Santarella

“Cinderella” gets a Christmas-y remix in Senior’s modern rhyming rendition with a feminist twist. Classic meets contemporary in opening scenes of pale-skinned Cinderella grappling with the mess left by her “grumpy, bossy sisters” before they departed for a palace ball: “But back to Cinderella,/ in the kitchen, on her own,/ about to watch a boring/ Christmas movie on her phone.” A jingle and bump announce the arrival of someone down the chimney, and though Cindy’s hope for a fairy godmother is dashed by the arrival of Santa Claus, the can-do protagonist readily agrees to help white-presenting St. Nick deliver presents, instead. The globe-trotting that follows proves sufficiently revelatory to empower the heroine, who departs from fairy tale norms even as the story embraces folktale characters. Semple’s soft-edged renderings mingle magic and modernity throughout this appealing twice-told tale. Characters are shown with various skin tones. Ages 3–7. (Sept.)