Cinder Edna

Reach for this book when your child starts comparing their own life or appearance to the polished, filtered versions of others. Cinder Edna is a brilliant antidote to the waiting for a prince syndrome, focusing instead on a girl who develops practical skills, a sense of humor, and enough self reliance to take the bus to the ball. While her neighbor Cinderella is lovely but helpless, Edna is capable, spunky, and deeply relatable to children who are beginning to understand that true happiness comes from being yourself. Ideal for children ages 4 to 9, this story uses the familiar structure of a classic fairy tale to explore themes of resilience and independence. It provides a hilarious contrast between two very different paths to a happy ending, showing that while beauty is fine, brains and a good joke are even better. Parents will appreciate the way it shifts the focus from being rescued to being resourceful.