The cruel stepmother, misplaced shoe, and worthy prince will all be familiar to readers of European Cinderella stories, but elements unique to this Greek version offer a rich contrast. This girl (considered an orphan although her father still lives) doesn’t have a fairy godmother, but instead receives aid from the spirit of her dead mother, as well as Mother Nature, the Sun, Moon, Dawn, and the Morning Star. Rather than a royal ball, the orphan meets the prince at a service in her village church. After departing hastily in compliance with her mother’s instructions, the orphan leaves behind a prince desperate to track down the enchanting stranger. The following Sunday the prince’s guards pour honey and wax on the church’s threshold, successfully capturing one of the orphan’s tiny shoes when she flees the building. None of the village maidens fit the shoe until the orphan makes her own way to the palace and reveals her identity. An informative note details the authors’ decision to incorporate elements of traditional Greek Cinderella tales while opting for a contemporary twist by making the heroine an active participant in the search for her prince. (Ages 5–9)

Once upon a time in Greece, fate left a young girl an orphan. Her stepmother was so hateful that she counted every drop of water the orphan drank! But with the help of Nature's blessings, the orphan was showered with gifts: brilliance from the Sun, beauty from the Moon, gracefulness from the Dawn—and even a tiny pair of blue shoes from the Sea. When the prince comes to visit their village, he only has eyes for the mysterious beauty. Children will love this fanciful folk retelling of the Cinderella story, accompanied by luminous watercolor illustrations by Giselle Potter.