This article discusses the importance of authentic picture-storybook adaptations of multicultural folktales and describes an action research project through which a children's picture-book adaptation of a traditional tale can be authenticated using an inquiry-based process. In addition to modeling an actual authentication project using "The Golden Sandal: A Middle Eastern Cinderella Story," adapted by Rebecca Hickox (1998) and illustrated by Will Hillenbrand, the authors describe their implementation of the authentication process with pre-service teachers in an undergraduate children's literature course.