from Le Conte Cendrillo Ches Les Cham, a late nineteenth-century essay written by the French folklorist Adhémard Leclère, this Cinderella variant from the Khmer people of Cambodia makes its English-language debut in this picture-book retelling. The author, Jewell Reinhart Coburn, is a folklorist herself, and has retold two other Cinderella variants: Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican Tradition and Jouanah: A Hmong Cinderella.

Following the trials and tribulations of its show more eponymous heroine, Angkat is the story of a dutiful girl who finds herself transformed into the family servant, after her father remarries and her malicious stepmother insists that her daughter be the 'Number One Child.' Even after Angkat's life is transformed, thanks to the aid of the Spirit of Virtue - her erstwhile fish companion, killed by her jealous stepsister Kantok - who has one of her lovely golden sandals spirited away to the king's son, the poor girl cannot escape the scheming of her family, who lure her away from her new home in the palace, and crush her to death! Will Angkat and the prince manage to live happily ever after, or has death separated them forever...?

This was a fascinating example of the 'persecuted heroine' tale type (number 510A in the Aarne-Thompson folklore classification system), because the heroine's mistreatment occurs, not just at the hands of her step-family, but also at the hands of her father. I don't think I've read another version of this wide-spread story where that was the case. The accompanying illustrations by Edmund Flotte were quite expressive, although sometimes his faces seemed a little exaggerated to me. Still, this was an engaging retelling of a relatively unknown variant - here in the West, anyway - of the Cinderella story, and although it won't be making it to my list of favorite fairy-tales, I am glad to have encountered it. Recommended to young folklore lovers, as well as to any reader interested in Cinderella across cultures. show less

When a terrible drought afflicts the people of her village, Lani, known for her dutiful spirit, gentle heart and long, black hair, is affected most powerfully. Appearing one day with dried-out white hair, she avoids her fellow villagers and cares quietly for her ill mother. But when an old man injures himself outside her house, and she has no water to give him, she reveals to her neighbors that she knows where to get some of the life-sustaining substance. Leading them into the mountains, she show more shows them a plant that, when pulled out and hacked to bits, releases a flood of water. Unbknownst to the villagers however, Lani has saved them at the risk of her own life, by revealing the vengeful mountain spirit's secret Is her death inevitable, or will the water spirits freed by her actions have something to say about it...?

Published as part of the "Common Values Series," which presents world folktales that feature universal human values, Lani and the Secret of the Moutain, also known as "The Long Haired Girl," is taken from the traditional lore of China's Dong (or Kam) people. The main text of the book, retold by Jewell Reinhart Coburn, is in English, but simplified English, Spanish, Chinese Traditional, Chinese Hanyu Pinyin (transliterated Chinese), Hmong, Khmer, Lao, and Vietnamese versions are also included in the rear, making this a truly multilingual book. There is also an instruction guide for using the story, with historical background and a list of questions and activities. I found the story here interesting, and came away with an interest in the Dong people, and their larger metaphysical beliefs about spirits. I also appreciated both the intention behind the series - to explore shared human values through folklore - and the presentation of the story in so many different languages. The art wasn't really to my taste - it had a flat quality I found unappealing - but leaving that aside, this is a book I would recommend to young folklore lovers. show less

Raised by loving parents in the vast desert state of Hidalgo, Domitila grows to be a talented and beautiful young woman in this Mexican folktale, skilled at both cooking and working with fine leather. When her mother becomes ill, and Domitila must leave home in order to find work, she eventually gains a position as second cook in the governor's kitchens. Here, putting her mother's oft-repeated mantra - "Do every task with care, and always add a generous dash of love" - to work, Domitila so show more impresses the governor's son, Timoteo, with her delicious nopales, that when she must return home, he sets off in pursuit. Gaining great insight into this humble girl, with her many gifts, Timoteo is much changed by his journey, and even the meddling of the evil widow Malvina, who wants him to marry her own daughter, cannot prevent him from finding his true love, Domitila.

Based upon a story passed down in the Rivero family of Santa Barbara, California, Domitila is a fascinating variant of the Cinderella type tale, complete with the worthy (but poor) heroine, the 'prince' who comes to love her, and the meddling step-family. There are some significant differences, of course, with Domitila's nopales, and a small sample of her leather-working, providing Timoteo with the means of locating her, as opposed to some kind of footwear, but this only adds depth and richness to the tale. In this story, it is Cinderella's skill, and her goodness, that win the prince, not her elusive beauty, or small feet. The accompanying illustrations by Connie McLennan are appealing, although I think I agree with another reviewer, in thinking that Domitila's face looks very different, at certain points in the story. Despite this quibble, this book has both narrative and illustrative appeal, and is one I would recommend to all young fairytale lovers, and to anyone looking for Cinderella variants. show less