Sootypaws

January 1, 2020

PreS-Gr 3-"There was once a mouse, and her life was no fun." So begins this Cinderella tale of a mouse who only wishes that someone would love her. The familiar story is told through intricately detailed and richly textured dioramas created and photographed by Rudy. Using wool felt and found materials, the artist creates a world for her characters that is ripe for visual exploration and detail hunting. Nicknamed Sootypaws by her cruel rat stepmother and stepsisters, the heroine's defining feature is her kindness. Her kindness creates the opportunity for the first major deviation from the traditional tale: there is no fairy godmother. Instead, a full moon possesses the magic to grant wishes. When Sootypaws wishes to go to the ball, all of the animals, plants, and insects that she has helped give her gifts that, when enchanted by the moon, turn into the items she needs to be ball ready. And once at the ball, Sootypaws truly does stand out from the crowd in her rose petal dress gilded with spiderweb lace, and her bluebird feather fan. The visual appeal of the book is accompanied by text that is full of gentle humor. A surprising twist on the traditional ending sends a message that love, friendship, and freedom are what you need to be happy, and sometimes shoes are just too restrictive. VERDICT Recommend this refreshing adaptation to fans of fairy tales and those who appreciate picture hunts and visual artistry.-Elizabeth Lovsin, Deerfield Public Library, IL

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2019
Mouse miniatures create a cinematic "Cinderella" story with a soft twist. "Ball! Palace! Prince!" cry the cruel stepsister rats, setting up the main event of this murine twist on the familiar tale. Sootypaws, a frankly mousy-looking mouse, longs for love from a lonely fireside, orphaned and relegated to domestic chores. Felt anthropomorphic mouse miniatures interact in spreads, with lifelike shadows, varying depths of focus, and bird's-eye views creating cinematic movement for the story. Rudy's detailed sets and varied perspectives may well resonate with young readers accustomed to movie versions of "Cinderella." A theme of kindness and mutual aid surrounds the transformation of Sootypaws from frumpy char-mouse to a ball-ready rodent. Sootypaws's rose-petal gown stands out from the more muted and uniform costumes of the mouse gentry as she twirls into the prince's arms for a night of dancing. The standard lost-slipper moment leads to a twist ending that rejects marriage but still contains heteronormative implications. Decadent double-page spreads, such as the scene of the prince's ball, offer opportunities for readers to play an informal seek-and-find game: identifying the classical instruments in the band, counting the number of wigs, or exploring the intricate design of the staircase could occupy a whole sitting. Matter-of-fact text and a plain typeface allow readers to focus on the elaborate images. For fans of fairy tales and vibrant visuals. (Picture book. 4-7)

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