If the Shoe Fits

by Deborah Guarino, Seth Hippen (Illustrator)

Overview

Ever wonder what might have happened if a certain glass slipper had been placed on the wrong maiden's foot . . . and fit?! In this comic twist on a classic fairy tale, Murray, a humble shoemaker, presents a pair of glass slippers for a frantic fairy godmother when her wand runs out of power, setting off a rollicking chain of events that may force him to disappoint a prince, risk the fairy’s wrath, and sacrifice the secret love of his life. Deborah Guarino, author of the bestselling Is Your Mama a Llama?, has created a magical story that will delight readers of all ages. Vivid illustrations bring the characters brilliantly to life in this tale of true love, royal mayhem, and big feet.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764358432
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.
Publication date:	11/28/2019
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	710L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 12 Years

About the Author

Deborah Guarino is the bestselling author of the perennial children’s classic Is Your Mama a Llama?, which has now sold more than two million copies and been in print for 30 years. She is also an accomplished lyricist, copywriter, editor, actor, artist, and mother of two sons.

If the Shoe Fits is Seth Hippen's first foray into children's books. He spends most of his time making characters move through animation, so you may have seen his work on the silver screen a time or two.

Editorial Reviews

The text is written in perfect rhyme and decadently displayed on scrolls of parchment. The illustrations are whimsical, animated and full of emotion. The author brilliantly blends the old story and the new making it a very fun read indeed. Everyone loves a good plot twist and a happy ending. This sweet book delivers both.

Storywraps

This fun take on Cinderella is the story of Murray, a humble shoemaker who meets a fairy godmother on a very special night. The fairy godmother’s out of magic, and needs some help in the form of a pair of shoes, so her poor godchild could make it to the royal ball. But Murrays clerk, Mona, has designs on being a royal bride herself, and when word gets out that the prince is trying to track down the mysterious woman who left her shoe behind at the ball, she begs Murray to make a shoe in her size, so she can make the big switch and land her prince. Murray, who’s desperately in love with Mona, complies, even though it breaks his heart, but never fear – the fairy godmother isn’t letting anyone take the day away from her godchild! Told in rhyme, with a sweet Happily Ever After for everyone, is an adorable fractured fairy tale that kids will enjoy and get a good laugh from. The characters are goofy and kind, and the rhyme cadence is instantly familiar once you start reading, letting you fall right into the storytelling. Animator Seth Hippen’s art is cartoony and exaggerated, and loads of fun to look at as you read this progressively crazier fairy tale. Fractured fairy tale lovers will get a big kick out of this.

Rosemary Kiladitis

2019-09-15
Everyone knows the story of Cinderella—but what about Cinderella's shoemaker?

After a fairy godmother's magic runs out before her godchild has shoes for the ball, a shoemaker steps up with perfect glass slippers. But the shoemaker's clerk, Mona, convinced she's the one who will marry the prince, persuades the shoemaker to guarantee her royal marriage by making a glass slipper just her size—which is nine, in contrast to the unnamed godchild's five. The shoemaker, whose love for Mona is unspoken, sadly agrees. When the prince appears, Mona performs a shoe switcheroo, puts "her best foot forward," and declares herself the prince's intended. The honorable prince pales, but their wedding is on until a furious (but romantic) fairy godmother intercedes and true love reigns. Comical cartoons in full-page scenes and smaller cameo illustrations pair well with a rhyming, tongue-in-cheek text, though the scenes' busyness will make them hard to share with groups. Both the fairly wordy text and the premise skew this tale toward older preschoolers at the youngest, as listeners will need both some patience and an understanding of the story this one subverts. The cast is an all-white one, with primary characters running toward caricature: the short, portly shoemaker; homely, frizzy-haired Mona; the Roman-nosed prince; and a decidedly zaftig fairy godmother.

A comedic happily-ever-after one-on-one read-aloud. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews