The Korean Cinderella by Shirley Climo, illustrated by Ruth Heller. New York: Harper Collins, 1993. ISBN: 9780064433976

  Annotation: Based on three Korean variations of the traditional Cinderella story, a delightful tale with Pear Blossom being helped by magical animals, losing her sandal, and marrying the magistrate.

  Media: coloured pencil and markers

  Rating: 5Q/5P

  Artwork: The artist used bright, bold, dramatic colours and design, with great attention to detail. The only pages of duller, colour are those with Pear Blossom cooking alone in the kitchen, with only crickets for company. The artist integrated intricate designs, inspired by patterns painted on the eaves of Korean temples, into her illustrations. The patterns are called “Tanchong” and are symbols of good luck, protection, and the cycle of reincarnation. The artist did research in Korea at museums, palaces, festivals, and at a replicated village of long ago. The facial images are mostly simple, lacking in the detail of the illustrations, but do show emotion on occasion, as when the sparrows swooped down on Peony, pecking on her and pulling her hair. The joy and activity and movement of the festival is conveyed by the swirling white ribbons and our being only able to see the legs and feet of the tight-rope walkers are they are moving partially out of the frame. The artist used the illustrations to enhance and emphasize elements of the story as well as share elements of traditional Korean culture and costume.

lss 31/7/09