A special variation of the classic Perrault Cinderella with a story that takes place "smack in the heart o' the Smoky Mountains" and is told in lilting mountain dialect with plenty of humor.

Our prince, called Seb, is a "real rich feller made his fortune in sowbellies and grits." Rose blossoms with the help of a talking hog, aka Fairy Godmother. Here’s a surprise. Rose goes to the square dance as herself! No mysterious princess for her. But it seems only her family knows who she is ‘cause she never gets out much'. Schroeder brings the story to a modern conclusion with, "To this day, Rose and Seb are still livin' there, and folks reckon they're 'bout the happiest twosome in all o' Tarbelly Creek." Sneed's fun watercolors of slightly distorted figures with elongated and angular features, fit the down-home perspective perfectly.

Definitely recommended for reading aloud.

From School Library Journal-
“The fanciful, but decidedly quirky artwork effectively informs readers, in case they didn't already know it, that there's magic in them thar hills. An appealing all-American addition to the canon of "Cinderella" variants.”

From Booklist-
“From the opening line's enlarged, boldfaced, attention-grabbing "Now lis'en," this spirited rendition begs to be told or read out loud for sheer enjoyment and for enrichment in folklore studies.”

From Kirkus Reviews-
“A particularly nice touch is that pretty Rose has ordinary brown hair, while her stepsisters, homely though they are, are the more traditionally glamorous blonde and brunette.”