Title: Once Upon a World: Rapunzel & Cinderella
Author: Chloe Perkins
Illustrator: Archana Sreenivasan & Sandra Equihua
Age Group: 0-5
Synopsis: Traditional fairy tales illustrated with Indian and Mexican twists.
The Lowdown:
When I was younger my best friend was Elena. Her mother’s family was from Mexico and I remember very distinctly looking through books with her one day at school. She complained as she flipped through the stacks: “None of these characters are like me.” I hadn’t ever thought about it before but it’s something I’ve carried in the back of my mind for the last twenty-five years. I’ve never had that problem. I very easily imagined myself Wendy from Peter Pan for years, a character who looked like me and even shared my name. Children’s literature is slowly becoming more diverse but it’s only making this step because we, as readers, are encouraging publishers to create a literary canvas that reflects reality. It’s the kind of world I want both Peanut and Bug to grow up in. One where books aren’t just white little boys and animals but where they can see their friends, neighbors, and even people they’re not so familiar with.
Rapunzel
This is one of Peanut’s favorite books. She requests “Punzel” on a daily basis and I can completely understand why. Chloe Perkins doesn’t vary from the tale of Rapunzel I’m familiar with too greatly. She also cuts the story done to bare bones making it an appropriate length for small children, without losing any of the excitement.
What sets the story apart is that it takes place in India. Rapunzel is wearing a sari, a nose piercing, and a bindi for most of the story. Later in the prince’s kingdom she’s wearing a maang tikka, a traditional piece of headwear jewelry at Indian weddings. The prince also isn’t sporting a pair of slacks or button up coat. He wears a dhoti (I’m pretty sure that’s what it’s called) and quite obviously has pierced ears. The illustrations capture the essence of India in the architecture and stylistic points that seem to derive from a kolam. (I’m fairly certain I used the correct names for references here but if you know otherwise, let me know!)
Cinderella
This version of Cinderella follows the same blueprint as Rapunzel. Same story, different presentation. In this format, Cinderella’s hair is styled in braids and ribbons that are wrapped around her head and finished off with flowers in a way that reminds me of Frida Kahlo. The house she lives in obviously has stuccoed walls and decorated tiled floors. The style of dress and the embellishments on each page, are also a constant reminder that this story is not taking place in a European nation. Even the food presented on one page looks unfamiliar to me, which I take as a good thing! The fairy godmother too is a complete 180 from the “bibbidi-bobbidi-boo” one from Disney. She carries a wooden walking stick/wand decorated with ribbons, isn’t wearing any shoes, and her braided hair floats about her head. I have no idea where this image comes from but like the food page, it encourages me to learn more about something with which I’m unfamiliar.
For Peanut, these are the only versions of the classic fairy tales that she knows. I’m ok with that. She has plenty of books with blond-haired, blue-eyed girls that she can relate to if need be. What I hope she learns from these stories is that we shouldn’t have media that only reflects ourselves. In doing so we ignore a vast majority of the world that doesn’t look like us. These books help normalize the otherness that can be so divisive in our society and that in and of itself is a great lesson. The fact that they’re well written and have amazing illustrations just adds to the probability that children from any background can latch on to these stories and relate to them in their own way.
Story Tips:
- Learn more about the things that pique your curiosity! If you don’t know…ask someone or Google with caution.
I need more!
Once Upon a World also has a Japanese Snow White, a Russian Princess and the Pea, and a Caribbean Little Mermaid. Of these, we’ve only read the Snow White but I wasn’t nearly as impressed with the illustrations as I was with Rapunzel and Cinderella. Check out more at Simon and Schuster: https://www.simonandschuster.com/series/Once-Upon-a-World
