Childrens Book Review: The Persian Cinderella by Shirley Climo and Watercolorist Robert Florczak

Birthmarks and stellar configurations are subject to interpretation by Persia’s poets and princes. A young mother’s death follows her only child’s delivery. The birthing process gives the infant a star-marked left cheek. The girl therefore has the name Settareh (“Star”). Settareh is given chores, leftovers, and rags by her aunts and stepfamily. Settareh’s father finally lets her have a gold coin to buy new clothes for New Year celebrations with Prince Mehrdad (“Compassionate”). Instead of clothes, Settareh prioritizes:

• Alms for a depressed, grimy, hungry, old woman;
• Blue jar;
• Toasted almonds in a wrapper.

Back home, the jug’s pari (fairy) responds to Settareh’s requests for:

• Apricots, sweet figs;
• Goat-hair shawl;
• Jasmine blossoms;
• Pomegranate seed-red silk dress;
• Turtledove companionship.

Settarah enjoys the feast filled with:

• Alburz Mountain snow-filled goblets;
• Lutes, zithers;
• Roast lamb, whitefish;
• Spiced cucumbers, sweet oranges;
• Tart rhubarb.

She gets home before her stepfamily. She hides:

• Dress;

• Golden pendant;

• One diamond anklet;

• Turquoise bracelets.

The other anklet is discovered in the river water when Mehrdad’s horse resists drinking. Mehrdad’s mother makes door-to-door searches for the anklet’s wearer. Everyone must celebrate 39 days before the lovebirds’ marriage on the 40th. But stepsisters Leila and Nahid pin Settareh’s ebony tresses with six shards remaining from the jar's self-destructing rather than betraying its mistress. Settareh relocates as a turtledove to Mehrdad’s window. Mehrdad transforms Settareh by removing the shards. The lovebirds wed under showers of 1,000 pearls.

Specialists acknowledge Settareh’s story as a most fascinating, memorable Cinderella tale. Printed in the United States of America and originally published in 1999, the updated version collates the impressive talents of:

• Shirley Climo, as writer;
• Robert Florczak, as brownline paper illustrator in trademark TOMBOW body color, colored pencil, ink, and water-based markers;
• HarperCollins, as publishers;
• Maryam Nassirbegli, as library and research assistant;
• Anthony Shay and Jamal of Avaz International Dance Theater, as architectural and costume consultants.  

The original plot upon which The Persian Cinderella is based comes from one of the many Arabian Nights’ folkloric compilations. Its current retelling guarantees cultural enrichment and educational entertainment to:

• Book-lovers aged 4 – 8 and upward;
• Preschoolers to fourth-graders and onward.

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

A fairy (peri) is critical in fulfillment of Settarah's wishes in "The Persian Cinderella."
A peri leads a composite animal, with various animal and human scenes depicted within the tiger- or leopard-like big cat; 19th-century Mughal-Rajput painting.
State Museum, Bhopal, central Madhya Pradesh, central India: Ismoon, CC BY SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pari_holding_a_unique_animal._19th_cent._Rajput_style_Bhopal_museum.JPG

In "The Persian Cinderella," a fairy (peri) fulfills Settareh's wish for a pomegranate seed-red silk dress.
Pomegranates (Punica granatum) are cherished in Iran (modern-day Persia).
pomegranate seeds with sarcotesta (fleshy seedcoats): Augustus Binu (Bellus Delphina), CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pomegranate_DSW.JPG

In "The Persian Cinderella," Settarah travels as a turtle dove to Prince Mehrdad's window.
Turtle doves (Streptopelia turtur) claim Iran (ancient Persia) among their extensive native homelands.
Black-and-white neck patch, multi-colored feathers and sometimes reddened legs characterize dainty turtle doves.: Fringilla, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Turturduva7.jpg

"The Persian Cinderella" (0:48)
Uploaded June 5, 2015, by Maria Evans to YouTube ~ URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8--oQicXyY
"The Persian Cinderella" features a bracelet bejeweled with turquoise, a much prized gem in ancient Persia.

Turquoise reached Europe from Persia's famed northeastern mines in historic Khorasan Province.
village of Ma'dan, Nishapur, Razavi Khorasan Province, northeastern Iran: Sonia Sevilla, Public Domain (CC0 1.0), via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Turquoise_of_Nishapur_-_village_of_Ma'dan_12.JPG

Climo, Shirley. 2001. The Persian Cinderella. Illustrated by Robert Florczak. New York City, NY: HarperCollins Children's Books.

Crossman, Rachel Hope. 22 March 2011. “#78 The Persian Cinderella (Happy Nowruz 2011!).” 365 Cinderellas Powered by Blogspot.com. Retrieved December 10, 2014.

• Available at: http://rachelhopecrossman.blogspot.com/2011/03/78-persian-cinderella-happy-nowruz-2011.html

Lewis, Naomi. 1987. Stories from the Arabian Nights. New York, NY: Henry Holt.

“The Persian Cinderella.” The Art of Robert Florczak: Art > Book Art. Retrieved December 10, 2014.

• Available at: http://www.robertflorczak.com/art/persian-cinderella

Rooth, Anna Birgitta. 1951. The Cinderella Cycle. Lund, Sweden: C.W.K. Gleerup.

Sierra, Judy. 1992. The Oryx Multicultural Folktale Series: Cinderella. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood.

Smith, Anet. 1 October 2008. “The Persian Cinderella -- Traditional Literature.” Butterfly Wings: Our Life in Posts and Pictures Powered by WordPress.com. Retrieved December 10, 2014.

• Available at: https://anetsmith.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/the-persian-cinderella-traditional-literature/

Thomas, Rhonda. “Book Review: The Persian Cinderella Written by Shirley Climo and Illustrated by Robert Florzak [sic].” Rhonda’s Children’s and Young Adult Literature Website. Retrieved December 10, 2014.

• Available at: http://rhonda-thomas.tripod.com/id9.html