Book Review of Cinderella’s Magical Wheelchair: An Empowering Fairy Tale for Children with Disabilities

Need a cool book to foster understanding and acceptance of children with disabilities? My granddaughters, aged 6 and 9, really enjoyed Jewel Kats’s adaptation of the Grimm fairy tale she entitled Cinderella’s Magical Wheelchair: An Empowering Fairy Tale. The giggles and grins and Oh’s and Ah’s showed they appreciated Ms. Kats’ creative changes to the original Cinderella story. We all adored the colourful, detailed illustrations by Richa Kinra.

Who else will benefit from and enjoy reading or listening to Cinderella’s Magical Wheelchair? I think Jewel’s wheelchair-bound Cinderella story will be the loved by most little princesses out there! Besides becoming a favorite bedtime story, parents, teachers, and all who work with children will use Cinderella’s Magical Wheelchair: An Empowering Fairy Tale as a teaching resource. Jewel Kats’s adorable story will foster understanding and acceptance of different abilities. It will empower children with disabilities by showing them how able and capable Kat’s Cinderella is. This wheelchair bound Cinderella took matters in her own hands, made positive decisions about her future, earned her living, and lived independently.

The author has dedicated her wonderful, picture book to any child who’s faced an illness, accident or injury. I believe her inspiring, modern Cinderella story will appeal to all modern moms who are trying to raise proud, confident young girls! Young readers will better understand the challenges faced by those who need a wheelchair. Moreover the shining example of this capable Cinderella will make them understand that folks who have disabilities are able to succeed with accommodations like wheelchair-accessible buildings, and transportation services.

The book dimensions are 8.5 x 11-inch. With pages that size, the eye-catching illustrations byRicha Kinra can be enjoyed even in reading circles in libraries or classrooms.

All children can benefit by following this Cinderella’s example of ingenuiety relying on one’s self to get things done. Not letting the fact that she needs a wheelchair slow her down, Cinderella accomplishes all her chores, works on the promised jewellery for her step-sisters, and late in the night she secretly designs her own butterfly costume for the Royal costume party. After her magical evening dancing with the prince, she rushes home before the magic spell is broken. The following day, taking matters in her own hands, she moves out of the cruel stepfamily’s home and into a cool, wheelchair-accessible apartment in downtown. Believing that success is of her making, this resourceful young woman uses her jewellery designing talents to open her own business.

I love how Jewel Kats has carefully chosen each word to have the greatest impact with 5 to 10 years old readers. And naturally my granddaughters and I shared in Cinderella’s joy when she did marry the prince and as Jewel Kats wrote, “Life afterwards is peachy, too.” Why? The Prince renovates the palace to be wheelchair-accessible, Cinderella finds satisfaction continuing her business and together the young couple work for a common goal by volunteering to help people in need! Children with disabilities now have a modern, real-life hero to emulate! Thank you Jewel Kats!

About the Author

Jewel Kats (1978 – ) is an award-winning writer. For six years, she penned a teen advice column for Young People’s Press. “Confidentially Yours” appeared in dozens of newspapers via the Scripps Howard News Service and TorStar Syndication Services. Her work on this column led her to win a $5,000 writing scholarship by women’s publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. She later earned a $15,000 scholarship from Global Television Network.

At the age of nine, Jewel endured a car accident. Her physical abilities altered forever. She spent weeks in the Hospital for Sick Children recovering, has survived eight leg surgeries, and currently walks with a cane. (Note: It’s fashionably hand painted!)

Jewel’s first children’s book is called: “Reena’s Bollywood Dream: A Story about Sexual Abuse.” She also has a book entitled, What Do You Use to Help Your Body? : Maggie Explores the World of Disabilities.

She hails from an Indo-Canadian background, and calls Toronto home.

Jewel’s website: www.JewelKats.com

About the Illustrator

Richa Kinra (1984 – ) is the internationally published illustrator of 89 books, 100 logos, 27 websites and in numerous other art projects like greeting cards, artwork for magazines etc. She is from India. Apart from children book illustrations she has also freelanced for various magazines and websites. Her hand painted works are primarily in watercolors, acrylic and oils, sometimes incorporating colored pencil, dry colors, pen & ink and/or collage.

Read about Richa on these two sites website and website.

Facebook

Where to Buy Amazon, goodreads,