Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican Tradition

With love and care in every stroke, illustrator Connie McLennan captured on canvas the warmth of relationships, the fondness for color and texture, and the versatile patterns characteristic of the Mexican people. Readers will soon fall in love with the shimmering light of the desert landscape and this well-told story of Cinderella-with-a-twist.

Domitila is not only ＂sweeter than a cactus bloom in early spring,＂ she is also a talented cook and an amazing leather artist. Most of the classical elements of a Cinderella story can be found in Domitila. A gentle weaving of her mother’s nurturing with strong family traditions is the secret ingredient for Domitila to rise above hardship to eventually become the Governor’s bride. Moreover, with a firm belief in simplicity and realism, Domitila makes a lasting impression as a triumphant Cinderella in her humility, service, and unassuming modesty.

Dr. Jewell Reinhart Coburn is the author of many books on storytelling and folklore. Dr. Coburn has lived abroad and studied an array of diverse cultures. She is the recipient of a doctorate in Higher Education Administration and of two honorary degrees, plus many literary awards. She is the author of two titles in Shen’s Cinderella series. Connie McLennan is a freelance illustrator whose work, in a variety of styles and media, has appeared in numerous advertisements, publications, and textbooks. After earning a degree in journalism, she studied at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco. Connie works at home in Rocklin, California, where she lives with her husband, Geoff and young son, Thomas.