Cendrillon: a Caribbean Cinderella. (children's bookshelf).

Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella by Robert D. San Souci illustrated by Brian Pinkney Aladdin Paperbacks, November 2001, $6.99 ISBN 0-689-84888-9

Cendrillon does for the traditional fairy tale Cinderella what The Wiz did for The Wizard of Oz, what Pearl Bailey did for the musical Hello, Dolly! and what Ray Charles did for "America the Beautiful"

This much-loved, familiar tale of good triumphing over evil has been infused with the luscious colors and textures of the Caribbean and the rhythms of Creole culture. What a delight for lovers of this genre to read San Souci's rendition of an abused child, who escapes her wretched life through the intervention of her nannin' (godmother) and the love of a kindly, young gentleman (prince).

The vibrant pastels of illustrator Brian Pinkney's images depict the quaint 18th-century costumes of Martinique and Guadeloupe. Verdant tropical plants, shades of blue and purple sky and seascapes, and lemon-hued walls capture the beauty of this West Indian setting, lending the story a flavor of the islands. Cendrillon introduces young readers to the native culture and Creole language of the French West Indies, with a simple narrative about how love, faith, perseverance and divine intervention can overcome evil.

As with most fairy tales, pre-readers will enjoy having Cendrillon read over and over again, as they follow along with the book's colorful illustrations. African-American children of all ages will find this retelling of Cinderella a favorite.

--Kay Badalamenti is a writer living in Brooklyn.